georgia

With a myriad of different hiking trails scattered throughout the breathtaking state of Georgia, outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find a plethora of exciting scenery, wildlife, and monumental landscapes. From the swampy marshlands of Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah, to the numerous mountain trails in the northern territory, Georgia’s hiking opportunities are not only stunning, but varied in terms of difficulty and terrain.

Hikers that visit the state parks near the coast will have an opportunity to explore the nature of wetlands and beaches. This particular area of southeastern Georgia boasts many lakes, swamps, and waterways that thread back and forth between the saltwater coast and the mainland. Hikers here might have the chance to see lanky cranes, Spanish moss literally weeping from the limbs of the canopy, and maybe even an alligator. The trails in this part of the state are relatively easy to explore, and with few to no drastic changes in the elevation, it makes for a somewhat flat hiking surface.

Although the hiking opportunities near the coast are gorgeous, many outdoor enthusiasts prefer the mountain trails most of all. From remarkable views atop a pristine mountain, impressive gorges and canyons, and spectacular waterfalls plunging from striking heights, the mountain hiking trails are more than marvelous. With smaller trails extending from the Appalachian Trail, a ‘mini Grand Canyon’ in Providence Canyon State Park, and some of the tallest waterfalls in the Eastern portion of the country, there is something for everyone to enjoy in the mountains of Georgia. Depending on the destination, visitors may have the opportunity to explore one of the caves tucked away in the mountainside. Marble Mine Trail and Cloudland Canyon are both popular for their impressive caves. Hikers could expect a more strenuous terrain with steep inclines and treacherous cliffs throughout the mountains, but easier trails, such as the Tallulah Gorge North Rim, still provide thrilling views for far less effort and sweat.

Regardless of where a hiker chooses to venture in the state of Georgia, they are sure to be impressed with some of the most outstanding views and a relatively mild climate that supports a variety of beautiful wildlife creatures. Happy hiking!

Hikers that visit the state parks near the coast will have an opportunity to explore the nature of wetlands and beaches. This particular area of southeastern Georgia boasts many lakes, swamps, and waterways that thread back and forth between the saltwater coast and the mainland. Hikers here might have the chance to see lanky cranes, Spanish moss literally weeping from the limbs of the canopy, and maybe even an alligator. The trails in this part of the state are relatively easy to explore, and with few to no drastic changes in the elevation, it makes for a somewhat flat hiking surface. Although the hiking opportunities near the coast are gorgeous, many outdoor enthusiasts prefer the mountain trails most of all. From remarkable views atop a pristine mountain, impressive gorges and canyons, and spectacular waterfalls plunging from striking heights, the mountain hiking trails are more than marvelous. With smaller trails extending from the Appalachian Trail, a ‘mini Grand Canyon’ in Providence Canyon State Park, and some of the tallest waterfalls in the Eastern portion of the country, there is something for everyone to enjoy in the mountains of Georgia. Depending on the destination, visitors may have the opportunity to explore one of the caves tucked away in the mountainside. Marble Mine Trail and Cloudland Canyon are both popular for their impressive caves. Hikers could expect a more strenuous terrain with steep inclines and treacherous cliffs throughout the mountains, but easier trails, such as the Tallulah Gorge North Rim, still provide thrilling views for far less effort and sweat. Regardless of where a hiker chooses to venture in the state of Georgia, they are sure to be impressed with some of the most outstanding views and a relatively mild climate that supports a variety of beautiful wildlife creatures. Happy hiking!

