There is no better way to escape city life for an adventure than with a visit to Dawsonville, Georgia. Located just an hour from Atlanta, Dawsonville is perfectly positioned between Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee National Forest, offering a wide range of sights and experiences tailor made for every kind of outdoor enthusiast.
A great place to start is Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, located just northeast of Dawsonville on the cusp of the North Georgia Mountains and the southernmost point of the Appalachian Trail. It won’t take long for you to understand why this is known as one of the seven natural wonders of Georgia; the 729-foot Amicalola Falls. It’s the state’s tallest cascading waterfall and the third-tallest east of the Mississippi River, spilling down a towering bluff into a mossy, boulder-forest. The waterfall is located just 7.5 miles from the southern end of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain, upon whose summit thru hikers embark on their epic northward journeys toward their ultimate destination in Maine.
The 829-acre park features ten trails in all, including the AT Approach Trail, an eight-mile trek that will carry you to the gateway to AT adventures. The Amicalola Loop Trail offers a scenic trip around the park offering a range of spectacular views, leading you alongside the magnificent falls.
At Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, the experience is about the journey and the destination, as there are two of Georgia’s most unique lodging opportunities that provide every opportunity to rest and recharge. The Amicalola Falls Lodge, the perfect place for comfort, rejuvenation, and adventure, Georgia style! With stunning views from nearly every room and breathtaking vistas and sunsets awaiting you each day, this is a place has all the ingredients to turn any visit into an unforgettable experience. The Len Foote Hike Inn, accessible only by hiking the 5-mile Hike Inn Trail, is a year-round eco-friendly inn that is the Peach State’s only backcounty lodge and one of the most memorable overnight experiences. Featuring 20 private guest rooms, hot showers, fresh linens and home-cooked meals, this is the perfect place to kick up your feet for a night (or more) before hitting the trail again.
Looking to go beyond the trails? Dawsonville has an abundance of autumn treats to share. For instance, Burt’s Pumpkin Farm is filled with a brilliant sea of orange created by thousands of pumpkins. The seasonal stars of the show range from pumpkins weighing less than a pound to those clocking in at more than 150 lbs. Family fun abounds with hayrides, storytelling pumpkins and even some who bust out in song. Just south of Burt’s you’ll find Fausett Farms Sunflowers. Family-owned since 1868, the farm’s 30 acres packed with more than a million gorgeous sunflowers that transform the autumn landscape and make for an unforgettable visit, not to mention a photo backdrop to die for!
For more information on how to design your own North Georgia hiking adventure, visit us here!
