Skip to main content
ForestMatters, LLC

The Peach State

Georgia

Southern Appalachian waterfalls, the start of the AT, and year-round trails through rhododendron tunnels.

1Forest Guide
8Trail Guides
865,790Acres Covered
4,784 ftHighest Peak

Georgia at a Glance

AT Southern Terminus

Springer Mountain in Chattahoochee National Forest marks the southern starting point of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail

Waterfall Country

North Georgia has over 30 named waterfalls accessible by trail, including the 729-ft Amicalola Falls

Appalachian Foothills

The Blue Ridge Mountains in north Georgia reach nearly 5,000 ft, with cool temperatures even in summer

Rhododendron Tunnels

Miles of trail pass through dense rhododendron and mountain laurel tunnels that bloom pink and white in June

Gold Rush History

America's first gold rush happened in Dahlonega, Georgia in 1829, and old mining trails now serve as hiking paths

Year-Round Access

Georgia's mild winters keep trails open all year, with snow rare below 3,000 ft elevation

When to Visit

Year-round hiking is possible. Spring (March through May) brings wildflowers and waterfalls at peak flow. Fall (October through November) offers stunning foliage. Summer is warm and humid below 3,000 ft.

National Forests in Georgia

Dukes Creek Falls in Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests

865,790 acresMarch through November

Complete guide to Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in Georgia. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, waterfalls, Appalachian Trail access, and trip planning resources.

15 min read

Trails in Georgia

easyout-and-back

Anna Ruby Falls Trail

0.8 mi150 ft gain
GeorgiaYear-round

Guide to Anna Ruby Falls Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. A short, paved, wheelchair-accessible trail to a stunning double waterfall near Helen, Georgia.

9 min read

moderate-hardout-and-back

Blood Mountain via Appalachian Trail

4.6 mi1,500 ft gain
GeorgiaMarch through November

Guide to hiking Blood Mountain via the Appalachian Trail from Byron Reece Trailhead in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Georgia's highest point on the AT at 4,458 feet, with panoramic views and a historic stone shelter.

9 min read

moderateout-and-back

Brasstown Bald via Freeman Trail

6.2 mi1,200 ft gain
GeorgiaApril through October

Guide to hiking Brasstown Bald via the Freeman Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Georgia. A 6.2-mile out-and-back to the state's highest point at 4,784 feet, with views into four states and a staffed visitor center at the summit.

7 min read

easy-moderateout-and-back

Dukes Creek Falls Trail

2.4 mi600 ft gain
GeorgiaMarch through November

Guide to the Dukes Creek Falls Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Georgia. A 2.4-mile out-and-back to a 250-foot waterfall cascade, with a viewing platform and a trail to the base of the falls.

7 min read

moderateout-and-back

Panther Creek Falls Trail

6.8 mi600 ft gain
GeorgiaMarch through November

A 6.8-mile out-and-back to one of Georgia's finest waterfalls in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, following Panther Creek through hardwood forest to a 75-foot cascade near Toccoa.

6 min read

moderateout-and-back

Raven Cliff Falls Trail

5 mi750 ft gain
GeorgiaMarch through November

Guide to hiking Raven Cliff Falls Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. A 5-mile hike through a rhododendron gorge to one of Georgia's most dramatic waterfalls, where water pours through a massive cleft in the rock face.

8 min read

moderate-hardloop

Rich Mountain Loop

8.8 mi1,800 ft gain
GeorgiaApril through November

An 8.8-mile loop through the Cohutta and Rich Mountain Wilderness areas in Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia, with 1,800 feet of gain through some of the most remote hardwood forest in the southern Appalachians.

7 min read

strenuousout-and-back

Springer Mountain via AT Approach Trail

16.2 mi3,000 ft gain
GeorgiaMarch through November

Guide to hiking Springer Mountain via the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls State Park. A strenuous 16.2-mile out-and-back to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

11 min read

Did You Know?

1

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is the only national forest in Georgia, but it spans 867,000 acres across two distinct units.

2

The Chattooga River, forming part of the Georgia-South Carolina border, was the filming location for the movie 'Deliverance.'

3

Blood Mountain (4,458 ft) on the Appalachian Trail gets its name from a legendary battle between Cherokee and Creek nations.

4

Georgia's Cohutta Wilderness was one of the first wilderness areas designated east of the Mississippi River.

5

The Benton MacKaye Trail, named after the man who proposed the Appalachian Trail, starts at Springer Mountain and extends 300 miles through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.