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Hiking Trails

Name Rating Description
Ada-Hi Falls Nature Trail
A beautiful trail named for the Cherokee word for forest.
Allatoona Pass
Follows the original railroad grade of the Western and Atlantic Railroad
Amicalola Falls East Ridge Trail
Climb to the top of Amicalola Falls
Amicalola Falls West Ridge Falls Access
Nice hike up the west ridge to base of Amicalola Falls
Amicalola River Trail
Beautiful trail that follows Amicalola River towards Dawson Wildlife Management Area also known as Edge of the World trail
Andrews Cove Trail
Fairly short but very scenic
Angel Falls Trail
Hike from Rabun Beach Campground
Anna Ruby Falls National Recreation Trail
Hike to the breathtaking Anna Ruby Falls
Appalachian Trail
Trail leading along Appalachians from Georgia to Maine
Arabia Mountain
Rock outcroppings the size of football fields
Arkaquah Trail
Follows the high ridge from Brasstown Bald to Track Rock Gap
Bear Creek Loop Trail
Old growth Gennett Poplar
Bear Hair Gap Trail
A trail that winds through Blood Mountain Wilderness
Becky Branch Falls
Nice 20 foot waterfall
Beech Bottom Trail
An easy hiking trail through the Cohutta Wilderness
Benton MacKaye Trail
Long trail stretching from northern Georgia to Tennessee and North Carolina
Big Rock Nature Trail
Scenic hike through Fort Mountain State Park
Big Trees Trail
Easy trail in Sandy Springs
Blankets Creek Bicycle Trail
Top rated Mountain Bike Trail near Atlanta
Blood Mountain Trail
Scenic hike up Blood Mountain
Blue Ridge Lake Trail
Short loop along part of Blue Ridge Lake
Botanical Garden of Georgia
A hidden Gem near Athens
Bottoms Loop Trail
A loop near the floodplain of Smith Creek
Broad River Trail
Fairly level trail through Lake Russel Wildlife Management Area
Byron Herbert Reece Access Trail
Formerly known as Blood Mountain Spur Trail
Byron Reece Nature Trail
This trail is noted for how many different types of trees grow around it
Camp Creek Trail
A little-known but beautiful waterfall down the trail makes the trip worthwhile.
Carters Lake Nature Trail
Short trail from Carters Lake Visitor Center to an overlook of the lake
Chattooga River Trail
Long hike paralleling its namesake river for only 1.6 miles
Chestnut Lead Trail
Shortest trail in the Cohutta Wilderness
Chickamauga Creek Trail
Loop sandwiched between Taylor Ridge and Dick Ridge
Cloud Canyon West Rim Loop Trail
Hike along the rim of the canyon
Cloudland Backcountry Trail
Loop with views of the walls of the canyon
Cochran Mill Trail
Hike to the beautiful Henry Mill Falls in Cochran Mill Park southeast of Atlanta, visiting a tumbling waterfall on Bear Creek and exploring a scenic forest.
Coleman River Trail
This scenic hiking trail follows its namesake river to a Scenic Area and commemorative plaque.
Conasauga River Trail
Hike to, then along, the Conasauga River
Coosa Backcountry Trail
A long loop in the mountains in and around Vogel State Park
DeSoto Falls Trail
Trail to two beautiful waterfalls
Dockery Lake Trail
Appalachian Trail access from Dockery Lake
Dukes Creek Falls Trail
Trail to the beautiful Dukes Creek Falls
Duncan Ridge Trail
Trail along Duncan Ridge
East Cowpen Trail
Runs along the ridge crest of Cohutta Mountain
Emery Creek Trail
Trail leading past twin waterfalls
Eyes On Wildlife Trail
Trail through the woods near Cooper Creek
Fall Branch Trail
Short hiking trail to the beautiful Minnehaha Falls
Flat Creek Loop
Runs along Davenport Mountain to Flat Creek Loop
Fort Mountain Lake Trail
Loop around Fort Mountain Lake
Freeman Trail
Connects to the Appalachian Trail on each end
Gahuti Backcountry Trail
Loop along the border of Fort Mountain State Park
Gold Mine Creek Trail
Loop along Gold Mine Creek in Fort Mountain State Park
Grassy Mountain Tower Trail
Hike from Lake Conasauga to the Grassy Mountain Fire Tower
Green Mountain Trail
Trail near Blue Ridge Lake with several hiking options
Helton Creek Falls Trail
A very short hike to two sets of waterfalls
Hemlock Falls Trail
A short but scenic hike to a waterfall
Hemp Top Trail
Scenic trail along hills and ridges
Hickory Creek Trail
A long trail through the western part of the Cohutta Wilderness
Hickory Ridge Trail
A trail through Cohutta Wilderness
Hidden Pond Trail
Loop through Carters Lake area
High Shoals Trail
A hike to a series of waterfalls
Holcomb Creek Trail
Rabun Bald with two waterfalls
Horse Trough Falls Trail
Short hike to Horse Trough Falls
Indian Seats Trail
Indian Seats is one of the highest peaks in metro Atlanta in Sawnee Mountain Preserve
Iron Mountain Trail
Trail with beautiful views of the Cohutta Mountains
Jacks Knob Trail
A scenic trail to Jacks Knob
Jacks River Trail
Jacks River Trail follows Jacks River one of the premiere trails in the Cohutta Wilderness
