Hiking in Georgia State Parks

Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge

Situated in north-central Georgia about 70 miles from Atlanta, Amicalola Falls is described by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as one of the state's most popular parks. The park is home to an 8.5-mile route leading to Springer Mountain, itself the southern terminus of the famous Appalachian Trail. Another special trail of the park is the 5.5-mile path to the Len Foote Hike Inn, an eco-lodge situated deep in the forest with 20 bunk bed-equipped rooms, hot water and electricity. The park's other trails are most of the 1/2-mile or one-mile variety, granting access to the scenery along Amicalola Creek or its 729-foot waterfall.

Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge
418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road
Dawsonville , GA 30534
706-265-4703
gastateparks.org

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Cloudland Canyon State Park is located in northwestern Georgia on the southern end of Lookout Mountain, about 30 miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The park has three hiking trails covering roughly five or six miles of ground. One of these, the West Rim Loop Trail, is described by the Deptartment of Natural Resources as "one of the most scenic hiking trails in the Southeast" and offers views of Sand Mountain, Cloudland Canyon and access to primitive, walk-in camping sites. The two-mile Backcountry Loop Trail also has access to a series of primitive, walk-in camping sites among the park's hemlock groves. The park's final trail is only one mile long, but is rated as strenuous due to its steep climb down to and then back from the pool of a scenic waterfall.

Cloudland Canyon State Park
122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road
Rising Fawn, GA 30738
706-657-4050
gastateparks.org

Providence Canyon State Park

Providence Canyon is in west-central Georgia, about 120 miles from Macon. The park comes with a network of nine short, one-way trails leading out from the visitor center and into forks in the canyon, plus two longer paths. The 2 1/2-mile Canyon Loop Trail circles the canyons explored by the nine aforementioned canyon trails, and those trails plus the Canyon Loop can be stitched together into a thorough exploration of the northeast corner of the park. More demanding is the seven-mile Backcountry Trail, rated by the park as rugged and difficult. The path follows the route of a disused logging road deep into the park's forest, and most of Providence Canyon's primitive camping sites are situated along its route. The beginning and end of the trail are both found along the Canyon Loop Trail.

Providence Canyon State Park
8930 Canyon Road
Lumpkin, GA 31815
229-838-6870
gastateparks.org