Young Harris is the smallest of the four towns we serve and, in a lot of ways, the most surprising. Fewer than 1,200 people live here, and yet there’s a liberal arts college, a resort golf course, a working vineyard, and one of the best bluegrass festivals in the Southeast within a few minutes’ drive.
It sits in a valley between Brasstown Bald and the North Carolina line, on Highway 76 between Hiawassee and Blairsville. Our office is here, so this is the town we know best.
Crane Creek Vineyards
Georgia wine surprises people. Crane Creek has been growing grapes in this valley for decades, and the tasting room sits in a genuinely lovely spot with mountains on every side and a creek running past the picnic tables.
Bring lunch, buy a bottle, and sit outside. That’s the whole activity, and on a warm afternoon it’s hard to improve on. Check current tasting room hours before you drive over, especially in winter.
Brasstown Valley Resort
The resort anchors the east side of town, and you don’t have to stay there to use much of it. The 18-hole Scottish-links-style golf course is open to the public and routinely ranks among Georgia’s better mountain courses. There’s also a spa, a restaurant, stables, and hiking trails on the property.
For guests staying in our cabins, it’s a useful thing to know about: you get the privacy and space of a cabin, and a resort’s amenities fifteen minutes away when you want them.
Young Harris College
Founded in 1886, the college gives this small town a cultural calendar it has no business having. The campus is genuinely pretty — worth a walk through even if you have no connection to it.
Keep an eye on the college calendar for concerts, theater, and lectures open to the public. The Rollins Planetarium hosts public shows and is a great rainy-day option with kids.
The Appalachian Trail and Track Rock Gap
The A.T. runs just north of town along the state line, and there are several good access points nearby for a day hike without committing to anything serious.
More unusual is Track Rock Gap, between Young Harris and Blairsville — one of the most significant petroglyph sites in the southeastern United States. Soapstone boulders carved with animal tracks, crosses, and human footprints, made by Creek and Cherokee peoples. It’s a short walk from a small parking area, it’s free, and it’s genuinely old in a way that’s hard to find. Please treat it with respect; the carvings are fragile and federally protected.
Events worth planning around
- The Dailey & Vincent Music Fest — three days of championship bluegrass in mid-September, hosted at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds a few minutes down the road.
- PorchFest — in late September, downtown porches become stages for an afternoon of free live music. Exactly as charming as it sounds.
- The Annual Tree Lighting at Mayor’s Park in early December — the whole town turns out.
Our events page tracks current dates across all four towns.
Lake Chatuge and the mountains
Young Harris sits minutes from Lake Chatuge, with public access points for boating, kayaking, and fishing, and it’s one of the closest towns to Brasstown Bald — Georgia’s highest point at 4,784 feet, with a four-state view from the summit deck.
Bell Mountain in Hiawassee is about fifteen minutes east, and you can drive nearly to the top for one of the best sunset views in North Georgia.
Eating and drinking
The scene is small — a handful of local spots in town, more options a short drive away in Hiawassee or Blairsville, and the resort restaurant when you want something nicer. Between the vineyard, the local places, and the breweries in the wider area, you won’t struggle for a good evening.
Ask us for current recommendations. Small-town restaurants change hands, and we know what’s actually good right now.
When to visit
September and October are the best months — bluegrass, PorchFest, peak foliage, and comfortable hiking weather all land in this stretch. It’s also when we book out first.
Summer is lake season, and elevation keeps the evenings pleasant.
Spring brings wildflowers, full waterfalls, and quieter trails.
Winter is genuinely peaceful. Bare trees open up the long views, rates come down, and a cabin with a fireplace is exactly the right call.
Staying in Young Harris
Little Bear Rentals is based right here at 1763 St Hwy 17. We manage cabins and homes throughout Young Harris and the surrounding valley — mountain views, hot tubs, pet-friendly options, and larger homes for groups.
Being local isn’t a marketing line for us in this town. If something needs attention during your stay, we’re minutes away.
Browse our Young Harris rentals →
Call us at 706-896-2327.
