# Toccoa River Swinging Bridge: Benton MacKaye Trail 270-Foot Suspension Bridge Hike > Place to go for families in the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell area (GA). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Daily Sunrise to Sunset year-round (Forest Service Road 816 subject to winter freeze… - Dates: Sun, Nov 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: Toccoa River Swinging Bridge (Chattahoochee National Forest), Forest Service Rd 816, Suches, GA 30572 - Ages: All ages; short 0.4-mile round-trip walk from parking area to bridge; high clearance vehicle recommended on gravel FS 816 - Price: 100% Free admission; Free trail parking; No national forest parking fees or permits required - Schedule: Daily Sunrise to Sunset year-round (Forest Service Road 816 subject to winter freeze advisories) - Organizer: U.S. Forest Service & Benton MacKaye Trail Association - Official page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/conf - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/toccoa-river-swinging-bridge-benton-mackaye-trail-270-foot-suspension--listing-c7f0fc39c666346f4ea50c62 ## About 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. ## Similar picks in Atlanta - [Amicalola Falls State Park: Georgia's 729-Foot Waterfall Winter Hike](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/amicalola-falls-state-park-georgia-s-729-foot-waterfall-winter-hike--listing-fda8edb610cdf30bccf8b2e4) — Daily 7:00 AM–Dark; Visitor Center open 8:00 AM–5:00 PM · Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, Dawsonville · All ages · From $10 · checked Nov 4. 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