Helen, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway and Brasstown Bald
When I was a high school kid, our friends/teachers, the Greers, took me to Helen several times. Philip grew up there and had a house there. Then it was a quiet restful little mountain valley. The town of Helen consisted of a Laundramat.
Most trips to Helen included a visit to Unicoi State Park and a walk to Annie Ruby Falls. Sometimes we would drive Tray Mountain Road. That’s the right hand yellow loop on the map.
Camille and I spent our honeymoon at Unicoi State Park.
The trip up to St Johns overlook reminded me of Tray Mountain Road. After the trip up to St Johns overlook, Camille doesn’t do unpaved mountain roads.
The Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway is paved. Brasstown Bald is Georgia’s highest mountain at 4,784 feet. It was often mentioned on the 60’s trips to Helen but I had never been there before.
http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/13739/
Gorgeous Day
Brasstown Bald from the Southern Part of the Byway
From the Parking Lot below the Visitor Center
It’s about a mile and umpteen feet from the parking lot to the Visitor Center. I asked the Ranger Lady if they provided transportation to the top. She said:
Yes, there’s a van that will take you up there (great)
For two dollars (not bad)
Each.
Very nice young man took us up.
Creekside RV Park, Pigeon Forge (June 5-10, 2004)