We were in the area to do some site seeing and hiking in the area. We followed this awesome couple…read moreon youtube back when they thru hiked the AT a few years back. We continued to follow them the next few years on some of their adventures and actually got to support them for a day when they did a thru hike of the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. Their hostel is such a warm and comfortable space, and they are such gracious hosts. They shuttled us around town when we needed it, they told us all about the area, gave great suggestions of places to see, and they even made arrangements for me with a local fly fishing guide! This was such a great stop on our journey and Franklin is such a cool area with lots to do. When talking to them about why they started a hostel, they said they wanted to support the hiking community and wanted to make a hostel that checked all of the boxes of things they were looking for in a hostel through the eyes of a thru hiker. We are not thru hikers but I think they have accomplished that and then some!

Amazing Folks. They will pick up hikers at Winding Stair Gap and take them back to their amazing…read morehostel. At the hostel there is plenty of food, drinks and snacks for you to purchase. The shower is hot and they have a laundry area. The bedrooms are just the right size for 4 people. If you are hiking the Appalachian Trail or just need a place to hang your hat at night, this is the place. Awesome living room area for you to relax in. Nice seating area outside. During hiking season they provide an amazing breakfast for the hikers who stay.

This place is really cute. I was a lil disappointed because…read morewe booked the container, which we really wanted to try for the first time but looks like they were having some heater issues so they offered to upgrade us to the king cabin and it was really nice. The facilities is quite small but they have a lil fire pit and some games you can play outside if the weather is good. The ladies on the reception were very friendly. The only couple things I didn't like was that they cabins are too close to each other and there ia no privacy. And the other thing was the wall heater was set to a temperature and we couldn't make it warmer. They had a space heater but it was a very cold night and I was still cold inside.

I'm writing in regard to the King Cabin Suite--…read more I took away a star for a couple reasons. The bathroom sink water tasted/smelled like moth balls, which was weird. The bed definitely needs new pillows, as the current ones are very lumpy. Upon arrival, the concierge was very welcoming and made a special point to explain how the hotel has a partnership with Paul Thomas Chocolates in Dahlonega. She gave us a coupon that said (and she very explicitly said) it was good for one free piece of chocolate bark *per person* in the party, so my partner and I were entitled to a total of 2 free pieces of chocolate. When we took the coupon to the chocolate shop, the young man working there refused to honor it. He said he had always been told to give one piece of chocolate only. We asked him to read the coupon again because this was not what it stated, nor was it what the concierge said. He still refused. My boyfriend told him that the partnership needed to fix their coupons if they weren't going to honor them. Anyway, the cabin was clean and cozy, and the bed was very comfortable other than the pillows. Sheets were buttery soft. Overall I was happy with our stay.

I met Colin on top of Albert Mountain. He was hiking up with a guy he was supporting finishing up…read morethe AT. I maybe spent 15 minutes with him but my take is that he truly has a passion for what he does and helping folks on their journeys. He cares about the trails, picking up trash and hauling back garbage. Most importantly, when I got back to my truck after my backpacking trip, he had left a box with 4 jars of AsMaster chafing cream for me. Thanks Colin!

Clean, friendly and great atmosphere. Runs shuttles to the trail and is close to the center of townread more

This was my first time here and nerve-wrecking, but we were here for the birthday girl's 50th…read morebirthday wish. Half of us ladies had never done white water rafting before. There were 2 guides for our crew with 2 different rafts. Jeremy helped trained us on how to raft and what to do if we or someone were to fall. Our raft had Jeremy and our friends had the other guide, Dale (an older gentleman). Jeremy was awesome! He helped give us a brief history of all the landmarks and even popped a few corny jokes here and there. I felt like we were the fun raft b/c the other raft seemed very quiet. Heard from the other ladies later on that they didn't have any brief history commentaries and Dale didn't really converse with them unless he was asked a question. So glad we got Jeremy...stating so, we were extra super glad we had him b/c our friend fell off the raft!!! She couldn't swim either and due to the way the currents were, she had to glide down with the water while we quickly move the raft to where she was. Everything we learned went out the door. Jeremy dropped her once or twice while the rest of us were hit with thick tree branches, breaking them with our backs, heads, and ears...it was scary, but Jeremy saved the day and was able to safely pull our friend back into the raft. It was very scary and honestly, I will never white water raft again even though our guide was a professional and awesome. I never wanted to do it and this would be the last time. With our last "bump" before the end of the river, I fell off my seat into the raft and couldn't even get back up. Yep, no more for me, but thank you to Jeremy and Carolina Outfitters for an experience never to forget! You're a cutie, but nope, not for me :P

**Rafting review** I…read moremade the reservation online which was super simple to do. When we got there, it was easy to check-in. You then get a quick review about how to raft, plus you get fitted with a personal flotation device, and get a paddle We did a guided ride down the 2-3 lower rapids since we had 4 kids with us. Our guide was Cookie and I HIGHLY, like VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND you ask for if you go on a guided ride. He was amazing which I will get to in a bit. The bus ride to the top of the water a quick one. Every helps carry the raft down to the water's edge. Cookie was our guide. He was amazing! Seriously he let the kids "take the lead" and they really enjoyed all of the conversations with him. We were all laughing on the trip. He taught us how to do spins in the tube and really tried to get the kids wet since you know that's what they wanted. The kids even wanted him to hang out with us afterwards. We did a Friday afternoon which was great because the water wasn't too busy. When we drove by on Saturday, the parking lot was PACKED! You are going to want to wear shoes that can get wet and comfy clothes. Don't worry about bringing your phone. You won't have time to use it. Bring money to TIP the bus driver and your guide. They deserve it!! We will definitely be doing this trip again during our next visit.

