Locals call Suches the valley above the clouds, which is both accurate and a good piece of marketing. It is a small high basin in the Blue Ridge, ringed by mountains and cool in summer, with a hamlet at its centre, a school, a few shops and not much else. It sits at an elevation that makes it one of the few places in Georgia where snow regularly lies, and in winter the surrounding roads can be icy long after the lowlands have thawed.
What makes it famous among riders is the road. State Route 60 climbs out of the valley over Woody Gap, one of the high saddles of the Blue Ridge, where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road and walkers gather at the overlook, and then descends toward Dahlonega through forest in a long run of dips, curves and short straights. Another favourite, Wolf Pen Gap Road, wriggles up and over a neighbouring ridge with a succession of hairpins and tight, narrow bends that demand concentration; it is narrow, with a poor surface in places, and sees plenty of gravel and fallen leaves. Cyclists share these roads, and in good weather you may find yourself among a small crowd.
The history of the area is the history of the Cherokee and of the gold seekers who displaced them. Lake Winfield Scott, a small reservoir in the forest nearby, offers camping and a swim, and Blood Mountain, one of the highest points on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, rises to the north-east. The name Blood Mountain is said to come from a battle between the Cherokee and the Creek, though the story is hard to confirm. The forest here is hardwood, with oak, hickory and poplar, and in spring, wildflowers, flame azalea and mountain laurel.
Services in Suches are limited. There is no reliable fuel in the valley, so fill up in Dahlonega, twenty-one kilometres away, or Blairsville, and carry what you need for the day. A small store serves coffee and snacks, but most of the real food is in the larger towns. In autumn the colour is spectacular and the roads are crowded, so aim for a weekday; in winter, check whether the passes are icy before you set out. Mist often fills the valley in the morning, and the sun burns it off by ten.