Fall Branch Falls, a short hike off the Benton MacKaye Trail near Cherry Log

Cherry Log, Georgia gives you the quiet of the North Georgia mountains without losing quick access to downtown Blue Ridge. It’s a small unincorporated community about 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from Blue Ridge’s shops and restaurants, known for a short waterfall hike, a barbecue joint that’s been feeding locals since 1950, and a Bigfoot museum that’s stranger and more fun than it sounds. This guide covers the drive times, the trails, and where to eat.

Key Takeaways

Cherry Log is a small unincorporated community in Gilmer County, between Blue Ridge and Ellijay, about a 10 to 15 minute drive from downtown Blue Ridge.

• Fall Branch Falls is the area’s best short hike: under a mile round trip on the Benton MacKaye Trail, to a viewing platform overlooking a series of cascades and a 30-foot drop.

• Expedition Bigfoot, the Sasquatch Museum on Highway 515, is the area’s best-known indoor stop and a reliable rainy-day option.

• The Pink Pig, a barbecue restaurant on Cherry Log Street since 1950, opens only a few days a week, so check the days before you go.

• The area is busiest during fall foliage season and in summer, especially around July 4th.

• Chalet Blue Ridge, our 4-bedroom cabin sleeping 10, is 7 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge and about 20 minutes from Fall Branch Falls, Expedition Bigfoot and The Pink Pig.

What Is Cherry Log, Georgia Known For?

Cherry Log is a small unincorporated community in Gilmer County, known for cabin rentals, easy access to the Benton MacKaye Trail, and three well-loved stops: Fall Branch Falls, Expedition Bigfoot, and The Pink Pig. None of them are secrets anymore, but all of them still deliver.

It works less like a town and more like a scattering of cabins on forested hillsides, with a post office, a couple of churches and a barbecue restaurant on Cherry Log Street. There’s no walkable main street. What you get instead is quiet woods, with the trail, the barbecue and downtown Blue Ridge all a short drive away.

Where Is Cherry Log, and How Far Is It From Blue Ridge?

Cherry Log sits between Blue Ridge and Ellijay, just off Highway 515 (US 76). Downtown Blue Ridge is about a 10 to 15 minute drive away, and Ellijay is about the same in the other direction. From Atlanta, allow roughly 90 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic.

These are mountain roads, so drive times run longer than the miles suggest. A trip that looks short on the map often takes more time once you add curves, hills and the occasional slow truck.

Where you stay shapes the trip. A cabin in Cherry Log itself puts you closest to its trailheads and the barbecue, with more seclusion. A cabin on the Blue Ridge side keeps downtown close. From Chalet Blue Ridge, downtown Blue Ridge is 7 minutes away and Lake Blue Ridge a 13-minute walk, while Expedition Bigfoot is about 17 minutes, The Pink Pig 18, and the Fall Branch Falls trailhead about 21.

Mountain view from the deck at Chalet Blue Ridge · Chalet Blue Ridge”, and use the same wording as its alt text. · Chalet Blue Ridge

What Are the Best Things to Do in Cherry Log?

Fall Branch Falls

Fall Branch Falls is the best short hike near Cherry Log. From the small parking area on Stanley Creek Road (also called Rock Creek Road), the Benton MacKaye Trail climbs gently for about a quarter mile, then a short side path leads down to a wooden viewing platform. The round trip is under a mile with about 200 feet of climbing, and the payoff is a series of cascades ending in a drop of about 30 feet into a deep pool.

It suits most families with kids, and leashed dogs are welcome, but it isn’t stroller-friendly. Parking is free but limited, and the falls get busy on fall weekends, so arrive early. Admire the falls from the platform, not by climbing the rock face. From Chalet Blue Ridge, the trailhead is about 21 minutes away, an easy morning outing before lunch back at the cabin.

Longer Hikes

For more mileage, keep going past the falls on the Benton MacKaye Trail, which climbs steadily toward Rocky Mountain, or link up with the Stanley Gap Trail for steeper climbs and ridge views. Both suit experienced hikers better than a family with young kids. For trail maps and current conditions, see the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.

Is Expedition Bigfoot Good for Families?

Yes, especially on a rainy day. Expedition Bigfoot, the Sasquatch Museum, sits on Highway 515 in Cherry Log and packs footprint casts, sighting maps, eyewitness videos and a life-size Bigfoot into about 4,000 square feet. It leans into storytelling and folklore rather than scares, which suits kids who are equally fascinated and skeptical.

