Amazing Places to Hike in the Georgia Mountains
The Georgia mountains are so naturally beautiful, that it is hard to resist the urge to go outside on a nice day. Fortunately, there are some amazing hikes and trails that highlight the best of the area!
The most famous trails in Georgia are the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail, which draw thousands of hikers each year. While there are a small handful of hikers who complete the 2000+ miles of the Appalachian Trail each year, most hikers choose to hike a much smaller section.
Hiking in North Georgia Mountains
In addition to these well-known challenging trails, there are many other great places to find easy hikes in the Georgia mountains! Choose your challenge level and set out to explore the quiet paths and clean air of these beautiful mountains.
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Hiking Options and Trails in the Georgia Mountains
To get the most out of your adventures, you’ll want to do some advance planning and select the right trail for your party. This is a small collection of local favorites, but you can also take advantage of other books, maps, websites, and other resources available to find a great hiking trail.
North Georgia Hiking Trails
Amicalola Falls
Located in Amicalola Falls State Park, this park has the tallest cascading waterfall East of the Mississippi River. There are 10 trails emanating from the park, including the 8.5-mile Approach Trail that runs from the park to Springer Mountain (the southern terminus of the famous Appalachian Trail).
In addition to the trails, waterfalls, and natural beauty, there is a lodge, restaurant, and options for unique adventures like axe throwing, ziplining, archery, scavenger hunts, animal meet-and-greets, and wilderness survival sessions!
Amicalola Falls State Park in the Georgia Mountains
Amicalola Falls State Park hours are 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. All cars require a $5 GA State Park Pass.
Appalachian Trail
At 2,192 total miles, The Appalachian Trail (the AT) is the ultimate challenge for serious hikers on the East Coast. However, hiking smaller sections of the AT can also be an enjoyable way to take a quick day hike. The trail receives 3 million visitors each year, but only a small handful of these visitors attempt to travel the entire length through 14 states.
Although the trail starts in Georgia, only 79 miles of the AT run through the state, with parts that range from easy to challenging (rating 2 – 7) and elevation changes from 2,510′ – 4,461′. Almost half of the AT in Georgia passes through federally designated wilderness areas.
Appalachian Trail Markers in Georgia Mountains
The Appalachian Trail starts at Springer Mountain, which is an 8.5-mile hike from the drop-off point at Amicalola Falls.
Bartram Trail
The multi-state Bartram Trail that follows William Bartram’s 18th-century route through 8 southern colonies has just over 30 miles of trails in Northeast Georgia. Explore the gentler Warwoman Dell Nature Trail (0.4 miles) or try the more challenging Rabun Bald Trail (3 miles) for rewarding 360° views from Georgia’s second-highest peak!
Multi-state historic Bartram Trail
Learn more about the history and current status of the trail from the Bartram Trail Conference.
Benton MacKaye Trail
Named for the man who originally conceived and fought for the concept of the Appalachian Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail is also a favorite trail in the Georgia mountains. There are numerous access points and trailheads along the BMT, which create many options for one-way and loop hikes. One of the more popular sights is the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge, a 270-foot hiker’s bridge over the Toccoa River where the Benton MacKaye Trail meets the Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail.
Perfect Fall day at Swinging Bridge Over the Toccoa River (part of Benton MacKaye Trail)
Click to view a map/guide of the BMT landmarks and see how the AT and BMT intersect.
Brasstown Bald
Visit the tallest mountain in Georgia and take in 360° views from the top of Brasstown Bald (elevation 4,784′). The Brasstown Bald Summit Trail connects the parking area to the Visitor Center / Viewing Platform, and is a short, but very steep, 0.6-mile paved foot trail. There is a shuttle service provided for those who require an alternative to walking the trail.
Brasstown Bald Observation Deck in North Georgia [photo ExploreGeorgia]
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge is one of the most spectacular gorges in the southeast, and runs 3 miles long and 1,000 feet deep! Tallulah Gorge’s breathtaking views make this a favorite stopping point along Highway 441. A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing amazing views of the Tallulah River and waterfalls.
Tallulah Gorge State Park in North Georgia [photo ExploreGeorgia]
Wine Hikes at Montaluce Vineyard & Winery
Combine 2 of the best activities in the Georgia mountains by going on a hike through a beautiful Georgia mountain vineyard!
Wine hikes are available every Saturday and Sunday morning at Montaluce near Dahlonega. You’ll have a trained guide for the 1.8-mile hike on nature trails along the headwaters of the Etowah River and through the vineyard. After the hike, you’ll retreat to Montaluce’s beautiful patio overlooking the vineyard to enjoy a tasting of five Montaluce wines. Reservations can be made online ($45 per person) for this unique experience.
Montaluce Vineyard and Wine Hike in the Georgia Mountains
Hiking Resources for the Georgia Mountains
To get the most out of your adventures, you’ll want to do some advance planning and have the right equipment for your trek. These are some gear favorites that should help get you started with your hike planning.
Books
Find detailed information about the area’s best hikes in these highly-rated books.
Maps
Maps are essential tools to both plan your hike and to stay on course when you are on the trail. These tear-proof and waterproof topographic maps will hold up to years of use and can be used in inclement weather. These are best used to get a general idea of the overall area — they cover a large area so there may be better / more detailed options for individual trails.
Hiking Gear for Georgia (and Beyond!)
The specific gear you’ll need for any hike will depend on the time of year, environment, weather conditions, and length of your hike. Be certain to check with park rangers about specific things to stay alert for on your trail (including any animal/wildlife cautions in the area).