The facilities were very nice and the location is beautiful. Each meal served in the dining hall…read morewas very good and there was plenty of food as well as a dessert. The rooms get a little warm at night but they each have a ceiling fan which helps.

Though you don't have to a Christian group to utilize this retreat center, there is no mistake that…read moreChrist is the focus of Eagle Rock Retreat! The drive up to Eagle Rock isn't bad until the last 2.5 miles which is steep and full of switchbacks. Luckily the traffic tends to be light so you shouldn't meet too many other vehicles along the way. Eagle Rock isn't even at the "top"...the Top of the World is (but that's another check in). The retreat itself is rather small, property wise. There is a lodge, a barn, a small camp store, a bunk house, and the lodge. The greatest part if this site is the view. It's stunning! I had the opportunity to go into the lodge which is gorgeous, clean, and inviting. Grab a seat and if your are blessed, your room will be in this building instead of in the bunk house which is more open and more like a hostel. The front porch had rockers to enjoy but sit on the ones on the back porch! This is where the views are breathtaking. The devotional amphitheater is also remarkable. Honestly I hope to get a chance to stay here one day instead of stopping in as a guest speaker at someone else's retreat.

Great bare bones respite after a long hike. If you need hiker laundry, get here before 3pm…read more Otherwise you'll be washing in the sink. :(

My father and I hiked 11miles from Woody Gap to Neels Gap in one day. We were very tired and hoped…read moreto get a spot at Mountain Crossings Hostel but knew we wouldn't make it in time. From the top of blood mountain we texted the owner of the cabins and she was nice enough to leave an envelope with our name and keys for a cabin at the office telling us we could settle with her in the morning. We found the raccoon cabin to be spacious and the hot shower refreshing after a long day of hiking. We cooked our dehydrated meals on the back porch enjoying the serene blood mountain wilderness around us. Mountain crossings was a mere five minute walk from our cabin and we were able to buy a frozen pizza from them which we cooked in our cabin. If your a weary hiker on the AT this is a great place to get a hot shower and sleep in a real bed.

From NICE to NIGHTMARE! Don't try to call, email or text any…read morepre-trip questions. They don't answer. My hubby & I stayed 4 nights. 1st 3 happy. No staff, but room clean & we got access code on check in day. Night 3 we return to room 10:40pm tired as heck, room access pad dead. Text, then call emergency # on kitchen board. Straight to full maibox. Within 10mins I get a call. Lady tries to help to no avail. Says will call me back. After 15 mins I text again. Hubby has to pee, no other bathrooms. She texts maintenance will be here 20-30mins! I text that is unacceptable as It's already been an HOUR! I NEVER GET A RESPONSE AFTER THAT. 1.5 hours after I spoke to host, 2 guys show up, retrieve cup of 20 keys in kitchen, none marked, none work. Guy tries to get keypad off with some tool, NOPE! Asks his assistant to "google photo" the lock & now asking google how to get in when keypad dead. Seems to be reading reddit responses, 1 of which is "get a ladder" - they laugh. Out to truck to get crow bar. Takes 2 of them to RIP keypad off leaving HOLE IN DOOR. it's 1:30am. (We called her at 10:40pm) I text host we are in. No answer. Guy says he'll get a slide lock so we can lock door. Comes back with another door handle and key and says, so you can lock it from ouside, leaves key on table. In morning, I attempt to open our door to go for breakfast and IT'S LOCKED FROM OUTSIDE & KEY IS IN ROOM!!! The door handle he put in has no lock button on inside!! I basically pull with all my might since the hole he put in door is so large and door finally opens!! I text the host that maintenance LOCKED US IN ROOM, but we pulled it open and now there is no way to lock the door without getting locked in. No answer! At breakfast, there is sign on dishwasher "BROKEN" and there are no coffee cups, only what was in our room. The spoons in the drawer are not clean (have yogurt left on them). I go upstairs and get my coffee cup from yesterday and use that. We LEAVE OUR ROOM OPEN AND AJAR so we can get back in, and SLEEP WITH A BOOK in door frame so we DON'T GET LOCKED IN AGAIN! Ladies across hall, 2 middle aged sisters and their mom celebrating mom's birthday, said their pull out couch would not pull out, and they got no response when texted the number or called, so just slept on top of skinny couch. Owners CLEARLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS INN in a WONDERFUL LOCATION IN A BEAUTIFUL CITY. I NEVER GOT ANY RESPONSE AFTER MY TEXT THAT 30 MINUTES MORE FOR MAINTENANCE WAS UNACCEPTABLE. WE HAD TO LIVE WITH A DAMAGED DOOR WE COULDN'T CLOSE FOR ONE MORE NIGHT AND SLEEP WITH IT OPEN!!!

This hotel has deceitful refund policies. We booked thru hotels.com and cancelled on 4/12 for a…read more6/16 stay. Within the full refund window for cancellation. Now we are out $207.40 and despite numerous emails back and forth, no refund as of late May. Beware as hotels.com gives them very high ratings while google reviews show the true state of this hotel.