Floyd: Nature, Trails and Cave Spring

Floyd County in Georgia combines nature areas with Cave Spring, whose springs and historic sites offer their own reasons to visit. The two wildlife management areas differ considerably in size and activities: Arrowhead includes lakes and managed waterfowl impoundments; Berry College WMA is much larger and has biking, horseback riding and hiking trails. If you’re looking for a hotel in Floyd, you can narrow down the focus of your stay—fishing, trails in a nature area or Cave Spring—before searching.

Nature Areas and Activities

The 338-acre Arrowhead Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Floyd County is mostly covered by mature mixed forest of pine and hardwood trees. The landscape also includes lakes and managed waterfowl impoundments. By comparison, Berry College Wildlife Management Area, also located in Floyd County, covers 15,609 acres. The two areas therefore differ considerably in size alone.

Fishing is available year-round at the lakes and ponds of Arrowhead WMA. A special rule applies to adults aged 18 and over: they must be accompanied by a child or teen aged 17 or younger. Check the current regulations before fishing. The area also lists hiking, geocaching, hunting, wildlife viewing and youth fishing as activities. Geocaching is subject to seasonal restrictions and restrictions related to managed hunts.

At Berry College WMA, visitors can bike, hike, watch wildlife and ride horses. A permit issued by Berry College is required for horseback riding. Trails may close seasonally, including during some hunting seasons, so check current trail conditions before setting out. This makes the choice between the areas directly relevant to your plans: Arrowhead is designated for year-round fishing, while Berry College offers biking and horseback riding trails.

Cave Spring: History, Water and Trails

Cave Spring is in southwestern Floyd County, at the western end of Vann's Valley. The town is 75 miles northwest of Atlanta and 16 miles from Rome. The address is 24 Broad Street, Cave Spring, Georgia. This location connects the town with the county as well as two larger regional landmarks.

One historic landmark in Cave Spring is the Vann Cherokee Cabin. Avery Vann of the Cherokee Nation built the cabin in 1810; it opened to the public in 2016. Its construction and later opening are distinct milestones in its history. The site offers a chance to learn about the area not only through its nature but also through a specific historic structure.

The 1.5-acre, spring-fed Rolater Lake is open for swimming. The swimming season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day; check current local advisories before swimming. Cave Spring's source also feeds a reflection pond and a shallow creek where small children can splash. The lake, pond and creek are separate bodies of water, each offering a different way to experience a visit.

Routes are also part of getting around Cave Spring: the Pinhoti Trail runs through Rolater Park. U.S. Bicycle Route 21 passes through Cave Spring and connects Atlanta with Chattanooga. This links a hiking trail in the park and a long-distance bicycle route with the town, though they are not the same route or the same mode of travel.

Planning Your Stay

The Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority offers 27 parks, pavilions and six recreation centers in Floyd County, including in Lindale, Armuchee, Shannon, Coosa, Garden Lakes and downtown Rome. Since the number and offerings may change, check the Authority's current information if you plan to visit one of these places.

Georgia's Rome Office of Tourism is the official destination and sports marketing organization for Rome, Cave Spring and Floyd County. It promotes the area to leisure travelers as well as for conventions, meetings, film productions, sports and events. This gives business and event travelers, as well as vacationers, an overview of the different reasons to visit that the organization serves.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Rome, Carroll County, Murray County, Cobb, Towns County, Bryan, Evans County, Troup.

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.