The Oak Ridge Nature Trail is near Ellijay Georgia that takes approximately 1.2 miles to complete. The trail starts at a parking area on the road nearby the trail’s camping area. This trail is the development of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The path follows a ridge to the lakeshore before making an ascent to a ravine where it loops back to the trailhead. This is an easy and fairly short trail but it offers several surprises as you trek along this path that hugs the surrounding habitat.

From the parking lot, pace forward to a large wooden trail sign that is marked with the name of the trail. Move past the entrance of the trail as the treadway makes an ascent towards a 20th century roadbed that proceeds to the top of the hill. At this point, the pathway stays connected on the ridgetop where there is a bench. You can have this vantage point to view the picturesque beauty of the Carter’s Lake from a distance.

Carter’s Lake has several features for any outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, biking, boating, camping, and skiing. This lake is also surrounded by the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The formation of this lake was attributed to the Coosawatee River dam which was constructed in 1974 and then ended in 1977.

From the ridgetop, the path follows a series of downhill and uphill climb as it joins the shore of the lake. The water at Carter’s Lake is clean and is a refreshing break for your pet to cool down. Fishing in the lake is one of the outdoor activities that most visitors do here. From the lakeshore, continue to follow the trail with a climb up to a ravine where it affords you a third eco-system on this trail. The trail is also lined with tall overhead trees that make the path shaded.

Emerging out of the ravine section, you will pass by some benches which make a good rest stop for tired trekkers. Just a short distance from the benches, you will pass the marker that signifies the end of the trail. The marker is an old Trail Tree which was created and used by the Cherokee to mark trail routes as they make their journey from the Great Lakes to the southern Appalachians. On your way back, climb up the hill and go straight ahead along the path and do no turn left at either intersections until you finally reach the parking area.