Cloudland Canyon State Park
Tucked away in Cloudland Canyon State Park is a mesmerizing world of wonderful nature and breathtaking views seen the edges of the canyon walls. Be sure to bring your camera to commemorate this underappreciated yet gorgeous hidden Georgian gem. You will definitely want to bring your camera for this one. Follow Sitton’s Gulch train for some of the best views down into the canyon and bluffs that stretch thousands of feet away. There are some magical creeks also gentling curving through the abyss and adding to the enchantment of the park. What are you waiting for? Try the road less traveled and prepare to be amazed by this unassuming state park. For more information, click here.
Chattahoochee National Forest
FIND Outdoors
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest provides the finest outdoor recreation opportunities and natural resources in Georgia. Featuring nearly 867,000 acres across 26 counties, thousands of miles of clear-running streams and rivers, approximately 850 miles of recreation trails, and dozens of campgrounds, picnic areas, and other recreation activity opportunities, these lands are rich in natural scenery, history and culture. For more information, click here.
Amicalola Falls State Park
Northeast of Dawsonville, Georgia, on the cusp of the North Georgia Mountains, sits Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge. A nature lover’s wonderland, it’s only 8 miles from the Appalachian Trail and within the Chattahoochee National Forest. The park is named after its most treasured feature, Amicalola Falls – a magnificent 729-foot waterfall that’s the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. In the thick of the spectacular terrain, stands Amicalola Falls Lodge – a beacon of comfort, rejuvenation, and true Georgia adventure. At Amicalola Falls Lodge, almost every room has a view. The breathtaking vistas and spectacular sunsets await behind the door. Time spent at a destination of this caliber turns an ordinary trip into a great escape. Whether you are planning a corporate meeting, a family reunion, a friendly mountain getaway or a romantic rendezvous, Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge offers amazing accommodations and world-class recreation on the southern tier of the Appalachian Mountain Range. For more information, click here.
Fort Yargo State Park
Fort Yargo State Park/Facebook
Located between Atlanta and Athens, this popular park features a 1792 log fort built by settlers for protection against Creek and Cherokee Indians. Today, visitors come to Fort Yargo for its wide variety of outdoor recreation and scenery. Overnight guests can choose from fully equipped cottages or cozy campsites. For a more unique experience, visitors can reserve lakeside “glamping” yurts, which are permanent canvas and wooden “tents.” Each yurt has furniture and electricity inside and a fire ring, picnic table and grill outside. A 260 acre lake offers a large swimming beach, fishing and boat ramps. Mountain bikers and hikers can test their endurance on 20.5 miles of trails. The park’s wooded disc golf course is exceptionally challenging. Fort Yargo State Park is also a beautiful location for outdoor weddings, reunions and other celebrations. Visitors have a choice of numerous facilities for all budgets, ranging from group shelters to lake-view pavilions. For more information, click here.
Vogel State Park
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 Cottages, campsites and primitive backpacking sites provide a range of overnight accommodations. The park’s 22 acre lake is open to non-motorized boats, and during summer, visitors can cool off at the mountain-view beach. This park is rich in history, with many facilities being constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during our nation’s Great Depression. The “CCC Boys” story is told in the park’s museum. The CCC museum is open seasonally. For more information, click here.