Backpack
Make sure to set out with a comfortable backpack that fits comfortably and will hold your water, food, and gear and keep your things dry in case of poor weather.
Compass
Practice using your compass before you go on a long hike. You’ll want to have this skill handy long before it’s needed.
GPS
A GPS unit that is made specifically for hiking has higher sensitivity and should have better reception/performance under tree cover or in deep canyons.
Hiking Boots
Make sure that your shoes/boots are comfortably broken in before you set out on a long hike. Comfortable sneakers can be much better for a hike than boots that are not properly broken in.
What are your other essential items to have on a great hike?
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Remember to always let someone know where you are going, and be prepared for the hike by choosing your gear, routes, and hiking partners carefully in order to have the best experience possible.
Would definitely love go here for the next holidays with my family and friends after school..
About the Tellulah Gorge though, would it be crazy to go sky diving from there lol.. I would definitely wanna go sky diving from the top man. It is going to be so amazing, 😱💙💙🌈
Hmm… while there are places to skydiving in the Georgia mountains, it’s not what Tallulah Gorge is known for. It’s still an amazing place to visit from the ground! 🙂
Hi,
Those trails sound amazing and the scenery looks spectacular. I am a big fan of hiking and I do lot’s of it in the UK where I’m from. I have been all over England, Scotland and Wales on hiking expeditions with the most challenging so far being the Pennine Way, but I have often dreamt of hiking the Appalachian Trail. I am currently planning on doing the Tahoe Rim Trail next year but am looking for something more challenging in 2021.
I would definitely love to visit and take in all the amazing hikes in Georgia. The question I have is are you able to do the Appalachian Trail all year round or is it best to do it during a particular season?
Thank you for bringing this excellent post and website of your beautiful State.
Tony
Hi Tony,
While you can hike most of the Appalachian Trail year round, there may be parts of the trail that close periodically due to hazardous weather conditions. This includes the last section of the trail at Mount Katahdin in Maine which can close during the Winter.
My husband and I love hiking in the mountains but have never spent time in the mountains in Georgia. Mostly we hike in Western Maryland or Virginia or PA. You make Georgia sound so beautiful and appealing. We really need to plan a trip. Thanks for the visual review. I almost feel like I am there.
The Georgia mountains offer great hiking options for all skill levels. The Georgia mountains remind me of some of the areas where you already hike — you may enjoy the extended hiking season in Georgia when compared to the more northern states!
Wow! Finally I got this missing piece in my preparation for my family and I’s plan to go for a vacation in the Georgia though we will be staying with her mom. However, this is just perfect. I love hiking a lot and seeing this great places that one could explore as hiking route options semms awesome to me. Thanks a bunch for sharing this out and I will surely try to get them involved in my plans.
I hope you enjoy these beautiful Georgia hikes!
Wow! It’s a decent guide for anybody arranging hiking. I never knew tallulah gorge is up to 3miles long and 1000 feet deep. You done a great job by outlining everything including compass and GPS which here and there is effectively overlooked. The connection to reserve a hike is a good thought. I think i will prefer amicalola falls because of the lodge, waterfall and option for unique adventures. Can’t wait to experience it. Extremely helpful review, much appreciated.
I know you’ll have a fantastic time at Amicalola Falls as it is one of the most beautiful places in the area, plus the extra activities make it fun for about anyone!
Much obliged to you for this instructive post. It’s a decent guide for anybody arranging climbing. You made it simple by outlining everything including compass and GPS which here and there is effectively overlooked. And furthermore it will encourages peruser to pick in advance which preliminary is best suites for their enjoying. The connection to reserve a hike is a good thought. I think i will prefer amicalola falls because of the lodge, waterfall and option for unique adventures. Extremely helpful review, much appreciated.
Hi Alyce,
Your posts on Georgia are usually quite captivating!
Though I’ve not traveled a lot, you make me feel like Georgia is the first place to aim at when US as a destination comes to mind. In your guide you have made me remember of the Appalachian (and the Rocky) mountains that I used to read about in my early classes on geology.
That trail must be through breathtaking sceneries especially for nature loving painters like me. Do they allow for outdoor painting during hikes or one has to make other arrangements to accommodate that?
Boniface- AndroidBix
These areas are quite beautiful and there are certainly places that you would be able to stop for a spell and paint the views. You should be fine as long as you are considerate of others and make sure you aren’t blocking the trail or disturbing the area.
Hi there. Thank you for posting this article. We are keen hikers and love to travel. My girlfriend just completed Santiago road through Spain and Portugal. We also did hiking in Norway visiting famous Troltunga. As we are planning our next trip it is so handy to read your article. Which road from mentioned in the article is most well known and why? Have there been accidents with animals? Tullulah Gorge seems to caught my eye 🙂 Will definitely explore it further.
Oooh, those sound like amazing hikes! The best known trail in the Georgia mountains is certainly the Appalachian Trail, as it is the longest trail in the world. It would take months to complete the entire trail, but fortunately there are many sections that are more suitable for a short day hike.
Thanks for adding this to the list of adventurous things I should take out time to do at the Georgian mountains. I am at the mountains for my summer and after checking out winery’s and a lot more, I feel there’s nothing else to do. Thank 6ou for adding this. I guess I’ll just check out the map which trail is closer so I’ll just go on a fun hiking experience.
Checking a map for nearby trails is a great idea… there are so many trails in the Georgia mountains that you should not need to travel far to find a great spot to explore!