FreeToccoa River Swinging Bridge: Benton MacKaye Trail 270-Foot Suspension Bridge Hike
Visit on your scheduleNov 1 – Feb 28 · 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Daily Sunrise to Sunset year-round (Forest Service Road 816 subject to winter freeze advisories)
Toccoa River Swinging Bridge (Chattahoochee National Forest)Forest Service Rd 816, Suches, GA 30572 · 69.6 mi approx. from AtlantaDirections
All ages; short 0.4-mile round-trip walk from parking area to bridge; high clearance vehicle recommended on gravel FS 816
Free100% Free admission; Free trail parking; No national forest parking fees or permits required
About this adventure
Stretching 270 feet across the rushing waters of the Toccoa River in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Blue Ridge, this iconic swinging bridge is the longest suspension footbridge east of the Mississippi River. Built by the USDA Forest Service and the Appalachian Trail Club in 1977, the bridge sways gently above the crystal-clear mountain river. From the Forest Service Road 816 trailhead, the hike is an easy, family-friendly 0.4-mile round-trip walk along the Benton MacKaye Trail. In winter, crisp mountain air and bare hemlock and hardwood ridges offer unobstructed views of the river rapids, and sandy riverbank spots beneath the bridge make perfect resting areas for kids to skip stones.
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