Dade County, Georgia

Seek an adventure in a county seen through the clouds

Joshua Bowen heats up coffee for his mother, Cynthia Bowen on Wednesday before having lunch at the Yurt Village in Cloudland Canyon. The Dalton residents are enjoying a few days of mother-son bonding on one of Lookout Mountain's many scenic areas.
Joshua Bowen heats up coffee for his mother, Cynthia Bowen on Wednesday before having lunch at the Yurt Village in Cloudland Canyon. The Dalton residents are enjoying a few days of mother-son bonding on one of Lookout Mountain's many scenic areas.

It used to be you couldn't get to Dade through Georgia. Despite being a county in the state, early Dade was rugged and isolated and visitors had to travel through Tennessee or Alabama to reach it by road.

Today, Highway 59 runs straight through Dade and with plenty of opportunity for exploration and adventure, the county sees many more visitors than its early days.

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Trenton> At the heart of Dade County sits Trenton. The small town makes a perfect base point for day excursions and a variety of restaurants are sure to satisfy hunger after a day spent exploring, like Thatcher’s Barbeque and Grill at 35 Price St. While you’re there, be sure to look up, as hang gliders can be seen soaring thousands of feet above.

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Head to the clouds> Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon State Park offers a rugged landscape and scenic views.> Stay: Campsites, yurts and cottages are available for visitors looking to take their trip overnight.> Explore: A variety of trails give hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians a chance to explore the backcountry while a short walk offers incredible views of the canyon below.> Wild Cave Tours: Georgia Girl Guides leads cave tours that are guaranteed to leave you muddy, wet and ready to explore again.

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Come fly with me> Learn to hang glide at Lookout Mountain Flight Park, the largest and most popular full-time hang gliding school in the United States. Open year-round, weather permitting, the school offers morning classes and evening classes by arrangement. Come early and dress in long pants and running shoes.> In addition to the flight school, the park includes a resort with cabins, a swimming pool, volleyball courts and more. Visit hangglide.com for details.

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State of Dade> Legend says that in 1860, Dade seceded from the Union as a separate state when Georgia couldn’t decide if it would secede or not. While historians agree Dade never truly seceded, it is commonly agreed that on July 4, 1945, Dade rejoined the Nation with cheers and celebration.

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Fast Facts> Population: 16,389> Founded: 1837> History: Dade gets its name from U.S. Army Major Francis Langhorne Dade, who was stationed in central Florida to enforce the treaty that ended the First Seminole War. Dade’s detachment was attacked and all but three men were killed.

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