Allow about an hour. It’s typically open 10am to 5pm and closed Tuesdays, with free parking on site. Check current hours and admission at expeditionbigfoot.com before you go, since winter and holiday hours vary.

Horseback Riding at Cowgirl Up Stables

Cowgirl Up Stables on Cashes Valley Road in Cherry Log offers trail rides, a good option for groups where some want to ride and others would rather watch. It’s a small operation, so call ahead to book, especially on fall weekends, and ask about any age, weight or mobility limits.

Is Blue Ridge or Helen Better for a Cherry Log Trip?

For a trip built around Cherry Log’s trails and quiet woods, Blue Ridge is the better base. Helen, about an hour and a half away, is a Bavarian-themed village built around festivals and tubing, which suits a livelier, event-focused weekend. For a fuller comparison, see our guide to where to stay in Blue Ridge, GA.

Where Should You Eat Near Cherry Log?

The Pink Pig, at 824 Cherry Log Street, is Cherry Log’s best-known restaurant. It started around 1950 as a country store and grist mill, and the Holloway family has run it since 1967, serving pit-cooked barbecue, their own sauce, and Brunswick stew slow-cooked in a cast-iron pot. It’s casual and family-friendly, and it doesn’t take reservations.

It’s open only a few days a week, usually Thursday through Saturday and sometimes Sunday, so check the current days on its Blue Ridge visitors bureau listing before you drive over. Weekends in fall get busy, so arrive near opening or mid-afternoon.

From Chalet Blue Ridge it’s about 18 minutes. On a busy Saturday, takeout is a good option: bring it back and eat on the deck with a mountain view.

Which Cherry Log Stops Are Worth the Hype?

All three of Cherry Log’s best-known stops are worth the drive, but none of them are secrets, and all get busy in fall foliage season, roughly late September through early November. Fall Branch Falls holds up best, because a waterfall doesn’t get overhyped the way a restaurant can. Expedition Bigfoot and The Pink Pig are both good fun; just go early or on a weekday.

For something genuinely local, time your trip for the Cherry Log Fall Festival, held by the community on the first two weekends in October at the Cherry Log Community Clubhouse. Expect home-canned goods, fried pies, crafts, and breakfast and lunch cooked on site. Nearby Mercier Orchards is on every list for good reason too: apple picking in September and October, and a bakery worth the stop all year.

The simplest way to beat the crowds is timing. Weekends swing busy, especially in summer and fall, while a Tuesday to Thursday trip in spring or late fall gets you nearly everything on this list with far less waiting.

Dining table with mountain views at Chalet Blue Ridge. · Chalet Blue Ridge

What Water Activities Are Near Cherry Log?

The Toccoa River is the area’s main water playground. Its upper stretch has a canoe trail of about 14 miles suited to beginners, and in the warmer months, outfitters such as Blue Ridge Tubing and Toccoa River Tubing rent tubes and run the shuttle upriver, so you just float back down. Fly fishing is popular too. Below Blue Ridge Dam, water levels change with the dam’s release schedule, so check it before wading or fishing.

Lake Blue Ridge adds boating, swimming and paddling with a mountain backdrop, and the Morganton Point recreation area offers day use for a small fee. From Chalet Blue Ridge, the lake is a 13-minute walk, so you can paddle before breakfast without loading the car.

Parking and Accessibility Tips

Most Cherry Log stops have small, informal parking. The Fall Branch Falls trailhead has a little gravel area on Stanley Creek Road that fills fast on fall weekends, and parking on the shoulder of a curvy mountain road isn’t safe, so go early. Expedition Bigfoot and The Pink Pig both have their own lots, though The Pink Pig’s is small, so arriving near opening helps.

For accessibility: Fall Branch Falls has uneven, rocky footing and isn’t suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Expedition Bigfoot is an indoor museum listed as accessible. For horseback riding, ask the stables about any mobility limits when you book.

Where Should You Stay for a Cherry Log Trip?

It comes down to seclusion or convenience. A cabin in Cherry Log itself puts you in the quietest woods, close to The Pink Pig and Expedition Bigfoot. A cabin on the Blue Ridge side keeps downtown’s restaurants, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and Mercier Orchards close, with Cherry Log an easy drive away for a day trip.

