5.2 mile long Dawson County Road 225, all which had been GA 342, forms a cutoff from GA 183 to GA 52 in the northwest corner of the county. Known by two names, the different names apply to the portion of the highway north and south of GA 136, which traverses the route. To the north of GA 136, the road is known as Bailey-Waters Road and to the south it is known as Steve Evans Road.

Old GA 342 is located near Dawsonville and only a short ways from Amicalola Falls State Park. Located in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, many scenic drives and recreational opportunities are within a short distance of the former highway. The Kangaroo Conservation Center, a wildlife preserve for kangaroos, is also found along the highway itself.

First commissioned in 1961, GA 342 lasted for over 20 years. By January 18, 1982, the highway was fully decommissioned. GA 342 died as part of the Great Decommissioning of 1982, where a large number of state highways were turned back to local control at once. Dawson County was particularly strongly affected by this when GDOT eliminated this and five other highways from the state highway system in the county over a period from 1980-1985, including GA 9E, GA 226, GA 318, GA 136 Spur and part of GA 108 that briefly entered the county.

GA 342 and area highways northwest of Dawsonville. GA 136 Spur has also since been decommissioned. Note the proximity of the highway to Amicalola Falls State Park (1976 GDOT Map).