Hiking In Big Canoe - North Georgia Mountains

Big Canoe has over 20 miles of hiking trails weaving throughout it's 8,000 acres. The Nature Valley trails (7 total miles but easily broken into smaller hikes) provide great family hiking past two beautiful waterfalls, Lake Disharoon, and an old log cabin left from long before the area became known as Big Canoe. Alongside the length of the Nature Valley trails runs the Jeep Trail, a dirt road open to 4-wheel drives and a very popular attraction at Big Canoe.The Nancy Womack trail is an extension of the Nature Valley trail and is slightly more difficult with moderate climbing involved. The Indian Rock Park trail (.8 miles) weaves through ancient mounds of rocks left some 4,000 to 6,000 years ago by early Indians living in the area. It is not known exactly what purpose the "big piles of rocks" served but guesses have included wedding ceremonies, initiations and burial rituals. This trail turns into the Lake Petit trail and runs down to the edge of Lake Petit, Big Canoe's largest lake. The Wildcat (2.8 miles) and McDaniel Meadows (2.5 miles)trails are both easy walks through wildflowers and beautiful wooded scenery. The Wildcat trail is paved and is very popular among the "daily exercise and dog-walking" crowds.