Bear Mountain Lodge

10/10/2026

Stormy weather makes the most beautiful mountain sunsets! 🌅

09/29/2026

Only 40 minutes from the Bear Mountain Lodge! Book your stay with us now while we still have available dates!!! 🐻 🦌 🌲

🍂🚂 RIDE THROUGH THE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS ON A FALL FOLIAGE TRAIN THAT FOLLOWS THE TOCCOA RIVER THROUGH AUTUMN SCENERY!

Fall has officially arrived on the Blue Ridge Railway, and one of North Georgia’s most memorable autumn experiences lets you enjoy the changing mountain landscape without doing the driving. The Fall Foliage rides run September 19 through November 3, 2026, traveling 26 miles round trip from Blue Ridge along the Toccoa River.

Choose the 2-hour Fall Foliage Express for the complete scenic train ride without a layover, leaving more time to explore downtown Blue Ridge.

Or make a longer adventure of it with the 4-hour Fall Foliage Extended Tour. This version includes a 2-hour stop in the neighboring towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, where you can grab something to eat, browse local shops and explore before returning to the train.

Passengers can choose from open-air and enclosed coaches. For adults 18 and older, the 4-hour trip also offers a Premier Car with reclining seats, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, a catered snack and other extras. And if you miss fall foliage season, the railway doesn’t stop when autumn ends. Winter rides begin November 5, followed by special holiday rides later in the season.

📍 Blue Ridge, Georgia

09/27/2026

Bear Mountain Lodge is near many of these!!! Book your stay with us and do the Christmas Road Trip! 🌲 🎅🏻 🦌

WHAT IF ONE CHRISTMAS ROAD TRIP COULD TAKE YOU THROUGH 10 OF NORTH GEORGIA’S COZIEST MOUNTAIN TOWNS WHILE CONNECTING LIGHTS, CHRISTMAS MARKETS, HISTORIC SQUARES AND SCENIC MOUNTAIN ROADS?

Comment “COZY TOWN” if you want to buy our ready-to-go travel guide for only $5.99!

We created a ready-to-go 4-day Christmas road trip through Dillard, Clayton, Hiawassee, Young Harris, Blairsville, Helen, Suches, Dahlonega, Ellijay and Blue Ridge. Our recommended travel dates are December 3 to 6, 2026, timed around some of the area’s festive Christmas experiences.

Instead of spending hours figuring out what town to visit next, where to eat or where to stay, we planned the route for you.

Follow the guide to Mountain Country Christmas in Lights in Hiawassee, the Young Harris Annual Tree Lighting, Helen’s Christmas Market, Blairsville’s Holiday on the Square, Dahlonega’s decorated historic square, Christmas in downtown Ellijay and a festive finale in Blue Ridge.

The guide includes a day-by-day itinerary, suggested times, GPS addresses, driving times, restaurants, lodging options, scenic stops, travel tips and an optional Blue Ridge Holiday Express experience.

It is designed so you can spend less time researching and more time enjoying Christmas in the mountains.

🎄 10 mountain towns. 4 festive days. 1 unforgettable Christmas road trip.

09/16/2026

And….Another ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Review for Bear Mountain Lodge!!! 🐻

We stayed here while attending Jeep Fest, and the location could not have worked out better for us. The distance from the house to Base Camp was excellent, making it very convenient to get back and forth without spending a lot of extra time driving.The house itself met all of our needs and gave us a comfortable place to come back to after a long day on the trails and at the Jeep Fest events.One thing that really stood out was how well stocked the kitchen was. We’ve stayed in quite a few rental homes over the years, and this was easily one of the better-equipped kitchens we’ve had. It had just about everything we needed, which made cooking and preparing meals at the house very easy.Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. The house was comfortable, convenient, and worked extremely well for our Jeep Fest trip. We would definitely consider staying here again when we return to the area.Our Luna girl wasn’t too sure about the bear, but warmed up to it!
Date of arrival - September 3, 2026

09/12/2026

Come stay at Bear Mountain Lodge and do this incredible road trip this fall!!!

Georgia’s “Fall in the Mountains” Road Trip leads you to 11 memorable experiences filled with colorful mountain views, waterfalls, orchards, festivals, and classic fall stops:

📍Helen Oktoberfest (Helen)
📍Anna Ruby Falls (Helen)
📍Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway (Helen)
📍Mercier Orchards (Blue Ridge)
📍Brasstown Bald (Hiawassee)
📍Vogel State Park (Blairsville)
📍Georgia Apple Festival (Ellijay)
📍Amicalola Falls State Park (Dawsonville)
📍Burt’s Pumpkin Farm (Dawsonville)
📍Georgia Mountain Fall Festival (Hiawassee)
📍Tallulah Gorge State Park (Tallulah Falls)

The 41-mile Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway winds through the Chattahoochee National Forest with beautiful overlooks. Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge has been family-run since 1943 and is known for apples, c***r, and fried pies. Brasstown Bald rises 4,784 feet, making it Georgia’s highest point. Helen Oktoberfest brings German food, music, dancing, pretzels, and b**r to the mountain town. Anna Ruby Falls features two waterfalls dropping 153 and 50 feet. Vogel State Park offers wooded trails, mountain scenery, and historic CCC-built structures. The Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay fills two October weekends with crafts, food, and apple treats. Amicalola Falls drops 729 feet down the mountainside. Burt’s Pumpkin Farm has huge pumpkin fields, hayrides, and fall scenery. The Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawassee runs October 9–11 and October 15–17, 2026, with live music, crafts, food, carnival rides, and Pioneer Village activities. Tallulah Gorge State Park features dramatic overlooks, an 80-foot suspension bridge, and canyon walls nearly 1,000 feet deep.