James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail
A long loop up and down the lower slopes of Black Rock Mountain
Jarrard Gap Trail
Short access trail to the Appalachian Trail
Johns Mountain Trail
A trail along the ridge of Johns Mountain
Kennesaw Mountain Trail
Hike to the top of Kennesaw Mountain
Keown Falls Loop Trail
Trail through Keown Falls Scenic Area
Ladyslipper Trail
Trail along hillsides in the Lake Russel area
Lake Chatuge Trail
Trail around campground at Lake Chatuge
Lake Conasauga Trail
Loop encircling Lake Conasauga
Lake Russell Trail
A trail that winds around a stream and its namesake lake
Lakeshore Trail (Dockery Lake)
Circles Dockery Lake
Lake Winfield Scott Trail
Loop along the shore of the lake
Laura S. Walker State Park
Near the northern edge of the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp
Laurel Ridge Interpretive Trail
A hike with breathtaking views of surrounding mountains
Lewis Park Walking Trail
Nice trail tucked inside a subdivision
Little Ocmulgee State Park
Costal Plain Trail through through scrub oaks and pines
Logan Turnpike Trail
Runs from the Appalachian Trail to Kellum Valley with some good views
Long Branch Loop
A loop crossing Long Branch
Magnolia Springs State Park
Nine Million Gallon per Day Magnolia Springs
Mill Creek Falls Trail
Unmarked trail from campground to Mill Creek Falls
Mill Shoals Trail
Pleasant hike through the woods near Mill Shoals Creek
Minnehaha Trail
Trail leading to the beautiful Minnehaha Falls
Moccasin Creek Non-Game Wildlife Trail
An easy and educational trail
Mountaintown Creek Trail
Follows Mountaintown Creek
Murrays Lake Trail
Trail around Murrays Lake
Old Fort Trails
Trails to Fort Mountain's main attractions
Old Growth Forest Trail
Unofficial trail passing the thickest tree in the Chattahoochee National Forest
Panther Creek Trail (Cohutta Wilderness)
Internal trail to the headwaters of Panther Creek
Panther Creek Trail (Tallulah Basin)
A hike past the impressive Panther Creek Falls
Penitentiary Branch Trail
Interior trail of the Cohutta Wilderness that crosses and follows Penitentiary Branch near Blue Ridge, GA
Rabun Bald Trail
Georgia's second highest mountain
Rabun Beach Trail
An easily-followed path with two waterfalls
Raven Cliff Falls Trail
An excellent trail to the cliffs with Waterfall
Raven Rock Trail
Named for Raven Rock, a cliff on the opposing side of the river.
Red Top Mountain State Park
Popular park on 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona
Rocktown Trail
Hike through an area with unusual sandstone formations
Rocky Mountain Trail
The first leg of a loop over Rocky Mountain
Rough Ridge Trail
Hike along the crest of Rough Ridge
Shope Gap Trail
Connects Yellow Mountain Trail to FS 39
Skidaway Island State Park
Barrier island near historic Savannah
Slaughter Creek Trail
a.k.a. Slaughter Gap Trail
Smith Creek Trail
Winds over Hickory Nut Ridge and Smith Mountain
Songbird Trail
Trail with good birding opportunities
Sosebee Cove Trail
A memorial to Arthur Woody, Georgia's first Forest Ranger
Sourwood Trail
Trail along Nancy Town Creek and its tributary
South Fork Trail
Trail along southern fork of Jacks River
Stanley Gap Trail
Trail from Stanley Gap to Deep Gap
Sugar Cove Trail
An internal trail through a beautiful cove
Sumac Creek Trail
Trail along Sumac Creek
Summit Trail
Trail to the peak of Brasstown Bald
Sutton Hole Trail
Just upstream from Woodall Shoals, a Class VI rapid.
Talking Rock Nature Trail
A loop through the woods near the dams at Carters Lake
Tallulah Gorge Floor Trail
A short but extremely steep trail to the floor of the gorge
Tallulah Gorge North Rim Trail
Connects five overlooks on the north rim of the gorge
Tallulah Gorge South Rim Trail
Connects five overlooks on the south rim of the gorge
Taylor Ridge Trail
Hike along one of the Armuchee Ridges
Tearbritches Trail
Climbs Bald Mountain, then leads to Bray Field
Tennessee Rock Trail
Hiking trail has 25 interpretive stations along its length
Terrora Trail
Circles a cove of Tallulah Falls Lake
The Pocket Trail
Loop along the Pocket
Three Forks Trail
Where Holcomb Creek, Big Creek and Overflow Creek meet
Tumbling Waters Nature Trail
Beautiful hike to views of Carters Lake and Tails Creek
Unicoi-Helen Trail
Trail from Unicoi Park to Helen
Unicoi Lake Trail
A loop near the picturesque lake
Wagon Train Trail
From Highway 76 to Brasstown Bald
Warwoman Dell Nature Trail
Remote hiking trail with small waterfalls
Waterfall Trail (Cloud Canyon)
Short trail to two waterfalls
West Palisades Unit Trail
Chattahoochee River Trail
Yellow Mountain Trail
The most popular trail in the Cooper Creek Scenic Area

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