Ride to Lookout Mountain, Tenn.

Ride through north Georgia's Chattahoochee National Forest crossing the Armuchee Ridges and Chickamauga Valley, stopping at Lookout Mountain in Tennessee. Remain overnight on the mountainside overlooking Chattanooga. Next day tour Chickamauga Battlefield and return to Athens.

Departure
Date: Friday, June 3, 2011
Time: 0730
Place: Golden Pantry, Jefferson Road and Whitehead Rd
Distance: 191 miles

The route will be direct to Gainesville on route 129 where we will take a break at Alta Vista Cemetery,  General Longstreet’s gravesite for a brief memorial service suitable to his achievements throughout the war,  specifically at Chickamauga  and his contributions toward peace  and reunion after the war.

After this break we'll head north past Brenau on route 60 to Dahlonega, then Route 9-19-60 northwest.


As route 60 and 19 diverge we'll continue on 60 to cross Columbia Mountain and Black Mountain through Woody Gap. Descending down to Suches, which at 3,000 feet above sea level, is one of the highest elevation communities in the state. It's at the junction of state highways 60 and 180. It's an unincorporated community in Union County.

Twisting northward, continue to loop through the Chattahoochee Forest past Gaddistown, Coopers Creek and Pedena above the Blue Ridge Lake to Appalachian Highway then back south to Elijay. Turn west to Dalton, cross Interstate 75 and the prominent, narrow, chevron-shaped Armuchee Ridges, which rise abruptly 600-700 feet above the eastern portion of the Chickamauga Valley. 

Northwest of Dalton we’ll cross the Rocky Face Ridge through it’s deep notch then Taylor Ridge at the famous Ringgold Cut. Passing through the Chickamauga Valley and within site of Chattanooga, we’ll climb Lookout Mountain to the Cumberland Plateau.

 Remain overnight: Sky Harbor Bavarian Inn

Inkeepers, Steve & Patsy Evans

2159 Old Wauhatchie Pike Chattanooga, TN 37409

Saturday morning tour Chickamauga Battlefield

Afternoon return to Athens: