Hiking Adventures in North Georgia: Top Trails and Parks

I’m lucky enough to live in Georgia so I’ve been hiking in beautiful North Georgia often. I’ve based out of Blue Ridge a few times but mostly I’ve just popped up for day trips. Once I was supposed to be going to Atlanta to shop, but just kept going and ended up at Amicalola State Park!

Note, I’ve highlighted Cloudland Canyon which is in Northwest Georgia in its own post because it’s my favorite (and it’s really not near the other spots).

🔹Towns I’ve visited:

Blue Ridge

Elijay

Helen

Dillard

Vogel State Park

🔹Trails and Activities:

-Cohutta National Forest:

I’ve come here twice to hike. Remember to download Google map for offline use! I did not and got very lost solo trying to leave when I finished hiking 20 miles. These are my favorites from the area

Lake Conasauga and Grassy Tower Overlook

Grassy Mountain Tower Trail on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/grassy-mountain-tower-trail?sh=sxlnu6

https://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/grassy-mountain-tower-trail-lake-conasauga/

Jacks River Day Hike on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/jacks-river-day-hike?sh=sxlnu6

Benton Mackaye Daly Gap Loop on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/benton-mackaye-daly-gap-loop?sh=sxlnu6

-Amicalola Falls:

I drove up here on a whim instead of my intended purpose of shopping in Atlanta. I did all the trails in the park and watched the sun set on the beautiful waterfall.

Amicalola Falls Trail: Hiking Georgia’s Tallest Waterfall

-Paddle Boarding Lake Blue Ridge:

Did this on the way to Helen for some variability in activities. I felt like I was in Europe with the mountains overlooking the lake. I’d definitely recommend paddle boarding.

-Raven Cliff Gap:

Did this one in 2009 and still memorable.

Raven Cliff Falls Trail on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/raven-cliff-falls-trail?sh=sxlnu6

-Blood Mountain:

Hiked this in the snow in 2011

Blood Mountain via Appalachian Trail on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/blood-mountain-via-appalachian-trail?sh=sxlnu6

-Fort Mountain State Park:

I did this on the way home from Cleveland TN. It was pretty but probably wouldn’t go out of the way to hit this park. I did all these short trails

West Overlook Trail on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/west-overlook-trail?sh=sxlnu6

Stone Wall, Stone Tower, and West Overlook Trails Loop on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/stone-tower-trail-to-stone-wall-trail-loop?sh=sxlnu6

Fort Mountain Lake Loop on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/fort-mountain-lake-loop?sh=sxlnu6

-Springer Mountain:

Attended a wedding up here. It was beautiful and so unique

Springer Mountain on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/springer-mountain–2?sh=sxlnu6

-Cherokee National Forest:

(Technically in Tennessee but I drove here when staying in Blue Ridge so I included it

Old Copper Road Trail on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/old-copper-road-trail?sh=sxlnu6

-Tallulah Gorge:

I snuck over here when I was attending a wedding nearby. These were the days before AllTrails and we got lost, almost missing the wedding. I went with a friend and we ended up doing 5.89 miles rather than the planned 3 miles. This is a beautiful park and I’d definitely recommend checking it out.

-Anna Ruby Falls:

Right next to Helen, Georgia. A very quick hike to pretty falls. Fees are $5 per person.

Anna Ruby Falls Trail on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/anna-ruby-falls-trail?sh=sxlnu6

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest – Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area

🔹Photo Gallery:

-Anna Ruby Falls