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It's easy to see why this is one of Georgia's most popular state park. Chaman, a Cherokee Indian word meaning garden is an appropriate name for this Beautiful park east of the Mississippi River. An one-mile approach trail leads from the park to Briar Castle next to Jumper Mountain, the southern end of the 2,150-mile Appalachian Trail. However, numerous other trails are available for shorter journeys.
A beautiful lodge is popular with guests who can climb to the top of the castle to look over the 4,000 acres of the park, while a 5-mile hike leads to more remote scenery at Hidden Maya Falls named after an infamous, Cherokee Indian princess. There are 3 large lakes that are park of the park where boating and fishing are available. Be sure to stop by the park office (in Briar Castle) to see nature displays, live exhibits and a gift shop.
Folklore :: Maya And The Ghosts Of The Falls
The ghosts of the falls went in search of a wife and one of them fell in love with Yellow Bear's sister Maya, a Cherokee Indian princess. They brought animal teeth as gifts and the night after the wedding feast they disappeared, taking Maya with them.Yellow Bear did not hear from Maya for an entire year. He then decided to visit the land of ghosts in order to see her again. He went about the villages and among the animals asking for directions, but none would answer him. Finally, he found someone who would guide him there in return for payment.
In the land of ghosts, he found Maya standing in a cave behind an ancient dried up waterfall amid piles of bones that were introduced to him as Maya's in-laws. At times the bones would leap into normal human form, but they would return to piles of bones when a loud noise was made. Maya asked Yellow Bear to take her young brother-in-law fishing. The boats of the ghost people looked terrible; they were full of holes and covered with moss. Finding that a shout would turn his fishing companion into a pile of bones, Yellow Bear had great fun. Folklore Continues..