| Toccoa Christian Music Fest 2003: Make it a Vacation |
Performances will be by
- MercyMe
- NewSong/
- Ginny Owens
- Plus One
- Tait
- Detour 180
- Todd Agnew
- Royal Ruckus
- Mizzie
- Circle 7
- One Way
- Jubal's Kin
- Carol Strickland & Purpose
- Justified By Faith.
- With special guest speaker Ken Freeman
The city of Toccoa, GA, which is named after a 186 foot waterfall located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College, is located 90 miles from Atlanta, 60 miles from Athens, 65 miles from Greenville, SC, and 35 miles from Clemson, SC. If you live close enough for it to be a day trip ... great! But if you live farther away, why not make it a weekend get-a-way? Toccoa has plenty to offer to make it a great spot for a relaxing or an adventurous vacation.
If you prefer staying in a hotel chain Toccoa has two:
Days Inn ($45 - $50 a night)
Shoneys Inn ($55 - $60 a night)
There are also a few local hotels and a beautiful bed and breakfast in town for those who prefer a smaller scale setting.
If camping is your thing there are plenty of great spots in the area:
- Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area and the Chattahoochee National Forest are popular primitive camping areas that are open to the public. Call the U.S. Forest Service at 770-297-3000 for more information.
- Toccoa RV Park and Campground offers full hook-ups, laundry room, bathrooms, phone hook-ups, and sewer dump stations. They also have a pavilion and nature walk. Call 706-886-2654 for more information.
- The Georgia Baptist Conference Center has a 19-site campground complete with water and electrical hookups, a bathhouse and laundry room. For details call 706-886-3133.
OK, so now the where to stay question is answered, so what can you do in Toccoa before or after the festival? Here are some suggestions:
Bicycling
The U.S. Forest Service maintains several dirt/gravel roads in Stephens County that serve as access for recreation use. Bicycle riding on these roads varies from strenuous to easy. The U.S. Forest Service Road #62 up Currahee Mountain is a challenging one-way ride. Black Mountain Road is both scenic and strenuous after the pavement runs out and you're biking on dirt. There are several paved loops through the countryside on secondary roads.Horseback Riding
Camp Toccoa has horseback riding available. For information call 706-886-2457Fishing, Boating, Skiing, Swimming
Toccoa has two lakes along her borders, Yonah Lake and Lake Hartwell. Both use the waters of the Tugalo River, which divides Georgia from South Carolina. Lake Louise is owned by the Georgia Baptist Conference Center-Toccoa and is also available for public use. There are five watersheds in Stephens County that are excellent for trout fishing: the Middle Fork Broad River, Little Toccoa Creek, North Fork Broad River, Panther Creek and Toccoa Creek, upstream from Toccoa Falls. Fishers reel in black crappie, largemouth bass, striped bass, hybrid bass and channel catfish from local lakes.In Stephens County, there are four public recreation areas that have accessible ramps for entering boats into Lake Hartwell: Stephens County Recreation Area, Spring Branch, Jenkins Ferry, Bruce Creek, and Holcomb Access. There are also boat ramps at Walker Creek on the Tugaloo River and at Yonah Lake.
Hiking Trails in Stephens County
Currahee Mountain Trails
The mountain is located within the Chattahoochee National Forest and Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area where wild game roam through the forest protected by the State and Federal Game Commissions. There are numerous mines dug by Indians and early settlers where rubies, garnets, silver, and some gold were found. Many of the caves were used as a refuge by Cherokee Indians who didn't want to follow the Trail of Tears and later by people who didn't want to be recruited to fight during the Civil War. The two most famous caves are "The Ron's Den" on the west side and "The Silver Mine" on the east side of Currahee.Broad River Trail
The trail follows streams, waterfalls, beautiful mountain foliage and runs 3.8 milesPanther Creek Trail
This trail is considered easy to moderate and is 6.0 miles, one way. Rhododendron, mountain laurel, large white pine, hemlock and beech grow beside the stream. The first 2.0 miles is difficult because it is less defined and more dangerous than the rest of the trail. You'll find a large, enticing pool at the base of a series of waterfalls that has a splashing slide in the middle.Easy Scenic Walks
Toccoa Falls is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College. A wandering stream flows through the lower part of the 1,100 acre wooded campus from the base of the 186-foot high waterfall. This waterfall is actually 29 feet higher than Niagra. Seasonal flowers and conversation benches line the path to the falls.There are five walks around downtown Toccoa, varying from 1 mile to 4.5 miles. The paths are marked with hearts.
Tennis
Henderson Falls Park, operated by the city, has five tennis courts. In addition, this 26-acre park has a beautiful 12-foot waterfall, a nature trail, four picnic shelters, a playground and an amphitheater.Georgia Baptist Conference Center has 2 tennis courts. Call 706-886-3133 for information.
Golf
The Pines Municiple Golf Course is a nine-hole course operated by the City of Toccoa.Go to Toccoa for some great music and fellowship. Stay for a while for some great fun.
Special thanks to Shawn Apostel with the City of Toccoa, Tony Presley and the Toccoa Chamber of Commerce for all of their help and information.
