Miles and miles away from the vast plains of Georgia's famous red clay, the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway presents a totally different looking Georgia terrain. Located in the northwest corner of the state, the 51 mile byway offers sightseers a look at a mountainous northern Georgia, 150 year old Civil War battlefields, the Armuchee Ridges, and a land once dominated by the Cherokee Indian Nation. Traveling the back roads of U.S. Route 127 and Georgia highways 136 and 156, byway visitors are reminded of a last ditch effort to save Atlanta at the Battle of Jonesborough. Visit the historic Scoggin House, spend time fishing at Marvin Lake or hike to the 60 foot Keown Falls.
   One of the best viewpoints of the Ridge and Valley Loop is found from the overlook at John's Mountain. This sweeping view captures valley farmland and the timberland of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.
   The Johns Mountain Loop trail offers a bird's eye view from each side of Johns Mountain Ridge, and a starting point for the Keown Falls Trail. Depending on rainfall at the Keown Falls Scenic Area, Keown Falls ranges from a trickle to a spectacular waterfall during the wet season. It’s a two mile winding road up to Johns Mountain Overlook, but well worth the few minutes' drive from the Ridge and Valley Byway.

     Byway Map