08/31/2026

Fall & Holiday Availability!!! Check out our log cabin in Jasper, GA 🐻

PET Friendly 4 Bed LOG CABIN! Golfing, Two Pools, Hiking & Private Fishing Lake!

08/16/2026

Book your stay at Bear Mountain Lodge and enjoy the Apple Festival just 20 minutes away!!! 🐻

🍎 3-Day North Georgia Apple Festival Itinerary: Georgia’s Apple Capital Turns Into a Mountain Fall Getaway Every October

Every October, the mountain town of Ellijay, Georgia celebrates its apple-growing heritage with one of North Georgia’s signature fall traditions.

The 55th annual Georgia Apple Festival returns for two weekends, October 10–11 and October 17–18, 2026, bringing more than 250 vendors, Appalachian crafts, live entertainment, apple treats, and plenty of small-town fall atmosphere to the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds.

But I wouldn’t drive to North Georgia just for the festival.

Turn it into a 3-day mountain getaway with Georgia’s tallest waterfall, vineyards, historic Dahlonega, Blue Ridge, a swinging bridge, and an orchard stop.

🍂 DAY 1: WATERFALLS, W**E & DAHLONEGA

10:00 AM | Amicalola Falls State Park

Start at one of North Georgia’s most spectacular natural landmarks. Amicalola Falls plunges 729 feet, making it the tallest waterfall in Georgia. Explore the overlooks and trails before the afternoon crowds arrive.

1:00 PM | Montaluce Winery

Trade waterfalls for rolling vineyard views with lunch at this Tuscan-inspired w**ery near Dahlonega. Enjoy a leisurely meal overlooking the vines, with w**e tasting available for those interested.

3:30 PM | Historic Downtown Dahlonega

Walk the charming town square, browse locally owned shops, grab coffee, and learn about the area’s Gold Rush history.

6:30 PM | Dinner & Mountain Lodge

For the full mountain experience, stay at Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge. Another beautiful option is a vineyard stay near Dahlonega.

🍎 DAY 2: GEORGIA APPLE FESTIVAL

8:30 AM | Head to Ellijay Early

This is one day when sleeping in can cost you. Festival traffic can become heavy, so aim to reach Ellijay before the gates open.

9:00 AM | Georgia Apple Festival

The festival takes place at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 S. Main Street.

Spend the morning exploring 250+ vendor booths filled with handmade pottery, jewelry, woodworking, artwork, mountain crafts, and locally produced foods.

Come hungry.

Look for hot apple dumplings, apple fritters, fried apple pies, apple c***r doughnuts, fresh c***r, barbecue, and other Southern festival favorites.

12:00 PM | Apple-Food Feast

Skip the ordinary lunch and build your own apple-themed tasting tour through the food vendors.

1:30 PM | Downtown Ellijay & Apple Arts Festival

When you need a break from the main fairgrounds, head into downtown Ellijay for the free Apple Arts Festival. Browse boutiques, antiques, restaurants, and additional vendors at a more relaxed pace.

Unlike the main Georgia Apple Festival grounds, Apple Arts is also pet-friendly.

6:00 PM | Dinner in Ellijay

Finish with dinner downtown before retreating to your cabin or lodge.

🌉 DAY 3: SWINGING BRIDGE, BLUE RIDGE & APPLE ORCHARDS

10:00 AM | Toccoa River Swinging Bridge

Take a scenic drive toward the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge, one of North Georgia’s most memorable short hikes. The roughly 270-foot suspension bridge crosses high above the Toccoa River surrounded by mountain forest.

1:00 PM | Lunch in Blue Ridge

Continue to downtown Blue Ridge for lunch, then spend a little time exploring its shops and mountain-town streets.

3:30 PM | Orchard Stop

Save the most appropriate souvenir for last: apples.

Stop at an Ellijay-area orchard such as B.J. Reece Orchards or Red Apple Barn for fresh-picked apples, c***r, doughnuts, fried pies, and other fall treats to take home.

🏡 WHERE I’D STAY

For nature and convenience, Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is my top choice. For a romantic getaway, consider the vineyard accommodations around Dahlonega. If you want privacy and a cabin atmosphere, Ellijay and Blue Ridge have plenty of secluded mountain rentals.

📌 2026 FESTIVAL DETAILS

🍎 Dates: October 10–11 & October 17–18
🕘 Saturday: 9 AM–6 PM
🕘 Sunday: 9 AM–5 PM
🎟️ Admission: $10
👧 Children 12 & under: Free
📍 Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, Ellijay, Georgia
🐕 Pets: Not permitted at the main festival, but welcome at downtown Apple Arts

Travel tip: Bring some cash and arrive early. October is peak mountain season, so lodging, parking, and the roads around Ellijay can become busy quickly.

08/11/2026

I had a great time at our cabin and so did Sandy & Bentley! I just love watching the wildlife there 🦌 🐻

04/04/2026

Another wonderful trip to our cabin!!!
🐻 🦌 🦃 🌅 🌲