Destinations

North Georgia

Waterfalls, mountain towns, apple orchards and some of the best hiking in the Southeast, all within about two hours of Atlanta. Pick a town to see every guide I've written for it.

Blue Ridge, Georgia
2 guides

Blue Ridge

Mountain town weekends with a walkable downtown, lake days and easy day trips.
Cartersville, Georgia
2 guides

Cartersville

Georgia's Museum City, with rare cars at Savoy and 1,000 year old earthen mounds at Etowah.

Clayton, Georgia
2 guides

Clayton

Rabun County's small-town hub, close to waterfalls, gorges and Black Rock Mountain.
Dawsonville, Georgia
1 guide

Dawsonville

Home of Amicalola Falls, the tallest waterfall in Georgia.
Ellijay, Georgia
3 guides

Ellijay

Georgia's Apple Capital: orchards, farm tours and the best fall weekends in the state.
Helen, Georgia
3 guides

Helen

The alpine village and your base for Anna Ruby Falls, Raven Cliff Falls and Unicoi.
Lavonia, Georgia
6 guides

Lavonia

A quiet small-town gateway to Lake Hartwell.
Rising Fawn, Georgia
1 guide

Rising Fawn

Cloudland Canyon's deep gorge and waterfalls on Lookout Mountain.
Tallulah Falls, Georgia
1 guide

Tallulah Falls

Tallulah Gorge, the suspension bridge and the hike to the gorge floor.
Tiger, Georgia
1 guide

Tiger

The Cascades Inn, a waterfall hideaway on US 441 just south of Clayton.
Toccoa, Georgia
3 guides

Toccoa

Toccoa Falls, a 186-foot waterfall about 100 flat yards from the parking lot.

Planning a North Georgia trip

North Georgia is the mountain corner of the state, where the Blue Ridge begins. Most towns on this page are about 1.5 to 2.5 hours from Atlanta, close enough for a day trip and even better for a weekend.

When to go

  • Fall: the busiest and most colorful season. The leaves usually peak from mid-October into early November, starting at the highest elevations, and Ellijay's apple season overlaps it.
  • Spring: the best time for waterfalls, when rain keeps them full, and the trails are quieter than in October.
  • Summer: lake days, tubing and swimming holes. Hike early to beat the heat and the afternoon storms.
  • Winter: the quietest season, with long views through the bare trees.

Getting there from Atlanta

  • Helen, Clayton, Tiger and Tallulah Falls: I-985 north, then the mountain highways.
  • Ellijay and Blue Ridge: I-575 north, which turns into GA 515.
  • Dawsonville and Amicalola Falls: GA 400 north.
  • Toccoa, Lavonia and Lake Hartwell: I-85 north.
  • Cloudland Canyon: I-75 north toward Chattanooga, in the far northwest corner.

Good to know

  • Georgia State Parks charge $10 per car for parking with the ParkPass, and an annual pass works at every park.
  • Cell service drops out on a lot of mountain trails. Download your maps before you leave.
  • October weekends fill up fast. Get to popular trailheads early and book your room well ahead.

Where to start

First time up? Tallulah Gorge State Park is the big one. For an easy waterfall, try Anna Ruby Falls near Helen or Toccoa Falls, about 100 flat yards from the parking lot. For a full weekend, start with my Blue Ridge weekend itinerary or a Saturday in Clayton.

Every North Georgia guide

Free: the North Georgia Waterfall Checklist

14 falls ranked from 100-yard walks to all-day hikes, on one list you can check off on your phone.

Get the free checklist