The Paleo tribe of the Blue Ridge Mountains once called Big Canoe “The Enchanted Land.” Centuries later, the nickname holds up, and that land is now part nature reserve, part mountain retreat. About two-thirds of residents live there full-time, while others come up for the weekend. Whether they are there year-round or just a few days a month, anyone who enters the front gates at Big Canoe gets to enjoy sweeping views of the Appalachian Mountains and private hiking, fishing and golfing. “Big Canoe shines even on a rainy day,” says Charles Vecchio, a Realtor with Century 21 Results who has lived in the community for 17 years and is nicknamed “the Mayor of Big Canoe.” “It’s like a sanctuary, and it’s got something for everyone.”
Hiking, golfing, fishing and more in the Blue Ridge Mountains
In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there is always a way to enjoy the great outdoors. Local volunteers maintain over 20 trails ranging in length and skill level. Causal explorers can hike the wildflower-covered McDaniels Meadows Park Trails, advanced hikers can venture through the challenging Nancy Womack Trail, and those with four-wheel drive can race through the Upper or Lower Jeep Trails. Big Canoe also has three on-site lakes. Lake Petit has a marina and is stocked with rainbow trout all year for fishing, and Lake Disharoon and Lake Sconti are both popular for swimming and boating. The Mountain Golf Course has 27 holes through hills and valleys, and the Racquet Club operates 18 tennis and pickleball courts. The Wildcat Recreation Center, Big Canoe Chapel and over 50 clubs round out the many recreation and social offerings. “If you want to be a hermit in the mountains, you can,” says Maggie Hosmer, a Realtor with Harry Norman Realtors who has lived in Big Canoe for 16 years. “If you want to be social, we have clubs and a beautiful church to join.”
Reservation-only dining at Home Restaurant
Big Canoe residents don’t have to leave the front gates to grab dinner, thanks to the Mountains Grill on Lake Sconti. Outside the gates, Home Restaurant on Steve Tate Highway is less than a mile from the Wildcat Recreation Center. The restaurant is reservation-only and open for dinner between Tuesday and Friday. On these select nights, Home serves a rotating selection of small plates and entrees made of local ingredients. Lucky Hare, next to Home, also has limited hours. It is open for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, with a small tasting menu and an extensive wine list. North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall on Georgia Highway 400 (GA-400) is 22 miles away. The mall has dozens of clothing shops and grocery stores like Ingles Market and Publix.
Big Canoe’s cabins in the mountains
The community has homes for both full-time residents and visitors. One-story, circular cabins with wrap-around porches are popular with weekenders and sell for $300,000 to $400,000. Larger cabins between 2,000 and 4,000 square feet often have distinctive features, like tall A-frame shapes or real logs lining the outside. These properties are typically $400,000 to $700,000. Custom homes also fill Big Canoe, usually mixing modern features like asymmetric roofs with rustic stone and wood exteriors. A newer single-family home can cost $700,000 to $900,000, while larger, private estates overlooking the golf course or the mountains are $1 million to $2 million. Big Canoe’s subdivisions are private and built into hills and thick trees. The community’s CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, below the national average of 4. “I just left for 10 days, and my doors were unlocked; it’s that safe,” Vecchio says.
Atlanta commuters take Interstates 75 and 575
While Big Canoe is outside city life, weekenders and full-time commuters frequently drive the 68 miles into Atlanta. GA-400 connects to I-75 and I-575 to go into downtown. “People will still commute because they want to drive to work on a beautiful back road instead of sitting in Atlanta traffic,” Hosmer says. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is 70 miles away, and Big Canoe is within 20 miles of healthcare at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper.
