Short-lived GA 343 in Rabun County makes up what is today probably the most scenic stretch of U.S. 441 in Georgia, replacing an old alignment of U.S. 441 that today is still a popular byway for recreation and weekend travelers. Extending from present-day Terrora Circle in Tallulah Falls to the Wiley community, the road cuts a sweeping path across the upper reaches of Tallulah Gorge and bypasses the Lakemont community to the east, offering sweeping mountain views that the old route never had. The only part of GA 343 that is not part of U.S. 441 today is a small connector that formed the transition back to the old U.S. 441 in Wiley. That road is today is part of C.R. 21 locally known as Wiley Road.

Attractions in and arround this section of U.S. 441 are abundant. Numerous area waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Lake Terrora, Lake Rabun, Lake Seed, Lake Burton and shopping in the nearby tourist-friendly towns of Clayton and Clarkesville.

Construction began on the first phase of a new alignment for winding and slow-moving U.S. 23 and 441 between Tallulah Falls and Clayton. Passing through several small towns, the road was outmoded early on. Construciton began in the late 1950's with the bridges completed by 1959 on this new route that would replace the portion of U.S. 441 from Wiley to Tallulah Falls.

When completed, GA 343 was born. First appearing in 1962, GA 343 was a highly unusual route indeed. Designated along what would eventually become U.S. 441, the highway started out as a new alignment of U.S. 441 with the five-mile portion of the old road through Lakemont retained as GA 15.

Compare the maps showing GA 343 in 1962 to 1964. In 1964, it appears that part of Old U.S. 23/441 along present-day Terrora Circle was briefly recommissioned and U.S. 441 moved back to the old route while work on the new U.S. 441 east of Clayton was being completed. Note that all of GA 343 is today U.S. 441.

What is interesting to note is what appeared to take place in the final year of the highway. Note that U.S. 23/441 appears to have been routed back onto present-day Terrora Circle with GA 343 extended south. With this scenario, there is a short stretch where U.S. 441 would have had to follow part of GA 343 meaning that for about a block, U.S. 23/441, GA 15 and GA 343 all overlapped before U.S. 23/441 left the route again through Lakemont.

Also note that GA 343 exists in the last map independent of U.S. 441. This bizarre scenario around GA 343 evaporated in 1965 when the new highway was completed north of Clayton. As a result, GA 15 and U.S. 441 was moved to GA 343, Old U.S. 441 was turned over to Rabun County and GA 343 was decommissioned.