Toccoa River Swinging Bridge – Suches, Georgia - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Toccoa River Swinging Bridge

Suches, Georgia

They call this long foot bridge a swinging bridge, but really it's the bouncing you have to watch out for. 

View all photos
The Swinging Bridge The_Gut on Flickr (Creative Commons)
The Swinging Bridge The_Gut on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Over the (Toccoa) River and through the woods Patrick Denker on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Hiking over the Toccoa River Patrick Denker on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Dedication Plaque
463
1757
Top Places in Georgia
The Dwarf Castle
Alpharetta, Georgia
Howard Finster's Paradise Gardens
Summerville, Georgia
Junkman's Daughter
Atlanta, Georgia
 See All

Just a short quarter mile hike from the end of a fire service road in northern Georgia is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi. They call it a swinging bridge, but they don’t always mention the bouncing…

Where the Benton MacKaye Trail meets the Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail, in the fantastically named Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest, is a 270-foot hiker’s bridge high up over the Toccoa River. The bridge sways and jostles with every step, so – what else to call it but a swinging bridge. Built in 1977 by the National Forest Service, it is one of several like it in the southeastern United States. This one isn’t the highest (that honor goes to the Mile High Swinging Bridge in Linville, North Carolina), but it is the longest.

A swinging bridge is really just a scaled-down suspension bridge, but for feet instead of cars and trucks. Supported by simple anchoring at each end, with no towers or other supports in the middle, the weight is borne by the cables sloping down to the middle and back up again. Sure it swings from side to side, but it’s the up and down that makes it fun. 

 

Know Before You Go

Access the trail from the end of Fire Service Road 816, just east of the town of Blue Ridge - it's a short hike to the bridge. Campsites line the water under the bridge, and prime spots go fast. No reservations.

If you’re a little more adventurous, park at the Benton MacKaye parking area on Ga. Hwy. 60 and take the three-mile trail (six miles roundtrip)  to the north end of the bridge.

Finally, you can camp here! It’s primitive camping; first come; first served. Spots fill up fast along the river, but they are spectacular. The Toccoa River is known for its premier Trout fishing, so pack a pole and some bait.

forests bridges ecosystems
Nearby
The Arm of Buel Stanley
7.78 miles
Expedition Bigfoot (The Sasquatch Museum)
12.69 miles
The Appalachian Trail Shoe Tree
14.17 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Marker for Buel's arm, generously donated by one of his relatives
Blue Ridge, Georgia

The Arm of Buel Stanley

Turns out fishing with dynamite isn't all that safe.
Cherry Log, Georgia

Expedition Bigfoot (The Sasquatch Museum)

An impressive collection is dedicated to the legendary beast.
The Appalachian Trail Shoe Tree
Blairsville, Georgia

The Appalachian Trail Shoe Tree

An eerie site of reverence for those who have completed an epic journey.
The Zoo,Groovy Yard Art
Mineral Bluff, Georgia

The Zoo, Groovy Yard Art

The only zoo where you can buy animals that won't need feeding.
Related Places
"The Umbrella" at the base of the gorge
Şuşa, Azerbaijan

Hunot Gorge

A scenic canyon with thick forests and historic ruins.
Kakum Canopy Walkway
Assin South, Ghana

Kakum Canopy Walk

This series of rope-style bridges brings visitors into a jungle layer that is usually reserved for birds and monkeys.
Monteverde, Costa Rica

Reserva Curi Cancha

This wildlife refuge is home to more than 200 species of birds, as well as monkeys, lizards, and other wildlife.
Hancock, New York

Delaware Delicacies Smokehouse

At this small shop off a dirt road in the forest, the specialty is eel the owner caught and smoked himself.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web