This Iconic Overlook In Georgia Is One Of The Coolest Outdoor Adventures You’ll Ever Take
By Lisa Sammons|Published August 30, 2023
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
You don’t have to be an avid outdoors type to know there are some amazing trails in Georgia. No matter what area of the state you’re in, you can find opportunities for hiking. We’ve got everything from easy paved trails around lakes to all-day treks like the Appalachian Trail, which starts in the Peach State. If you’re looking for a scenic overlook, there are plenty that you can reach after lengthy journeys up mountains and through woods. But we know not everyone is always up for a long, strenuous hike, so if you’d prefer the views with a little less work, check out the Bell Mountain Trail, which is one of the best trails near Hiawassee, GA. You may also hear it referred to as the Bell Knob Overlook. Check it out:
The views from Bell Mountain are pretty spectacular.
If you're not feeling up for a lengthy hike, the good news is that the mountain now has a parking lot, so you can drive up the incline then walk just a little ways to see the views.
The mountain has something of a tragic history. In the 1960s, it was purchased by a group of investors who attempted to mine the mountain for minerals.
Their mission failed, but they did cause damage to the land. This has caused the mountain to erode over the years and even harm the water quality of the lake at the mountain's base.
More recently, though, Bell Mountain has been vandalized by graffiti.
While we can't remove the graffiti that's already here, Bell Mountain serves as an important reminder of how vital it is to leave no trace when appreciating the wilderness around us.
Each of the people that left one small design on the rocks here probably didn't think they were making much of an impact, but all of the painting that was done over time has changed this landscape forever.
For more information about the Bell Knob Overlook, visit our friends at Alltrails. Consider signing up for a free trial of Alltrails+ if you’re a passionate hiker. It comes with all kinds of benefits, like downloadable maps.
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