Outdoor adventures with a side of history abound in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains
Head to a small Georgia town to get a big taste of the outdoors, with surprising city-style amenities. In Cartersville, and in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains in surrounding Bartow County, Georgia, it’s possible to have both, just 45 minutes north of Atlanta off I-75. Anchoring downtown Cartersville is the Booth Western Art Museum, which proudly shares the world’s largest permanent exhibition of Western Art in one of two Smithsonian Affiliate museums in Cartersville.
Cartersville offers two Smithsonian-affiliated museums and a beautifully restored and renovated downtown filled with antiques, galleries and boutiques. Plenty of dining options include casual eateries and independently-owned restaurants whose chefs present innovative twists along with most-loved traditional fare.
Cartersville and Bartow County offer excellent outdoor adventure, much of which is intertwined with intriguing Northwest Georgia history. Explore an Ancient Native American Indian mound, hike to a Civil War battlefield, and climb a ridge to a hidden ironworks that was once the backbone of an 1860s economy.
Rivers and creeks running down from the Blue Ridge Mountains feed into the recreational centerpiece, Lake Allatoona, a 12,000-acre water-sports and fishing paradise. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 1950s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control and hydro-electric power project is the oldest Corps lake in the southeastern U.S. The free visitors center at the dam tells the story of Bartow County’s geology, Native American culture and the Civil War. Around Allatoona’s 270 miles of shoreline are public and Corps-managed campsites, marinas and recreational areas, a state park and an exceptional Bartow County park with an extraordinary history of its own.
To get a wilderness workout and a bird’s eye view of Allatoona southwest to Kennesaw Mountain and beyond without even leaving town, take the Pine Mountain Trail–just a two-mile trek off Main Street. The summit of Pine Mountain overlooks Red Top Mountain State Park, the Etowah Indian Mounds and the Etowah River Valley below. This area is the largest single landmass on the National Register of Historic Places and includes such hidden gems as the Euharlee Covered Bridge, the Allatoona Pass Battlefield and the Etowah River Water Trail.
Head back to town to the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site for a closer look at a major Native American Mississippian era cultural center that thrived here from 1000 to 1500 A.D. Six earthen mounds, a plaza, village site and an impressive archaeological artifact museum interpret life in the period. Climb the steps to the tallest, at 63 feet high.
From the Pine Mountain trail-head are connectors to several of the more than 20 trails within an hour’s drive of Atlanta, with shady, scenic, historic and rugged escapes. A variety of height and difficulty enable the wanna-be and the fittest to find their favorites for walking hiking, biking, mountain biking and running. For an intriguing surprise, follow Cooper’s Furnace Trail, a 19th century mining railroad bed hidden along the banks of the Etowah River at the base of the Allatoona Lake dam. Looming ahead are the pyramid-shaped tower and remains of the Coopers Furnace Iron Works Site, all that’s left of the town of Etowah below the lake.
Hike into history on the old railroad bed of the Allatoona Pass Trail through the solid-rock cut into the mountain to a nearly untouched Civil War battlefield. Interpretive signs lead to earthworks and a star fort, undisturbed trenches and outworks, all remaining since the Battle of Allatoona Pass on October 5, 1864.
Bicyclists and kayakers will find even more relaxation and workout trails. Six bike routes, part of a regional network developed by Bike! Walk! Northwest Georgia, are marked throughout Bartow County. Cyclists will welcome the conveniences afforded at Sosebee Cycling Park accessible along two of the northeastern foothills routes. To find these less traveled roads and scenic byways go to VisitCartersvilleGA.org/hiking-cycling-and-geocacheing/. In addition to kayaking and canoeing on Lake Allatoona, paddlers will find five put-in locations on the Etowah River Trail. Guides and outfitters provide rentals and show visitors a Native American v-shaped fish trap used for corralling and netting near the Etowah mounds. For details out outdoor adventures, go to VisitCartersvilleGA.org/outdoors. With so much activity, finding the perfect overnight accommodations is easy. Cartersville and Bartow County’s historic smaller towns offer cabins, B&Bs, quality hotel brands and a luxury resort.
