State Parks
Day Trips
Amicalola Falls
Phone: 706-344-1500
418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534
Amicalola Falls, located within Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia, is a breathtaking 729-foot cascading waterfall, the tallest in Georgia and considered one of the state’s Seven Natural Wonders. The falls and the surrounding 829-acre park offer a diverse landscape of North Georgia mountain wilderness within the Chattahoochee National Forest, attracting visitors with stunning views and a variety of outdoor activities. Notably, the park is home to the Approach Trail, an 8-mile path that leads to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the famed Appalachian Trail.
Unicoi State Park
Phone: 706-878-2201
Unicoi State Park, is in the Chattahoochee National Forest just north of Helen, Georgia, encompasses 1,050 acres of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. The park’s centerpiece is the stunning 53-acre Unicoi Lake, offering opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing, and paddle boating. Established in 1954 and once known as the “Outdoor Recreation Experiment Station” in the 1960s, Unicoi boasts a rich history and a diverse landscape of forests and mountain terrain. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking along 12 miles of trails, mountain biking on an 8-mile loop, ziplining through the forest canopy, and trying their hand at archery or hatchet throwing. With a range of accommodation options from lodge rooms and cabins to RV and tent campsites, Unicoi State Park serves as an ideal mountain retreat and a gateway to explore the surrounding attractions like Anna Ruby Falls and the Bavarian-themed town of Helen.
Vogel State Park
405 Vogel State Park Road
Blairsville, GA 30512
One of Georgia’s oldest and most beloved state parks, Vogel is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Driving from the south, visitors pass through Neel Gap, a beautiful mountain pass near Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia. Vogel is particularly popular during the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains transform into a rolling blanket of red, yellow and gold leaves. Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, including the popular 4-mile Bear Hair Gap loop, an easy lake loop that leads to Trahlyta Falls, and the challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail.
Fort Mountain State Park
Park: 706-422-1932
Reservations: 800-846-7275
181 Fort Mountain Park Road
Chatsworth, GA 30705
Murray County
Fort Mountain State Park, is in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Chatsworth, Georgia, encompasses 3,712 acres of scenic mountain terrain. The park’s namesake is an ancient, mysterious 855-foot-long rock wall located near the mountain’s summit, believed to have been constructed by early Native Americans between 500 and 1500 CE for either fortification or ceremonial purposes. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) played a significant role in developing the park in the 1930s, constructing many of its facilities, including a distinctive stone fire tower that offers panoramic views. Visitors to Fort Mountain State Park can enjoy over 25 miles of hiking trails that wind through hardwood forests and blueberry thickets, a 17-acre lake with a swimming beach and fishing opportunities, mountain biking trails, and even horseback riding. The park also features fully equipped cottages, campsites, and picnic areas, making it an ideal destination for outdoor recreation and exploring a site steeped in intriguing history and natural beauty.