Split between Pickens Schools and Dawson Schools
The community is in two public school districts. Pickens County School District serves the west side. Tate Elementary School, Jasper Middle School for grades 5 through 6, Pickens County Middle School for grades 7 through 8, and Pickens High School all earn B scores on Niche. Pickens High School focuses on fine arts, including visual art, dance and playwriting programs. Families on the east side can send their children to Dawson County School District. Robinson Elementary School and Dawson County Junior High School, for grades 8 through 9, have B scores, Dawson County Middle School for grades 6 through 7 has a B-plus grade, and Dawson County High School has a B-minus. Dawson Schools’ band, chorus, and theater programs are all hosted inside the district’s 1,000-person capacity venue. The University of North Georgia, one of six major military colleges in the country, is about 25 miles away.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Big Canoe
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Big Canoe Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Big Canoe, Jasper sell after 80 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Big Canoe, Jasper over the last 12 months is $622,750, up 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Private Log Home Retreat – Ideal for Second Home or Investment in Big Canoe.Tucked away on a serene, streamside lot, this handcrafted Tennessee log home is a turnkey escape with rare investor appeal. Whether you're seeking a peaceful second home or a high-demand short-term rental, this property checks all the boxes for quality, character, and location.Crafted with enduring 6"x8" white
REALLY BIG LONG-RANGE VIEWS! See the Atlanta Skyline from this beautiful home at the top of Big Canoe, located near the trail heads of some of the best hiking in the community. Live a casual lifestyle in this craftsman designed home and with the option to purchase it fully furnished, you can use it right away and start enjoying mountain living at its best. The home has beautiful vaulted wood
Luxury Mountain Home in Big Canoe with New Roof, 3 HVAC Systems & Long-Range Views | 160 Bluestern Dr SE Experience move-in ready mountain living in Big Canoe with this fully upgraded 5-bedroom custom home in the desirable Wildcat neighborhood. Unlike many mountain homes, all major systems have already been replaced in 2024, offering peace of mind and true turnkey convenience: New roofThree
Perfectly situated to capture breathtaking mountain views, this home seamlessly blends rugged natural beauty of the mountains with updated finishes.The expansive great room with a stone fireplace is framed by a dramatic wall of windows that brings the mountains right into your living room. Whether you are hosting guests or enjoying a quiet morning, the natural light and scenery are
352 Sanderlin Mountain Drive | Big Canoe, GA | $995,000Freshly relaunched and move-in ready, this beautifully maintained Big Canoe mountain home offers the perfect blend of comfort, functionality, and long-range mountain views.Recently refreshed following a successful estate transition, the home has been fully cleared, cleaned, and thoughtfully prepared for its next owner. The sellers
LARGE (2.81 acres) EASY BUILD LOT with a beautiful mountain view. EASY ACCESS, this lot is on the corner of Bellflower Dr and Petit Ridge Drive. Located just 7 minutes from the north gate, close to all the amenities in Big Canoe. The lot has a successful Level 3 Soil Test (Perc Test) and is ready to build on. Bring your builder and your plans and see what this beautiful piece of property will
A rare opportunity to own a move-in ready mountain retreat in Big Canoe that combines long-range views, updated interiors, and usable outdoor living-without the typical trade-offs. Located within this gated North Georgia community, the home offers a well-designed layout with updated finishes, creating a comfortable, move-in ready environment suited for full-time living or a second home. Natural
VIEW, VIEW, VIEW, Located in the prestigious Wildcat neighborhood on a quiet cul de sac street, minutes from the North Gate, this gently sloping lot with mountain views is a rare opportunity to have the convenience of Wildcat with a mountain view. The Seller originally purchased the lot in 2010 for $160,000 but plans have changed and the lot is no longer needed so someone is going to get a good
Build the Mountain Life You’ve Been Dreaming Of in Big Canoe Imagine waking up to layered mountain views, fresh North Georgia air, and the peaceful rhythm of nature just outside your door. This exceptional residential lot in Big Canoe offers the perfect setting to design your custom mountain retreat — whether you're ready to move up into your forever home or simplify into a lifestyle centered on
Don’t miss the opportunity to own a homesite in Big Canoe. Owner’s plans have changed, creating a great opportunity to build your dream mountain retreat in this beautiful community. $5,000 Capital Contribution Fee payable to Big Canoe POA at CO. Property transfers subject to Big Canoe developer’s Right of First Refusal per Class “A” Covenants.
Nothing compares to coming home to this. Nestled on a beautifully wooded 1.97-acre lot just minutes from the Big Canoe main gate, this fully remodeled mountain retreat offers the rare combination of convenience, privacy, and effortless everyday living. Step inside and immediately feel the impact of the dramatic two-story wall of windows flooding the great room with natural light, while a custom
Don't miss the opportunity to own a homesite in Big Canoe. Owner's plans have changed, creating a great opportunity to build your dream mountain retreat in this beautiful community. $5,000 Capital Contribution Fee payable to Big Canoe POA at CO. Property transfers subject to Big Canoe developer's Right of First Refusal per Class "A" Covenants.
This well-built home is available for a long-term lease beginning 7/15/2026. This is an unfurnished residence, and tenant will be responsible for all utilities. Pets are negotiable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to owner approval and any applicable pet fees or deposits. Tenant will have access to Big Canoe community amenities; however, use of these amenities is offered on
Brand New 3BR Townhome for Rent – Jasper, GA | $2,300/monthBe the FIRST to live in this brand-new construction townhome available April 23rd! 299 Summit View Ln, Jasper, GA $2,300/month Features:• 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Bathrooms• 2-Car Garage• Open-concept main floor• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring downstairs• Covered back patio• Access to
Enjoy yearround mountain living in this beautifully furnished 2 bedroom, 2 bath cabin on a quiet street at 112 Trout Lily Trail in the gated Big Canoe community of Jasper, GA. This moveinready home is available for a 12month lease and comes fully furnished, so you can start enjoying the mountains from day one. The openconcept main level features a cozy fireside living room, dining area, and
Once upon a time in beautiful North Georgia, under the biggest, sunniest, bluest sky you ever saw, there is the most charming, unique, cabin, Georgia's Hideaway, waiting for you.This special place is blessed with a lovely view of lake and woodlands, under tranquil trees, you are sure to spot a deer, turkey, woodpeckers or more, maybe an elusive bear, if they are not already bedded down for the
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