Peaceful afternoons sunning and picnicking lead to evenings camping on the shorelines of Carters Lake. After a day of fishing, boating, water skiing or hiking, visitors settle in for the night to camp and simply enjoy nature.

The lake is situated in the northern center of Georgia. The area is filled with Native American history, from the Chief Vann House State Historic Site in nearby Chatsworth to the New Echota State Park that celebrates the Cherokee nation’s capital.

Visitors can also enjoy Fort Mountain State Park and various Native American ruins in the area.

Carters Lake is located at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers fantastic scenery. The area is rich in Native American and Civil War history. Carters Dam at 445 feet is the highest earth-filled dam east of the Mississippi River.

The lake has a popular six- mile loop mountain bike trail, several other nature trails, five boat ramps around the lake, playgrounds, group camping areas, primitive and developed camping, group and individual picnic shelters. Located about one hour’s drive from either Atlanta or Chattanooga.

Native Americans, Festivals and the Civil War

The area around Carters Lake has three Georgia State Parks and Historic sites, including Fort Mountain State Park in the Chattahoochee National Forest close to the Cohutta Wilderness area; the Chief Vann House in Chatsworth, one of country’s the best-preserved Cherokee brick two-story plantation homes; and the New Echota Cherokee Capital Historic Site near Calhoun, home to the early Cherokee nation before the Trail of Tears.

Native American History and sites of the Civil War draw the history buff to Carters Lake.

Various festivals throughout the year highlight Native American celebrations. The area is also known for its fall apple harvests with an Apple Festival in October near Ellijay. Known as Apple Alley, many orchards north of Carters Lake feature tours of apple orchards and barns, plus they offer tastings of the area’s unique types of apples.

The Georgia Mountain Parkway takes visitors into the Blue Ridge foothills. The home of distinctive Georgia marble – Tate – is also nearby.

Shopping at Outlets and Antique Stores

Outlet shopping in Calhoun offers a full day of name-brand options. Ellijay’s, Chatsworth’s and Jasper’s quaint downtown areas have antique shops and diverse restaurants. Jasper’s Woodbridge Inn in Pickens County draws guests from across the Southeast for its fine dining Southern style. Visitors to Jasper can also experience some of the area’s history at the Old Pickens Jail and Museum.

Nearby Dalton, only 15 miles from the lake, offers a variety of lodging, restaurants and shopping, including Tanger Outlet Center with more than 40 name-brand outlet stores. Dalton has more than 80 restaurants and 1400 motel rooms. Plus there are many unique shopping and dining choices in downtown, including the Dalton Depot restaurant and Wink Theater for evening entertainment.