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Points 3-5
3. Black Rock Mountain State ParkBlack Rock Mountain State Park combines history with some of the boldest ridges in the lower Blue Ridge Mountains. Located on Foxfire Lane under Black Rock Mountain, the Foxfire Museum features exhibits that highlight the region's traditional mountain culture. Black Rock itself, named for a black cliff composed of the mineral biotite, bestrides what some call the Eastern Continental Divide: water falling on its flanks will flow to either the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. Perched above 3,640 feet, the area has overlooks commanding views that on clear days extend for 80 miles or so.
4. Moccasin Creek State Park
The drive backtracks to Clayton, then follows Rte. 76 westward to Rte. 197 and Moccasin Creek State Park, a pint-size playground that hugs the western shore of Lake Burton. Anglers come here to cast for trout, bass, panfish, and bluegills. Others visit simply to enjoy leisurely walks along the lake's shoreline and up the nearby slopes, a pastime that is especially appealing during the hot summer months, when the high elevation and deep shade of the forest offer relief from the heat -- so much so, in fact, that Moccasin Creek is known as ''the park where spring spends the summer.''
Once back on Rte. 76, you'll quickly come to the Popcorn overlook, which takes in the rumpled ridges that rise from Lake Burton. Farther along, the highway crosses the Appalachian Trail at Dicks Creek Gap, a slender notch that has yet another inviting rest area with picnic sites and far-reaching views.
5. Chatuge Lake
The drive soon nears the glittering expanse of Chatuge Lake, a reservoir that extends into North Carolina, where the lake's glassy surface mirrors the mountains that slant down to its shores. Camping, boating, and fishing are popular here, and in the lakeside town of Hiawassee, the trails at Hamilton Gardens traverse a paradise filled with tulip trees, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
After taking a walk through the gardens, follow Rte. 76 past the blue bulk of sturdy ridges to the town of Young Harris. From there you'll descend beside Butternut Creek, which twists and turns amid a valley graced with apple orchards, cultivated fields, and wind-rippled meadows.
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