The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at The Toccoa River Swinging Bridge
Blue Ridge, Georgia
May 6, 2021

Before you go, be sure to check https://www.blueridgemountains.com/things-to-do/outdoors/hiking/swinging-bridge/ for more information, any possible closures, and directions. This was not an easy bridge to find.

This 270 foot long hiking bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River and is over the Toccoa River on the Benton MacKaye Trail and the Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail in Fannin County. A popular destination for day-hikers, Benton MacKaye Trail thru-hikers, and paddlers making the journey down the Toccoa River Canoe Trail is the swinging bridge over the Toccoa River. It was built by the USDA Forest Service in cooperation with the Appalachian Trail Club in 1977, when extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway to Kennesaw Mountain was under consideration.

Below: The road into the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge was a narrow, curvy, dirt / gravel road 3.1 bumpy miles long. Luckily, the two RV Gypsies only met one on-coming car.

Below: The two RV Gypsies found a parking spot and began their hike to The Swinging Bridge.

Below: The Swinging Bridge over the Toccoa River is located on the Benton Mac Kaye Trail and the Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail in Fanion County. The trail to the bridge demanded caution because of uneven footing, and stumps everywhere, as seen in photos below.

Below: The two RV Gypsies finally reached The Swinging Bridge. This 270-foot long bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River. It was built by the USDA Forest Services in cooperation with the Appalachian Trail in 1977, when extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway to Kennesaw Mountain was under consideration.

Below: Views from each side of The Swinging Bridge

Below: The two RV Gypsies reached the far end of the bridge and took some photos of the area below.

Below: Lee Duquette decided to get down under the bridge. It was a big drop down, so he clung and dangled from some branches.

Below: Karen Duquette took photos of Lee Duquette after he was down under the bridge.

And Lee Duquette took photos of Karen Duquette, who was still up on the bridge.

Then Karen Duquette decided to join Lee Duquette under the bridge. But she did not go the hard route down that Lee took. She found an easier path down, on the other side of the bridge.

Below: There were streams of water everywhere.

Lee Duquette took pictures of Karen Duquette exploring under the bridge. As always, Karen likes to feel the temperature of the water, which is usually cold.

Karen Duquette instructed Lee Duquette on the easy way back up to the bridge. The path had one big step back up to the bridge, otherwise it was easy.

Then Karen Duquette took some photos of Lee Duquette who was back up on the bridge.

And Lee took photos of Karen Duquette down below the bridge. Because other people are not around, they feel safe wandering by themselves, but still in view of each other.

Below: Lee Duquette joined Karen Duquette down under the bridge again, to tell her he was ready to leave.

Below: Lee Duquette resting on a "Tree Stump Chair" on the way out.

Continue on in the order of travel to Blairsville, Georgia and Pappy's Trading Post's old cars and more.

OR

Go back to the May 2021 Georgia menu to explore Morganton and nearby cities in the order of your choice.

OR Continue navigation of this large website via the buttons below.
OR - - Click here for maps and descriptions of travel BY YEAR (not the best way)