Amicalola Falls State Park Hiking: Georgia’s Best Trails

Amicalola Falls State Park Hiking

When you hear someone talk about the state of Georgia, forest and waterfalls are probably not the first thing you think of as visions of Atlanta’s skyline come to mind. Georgia, however, is home to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the southern part of the Appalachian Trail, and stretches from mountains to seashore and marshland to forest. It has some amazing wildlife preserves, 15 historic sites, and numerous preseves and National Monuments. It also has great hiking trails at 48 state parks—and Amicalola Falls State Park hiking is one of the best ways to see the rugged beauty. 

Ready to start exploring all the state parks Georgia has to offer? You can now get et 15% off a Georgia State Parks Pass with the exclusive code AliceAdventures for all membership levels right here.

Amicalola Falls State Park just happens to be one of the best in Georgia, and I can’t wait to share all the details on how you can explore the best trails, waterfalls, and views here! In the interest of disclosure, note that this post may contain affiliate links that help me earn a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase.

Did you know the state of Georgia has more than 40 waterfalls and thousands of acres of forest? 

Just ninety minutes north of Atlanta, Amicalola Falls State Park is one of the state’s most popular parks. Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the park protects more than 800 acres of forest. Home to many hiking trails, it’s the ending and starting point for the Appalachian Trail and boasts a guest lodge, camping areas, cabins, a restaurant, and hike-in hotel all within its boundaries. You can also fish, zipline and see Georgia’s tallest waterfall. 

Amicalola is derived from a Cherokee word that means tumbling water. And unsurprisingly, the park’s most memorable and accessible attraction is the 720-foot waterfall that it is named after. Considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, the waterfall can be accessed by the park road or a 2.2-mile loop trail. When people think about Amicalola Falls State Park hiking, this is the trail that comes to mind!

The road takes you right to the top of the falls, where people of all abilities can view the falls from the top. For physically fit individuals, a series of wooden walkways and more than 400 stairs can take you from the top or bottom up along the falls. The trail, which can be started from the Visitors Center, has 2 routes; one up a trail and the other up the stairs.

Accessible year-round, the park is wooded with native Georgia tree species, dozens of birds, and other wildlife. The falls are 729 feet tall, making them the tallest in the state. From the upper viewing deck, you are also just steps away from an 8-mile (13 km) trail that winds past Amicalola Falls and leads to Springer Mountain, famous as the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail which begins in the park.

Where to Stay at Amicalola State Park

Set prominently high on a hillside overlooking the forests of Amicalola is the Amicalola Falls Lodge. It’s a welcoming and convenient location for those looking to spend a night or a few days in the park. With 57 rooms and one of the most gorgeous decks you’ll ever see, this lodge and its restaurant and activity center is a great place to get away. The lodge also offers cabins for larger families or people wanting a bit more room and rustic flare.

For those interested in Amicalola Falls State Park hiking and a little adventure, you can stay at the Len Foote Hike Inn. Only accessible by 5-mile hike, this eco-friendly inn is set in a picturesque part of the forest with full time staff to serve you dinner and breakfast. The Len Foote Hike Inn is a fun twist on any overnight hiking trip and located just 1 mile from the Appalachian Trail.

Want to know more about Georgia? Check out these fun facts about the State.

PIN ME 

[lwp_post_carousel post_count=”12″ post_categories=”83,290,214″ use_manual_excerpt=”on” slides_scroll=”2″ post_background=”#FFFFFF” module_class=”blog-roll-carousel” _builder_version=”4.17.0″ _module_preset=”default” post_title_font=”Noto Serif|700|||||||” post_title_font_size=”24px” post_title_line_height=”1.5em” post_excerpt_line_height=”1.5em” post_meta_font=”Noto Sans|700|||||||” post_meta_text_color=”#ff6b5a” post_meta_font_size=”14px” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”18px” button_border_width=”0px” button_alignment=”left” button_custom_padding=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” border_radii_post=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px” border_width_all_post=”0px” border_style_all_post=”none” box_shadow_style_post=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_post=”10px” box_shadow_blur_post=”35px” box_shadow_spread_post=”-15px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/lwp_post_carousel]