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FROM BLAIRSVILLE
Go south on Hwy 129/19 from the courthouse for just under 3 miles.
You will be making a left (East) on Town Creek School Road (look for
the BP gas station on the left, the road is just past the station).
Go 1 mile to Trackrock Gap Road and turn left (North). There is a
big Baptist Church (Harmony Grove) on your right just at the turn.
Go 1.6 miles on Trackrock Gap Road to the Vernoy Mountain Entrance
on the left side.
Note: Trackrock Gap Road is a twisty, turny road and
continues all the way up to Hwy 76/515 where it dead ends; a left at
the end (West)
will take you to Blairsville and a right (East) will take you to Young
Harris and Hiawassee.
FROM ATLANTA
Take I-575 North off of I-75 (approx 20 miles N
of downtown Atlanta). While the freeway ceases about half-way up,
the roadway is still a 4 lane limited access hwy (now known as Hwy
515/5/2) and a very pretty drive
as well. You will go past Canton and on up thru Ellijay where the
highway curves to run east-west instead of north/south. Go thru Blue
Ridge to Blairsville and exit the highway just before the
only overpass in
town – turn right at the top of the off ramp and continue half-way
'round the courthouse in front of you and continue on South on Hwy
129/19.
See paragraph above.
You may want to try Hwy 400 up from Atlanta and getting off
at the Dahlonega exit (where the 4 lane ends) and following Hwy 19
North you will connect with Hwy 129 at Turners’ Corner, turn left
and cross over Blood Mountain – a very scenic drive. The first gas
station on your right as you get off the mountain and into farm
lands is the Booger Hollow Citgo (we kid you not), it is 3 miles from there to the
next gas station, a BP gas station on the right and you will turn
right (east) on Town Creek School Road just before the station and
go about a mile to the Harmony Grove Baptist Church and make a left
on Trackrock Gap Road and go 1.6 miles to Vernoy Mountain. You will
see it on the left with a huge gate sign that you drive under.
From I-985,
exit North just past Gainesville on Hwy 129. This will take you up
thru Claremont and Cleveland. At Cleveland, you can pass straight
thru and continue on 129 over Blood Mountain (see above paragraph),
or take a little side trip thru Helen (a rustic German flavored
village) on Hwy 75. Just after you leave Helen, you will make a left
and go a few miles to make a right turn on Richard Russell Scenic
Hwy –and it sure is. Where the scenic hwy ends, turn left and it’s
just a mile to the Main Hwy 129/19. Make a right and it’s about 4
miles to the BP gas station where you will turn right on Town Creek
School Road. Go 1 mile to the big Harmony Grove Baptist Church where
you will turn left on Trackrock Gap Road. Go 1.6 miles on a pretty
drive, lots of twists and turns until you see the large gated
entrance marked Vernoy Mountain on your left.
Coming from
the North/West
There are very few roads that
pass thru this area East/West because of the mountains, the
best way may be to exit I-75 at Cleveland, TN (About 30 miles N of
Chattanooga) and come across Hwy 64 East - a very scenic drive thru
the Ocoee Gorge. You can continue on Hwy 64 to Hwy 129/19 S which is
just before Murphy. Turn right (South) to go to Blairsville. Allow about an
hour and a half driving time from the I-75 to Blairsville, this
drive gets congested on weekends thru the gorge due to the
white-water rafters.
Coming from the East
Best bet is to use I-85 and exit west of Greenville, SC, (near
the Georgia border) at Hwy 24, go right (north) and this road will
turn into Hwy 76 and take you to Blairsville, another pretty drive.
Coming from the Northeast (Asheville)
Get a map! It's doable, but you will need some help. A
pretty drive, just no direct path. Allow for 2½ hour drive. |