Chalet Blue Ridge is a good fit for the second kind of trip. Our 4-bedroom, 3-bath cabin sleeps up to 10, sits 7 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge and a 13-minute walk from the lake, and is about 20 minutes from Fall Branch Falls, Expedition Bigfoot and The Pink Pig.

After a day on the trail, the private hot tub and outdoor fireplace come into their own. The pool table and arcade games cover rainy afternoons, the fenced yard lets up to 2 dogs run off the leash for a flat $50 per stay, and 1.5-Gig fiber with a dedicated workspace means someone can work while the rest of the group explores. One guest who has stayed in Smoky Mountain chalets more than 30 times told us it beat places charging double.

For prices across different cabin sizes and how to save by booking direct, see our Blue Ridge cabin rental pricing and booking guide.

What Time of Year Is Best to Visit Cherry Log and Blue Ridge?

Fall, from late September through early November, is the best time to visit, with peak color and cool hiking weather. It’s also the busiest, so cabins book up fast for October weekends. The Cherry Log Fall Festival, on the first two weekends in October, is a good reason to aim for early in the season.

Spring, from late March through May, is the next best, with wildflowers along the Benton MacKaye Trail and comfortable temperatures before summer humidity arrives. Summer brings tubing season on the Toccoa River and the biggest crowds at the popular stops.

Winter, especially January and February, is the quietest time. If you don’t mind cool evenings by the fire, it’s the best chance to have Fall Branch Falls almost to yourself, usually at the lowest cabin rates of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cherry Log, GA actually a town?

Not officially. Cherry Log is an unincorporated community in Gilmer County, with no town government of its own. It’s a scattering of cabins, a post office and a few businesses just off Highway 515, between Blue Ridge and Ellijay.

How far is Chalet Blue Ridge from Cherry Log?

About 20 minutes. From the cabin, Expedition Bigfoot is about 17 minutes, The Pink Pig 18, and the Fall Branch Falls trailhead 21, while downtown Blue Ridge is 7.

How many days do you need for a Cherry Log and Blue Ridge trip?

Three to four days is ideal: one for hiking, one for downtown Blue Ridge and the railway, and one spare for weather or a slower pace.

Is Fall Branch Falls hard to get to?

No. It’s one of the easiest waterfall hikes in the area: under a mile round trip with about 200 feet of climbing, ending at a viewing platform. The footing is uneven, so it isn’t stroller-friendly.

Does The Pink Pig take reservations?

No, it’s walk-in only. It’s open only a few days a week, usually Thursday through Saturday, so check the current days before you go.

Is Expedition Bigfoot worth visiting?

Yes, especially on a rainy day or with curious kids. Allow about an hour. It’s typically open 10am to 5pm and closed Tuesdays, so check current hours and admission at expeditionbigfoot.com before you go.

Are Cherry Log cabins pet-friendly?

Many are, but policies vary, so confirm the fee and any limits before you book. Chalet Blue Ridge welcomes up to 2 dogs for a flat $50 per stay and has a fenced yard.

What’s the closest town to Cherry Log besides Blue Ridge?

Ellijay, about 10 to 15 minutes south. Cherry Log sits roughly halfway between the two towns.

Conclusion: Is Cherry Log Worth Visiting?

Yes. Cherry Log isn’t undiscovered anymore, but Fall Branch Falls, The Pink Pig and Expedition Bigfoot still live up to their reputation, and the woods around them are as quiet as anywhere in North Georgia. With downtown Blue Ridge and Ellijay each a short drive away, you’re never far from a good dinner.

Pick your season on purpose: fall for peak color and the Cherry Log Fall Festival, or a quiet weekday in spring or winter if you’d rather skip the crowds. Then choose a base that fits your trip, whether that’s deep in the Cherry Log woods or on the Blue Ridge side with downtown close by.

Covered pavilion with outdoor fireplace and mountain views at Chalet Blue Ridge · Chalet Blue Ridge

If you want Cherry Log’s trails within a 20-minute drive and downtown Blue Ridge within 7, Chalet Blue Ridge has room for 10, a private hot tub for the end of a hiking day, and a fenced yard for the dog. Check availability and book direct for our best rate.

Written by Richard, STR Operations Manager for 6 years at Nest Awaits

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