Amadahy Trail

Carters Lake is a man-made reservoir located on the Coosawattee River in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Gilmer and Murray counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. Carters Lake has 62 miles of shoreline and an average depth of 200 feet with a maximum depth of 450 feet.  It is the state’s deepest lake.  Amadahy is a Cherokee word meaning “forest water”, and the lake is named after Farrish Carter who owned property in this area in the 1800’s,. The US Army Corps of Engineers now manages the area, however, and the dam that creates Carter Lake is the tallest earthen dam east of Mississippi River.

This is a loop hike near Ellijay, GA that mostly follows the shoreline of Carter’s Lake. There isn’t a lot of elevation change on the trail, so it is a great hike if you are looking for a leisure walk with occasional views from the shoreline and across the water. Mountain bikers are also permitted to use this trail – so don’t be surprised to see them while you are hiking.