Georgia State Parks to Visit if You're a Mountain Lover
We are 100% mountain lovers. We are not beach or city people. I will never live somewhere that doesn't have mountains, and I am so lucky to have grown up in the Appalachians. We live in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but we love to go visit the Smokies as often as possible. So if you love mountains also, check out some of these beautiful parks located in northern GA!
- Amicolola Falls: Located in Dawsonville, this park is more known for its falls. But it is nestled right in the mountains and is next to Chattahoochee National Forest. This park has a lot to do besides just the sites. There is a lodge, camping, hiking, playgrounds, and more.
- Black Rock Mountain: This is Georgia's highest state park, located in Rabun County. The views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are just phenomenal and you can see them from so many places in the park. You don't even have to hike to see the views! They have so many overlooks, as well as the Visitor Center having amazing views. They have a campground, cabins, a small lake, hiking trails, waterfalls, a playground and more.
- Cloudland Canyon: This park is located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, in Rising Fawn. Most people come to see the amazing views of the canyon or to hike down to the waterfalls. Cloudland Canyon is a very large park and is one of the best parks for hikers. You can stay in cabins, yurts or the campground.
- Fort Mountain: Located in Chatsworth, this park sits at the southern edge of the Cohutta Mountains. It is 2580 feet above sea level, so you definitely get some amazing views. They have a few different overlooks that you can hike to-one that is a bit of a hike near the fire tower, and one that is a very short, easy walk. This park has a lot to do, so if you want to stay, they have cabins and a campground. There is a lake for swimming, boating, fishing, there is also putt putt and playgrounds, as well as many hiking trails. Bears are frequent in this park so keep your eyes out for them. My kids and I have run into a mama and her two cubs while on the fire tower trail. They just left us alone and kept on going, so we did the same.
- F.D. Roosevelt: One of our absolute favorite parks. This park is located in Pine Mountain and is near Pine Mountain. It is Georgia's largest state park because it has so much land. There is over 40 miles of hiking trails, so it is a hikers dream. We love this park for the history it has and how the park has maintained that history in it's buildings and not modernized everything. They have beautiful original CCC cabins, a campground, a spring-fed pool, a small lake with canoe and kayak rentals and fishing, a playground, and as I said-miles upon miles of hiking trails.
- Panola Mountain: This is the only park on this list that we have not been to yet. It is a smaller version of Stone Mountain. Located in Stockbridge, this park is part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. This mountain is different from all the other mountains on this list because it is a granite mountain. At this park you can hike, fish and camp.
- Tallulah Gorge: Although this park is usually visited more for the gorge and the spectacular views of the waterfalls, it is located in the mountains. This park is in Tallulah Falls, near Toccoa. The park is a lot of hiking up stairs, but the views are phenomenal and so worth it. Visitors can camp, swim, hike, or even get a permit to climb the canyon and hike down to the canyon floor.
- Unicoi: This is another absolute favorite park of ours. Located just on the outskirts of Helen, Unicoi is a little park just out of the way in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Unicoi has so much to do and has some beautiful views. There is a lodge, barrel cabins, and a campground. There is a lake that you can swim, hike around, fish, boat or picnic by, and there are multiple other hiking trails. There a few playgrounds and multiple day use areas for picnics or time with family. For the adventurous ones, they even have a Zipline course!
- Vogel: Another park on the list that is a favorite park of ours. Vogel is actually located in Blairsville, where we live, and I have grown up going to this park, as well as raised my kids coming to this park. Vogel is on Blood Mountain, so you have to drive over the mountain a bit of ways to get to it. It is out of the way and we love that. The location makes it one of the best places to see beautiful fall foliage. Vogel has it's own small lake that you can swim in, hike around, canoe, kayak and paddle boat, and fish. You can rent a cabin or stay in the campground. There are plenty of hiking trails, as well as a putt putt course and 2 playgrounds.
Amicolola Falls State Park & Lodge
Black Rock Mountain State Park
Panola Mountain State Park
