The Appalachian Mountains stretch into northern Georgia, endowing the landscape with dramatic gorges, raging rivers and steep valleys. Throughout the region, suspension bridges afford panoramic views of waterfalls, rock formations, woods and other scenery. While you have to pay to access most privately owned bridges, those on public lands often link hiking trails, providing you with more opportunities to explore the lush Georgia environment on foot.
Traveling Over Toccoa
- Near Blue Ridge, just south of the border with Tennessee and North Carolina, you can find the longest swinging suspension bridge east of the Mississippi. The Toccoa River Swinging Bridge spans 270 feet across the Toccoa River, and you can reach it by walking a few minutes from parking areas on both the north and south sides. The Benton MacKaye and Duncan Ridge hiking trails also cross the footbridge. Access is free.
Tallulah Gorgeousness
- Tallulah Gorge State Park in northeastern Georgia surrounds a 1,000-foot-deep, 2-mile gorge and has a suspension bridge that crosses 80 feet above the Tallulah River. Park rangers sometimes lead full-moon hikes to the bridge; you can find a schedule on the park’s website. During hunting season -- mid-September through December -- you should wear reflective orange if you plan to hike. You must pay a nominal fee to enter the park.
Botanical Bridge
- When you visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden, you can stroll along the 600-foot Canopy Walk suspension bridge, which reaches an elevation of 40 feet. The bridge crosses through the Storza Woods, a mature, 15-acre hardwood forest that includes beech, black cherry, dogwood, maple oak and other trees. You must pay an admission fee to access the garden's grounds.
Lullwater Link
- In Decatur, the Lullwater Bridge runs 210 feet over Peachtree Creek’s South Fork. The bridge, part of Emory University’s Lullwater Estate, serves as a pedestrian route for researchers, doctors and students traveling between the university campus and the Veterans Administration Hospital. You can visit the bridge anytime between dawn and dusk.
Chicopee Charm
- The Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville, northeast of Atlanta, has a 150-foot suspension bridge. The bridge spans Walnut Creek and connects hiking trails on the center’s east and west sides. You don't have to pay admission to hike the Elachee's 10 miles of trails, which which pass around Chicopee Lake, through forests and wetlands, and over the suspension bridge.
Scenic Swing-a-Long
- At Rock City Gardens in Lookout Mountain, just over the border from Chattanooga, you can cross the 180-foot-long Swing-a-Long suspension bridge. During your visit, you can also climb to an overlook with views of seven states, see geological formations along a self-guided trail, and tour gardens filled with native plants and trees. Rock City Gardens is a privately owned, and you must purchase a ticket to access the premises.
