Amicalola Falls: North Georgia’s most popular hiking destination

by | Parks, Places to Visit | 0 comments

People come to the mountains to hike. It’s one of the most popular activities here, attracting visitors year-round. For those with a limited timeframe or first-time visitors, the question is often, “How do I get the best hiking experience without investing an enormous amount of time on the trail or in the car?”

With literally hundreds of miles of trails in the Appalachian Mountains, there are options that fit every hiker, from experienced to novice. But, when time is of the essence, one of our favorites is Amicalola Falls State Park. Nestled in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Park, it’s the perfect mix of everything you look for in a mountain hike: a well-maintained trail that winds through a rich variety of trees that provide a shimmering canopy overhead, a noisy mountain stream, and spectacular views.

Most famously, the 829-acre park features one of Georgia’s most well-known landmarks, the 729-foot Amicalola Falls. For visitors to the north Georgia mountains who want to get a taste of what it’s like to conquer a mountain trail, one of the best and most popular options is the Amicalola Falls trail.

What is unique about Amicalola Falls State Park is that you have two ways to enjoy the falls themselves. The easy way is to drive to the top and observe your cataract from above. The more difficult way – okay, much more difficult – is to walk the 604 steps leading from the base of the falls to the top.

A snapshot of Amicalola Falls State Park

Amicalola Falls State Park is an easy drive from Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, and Ellijay, Georgia. The park is just eight miles from Springer Mountain, the starting point for the Appalachian Trail. There is ample parking for vehicles of all kinds, and the park accommodates disabled persons as much as possible in the parking, retail, and common areas. Obviously, trail access for persons with mobility handicaps is limited.

Every year, more than 350,000 visitors come to Amicalola Falls State Park. That’s a lot of people, but the park rarely feels overcrowded. In fact, depending on the time of year, you might see just a handful of cars in the parking areas and find just a few other hikers on the trails or the falls staircase.

History

The area around the falls became a Georgia state park in 1940. The name “Amicalola” is derived from a Cherokee term meaning “tumbling waters,” which perfectly describes the park’s main feature. Until 1958, before it was rerouted to Springer Mountain, the Appalachian Trail went through the park.

Hiking trails in Amicalola Falls State Park

Amicalola Falls State Park caters to hikers of all skill levels, with 14 miles of well-maintained trails.

  • Amicalola Falls Loop Trail: This popular trail is a 2.2-mile loop that includes the staircase to the top of the falls, offering outstanding views of the waterfall. It’s moderately challenging and a good middle ground for hikers of all experience levels.
  • Appalachian Approach Trail – Blue Blaze – The park’s most popular and scenic trail follows the creek and waterfall on a series of stairs and decks. This trail is moderate to strenuous due to the steep slope and stairs. If you tire out, you can rest on one of several benches provided along the way. Hikers travel one mile to the falls overlook and an additional 7.5 miles to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
  • Creek Trail – Yellow Blaze – This is an easy, scenic walk that leads from the Visitor Center to the Reflection Pool at the base of the falls. Seasonal fishing is allowed in this small pool and the creek downstream (license required). Great for kids and older folks.
amicalola state park map

Click for a larger view.

  • Spring Trail – Orange Blaze – This trail connects the West Ridge/Falls Access Trail parking lot to the Mountain Laurel Loop Trail.
  • Mountain Laurel Loop Trail – Green Blaze – This wooded loop runs along the ridge above Amicalola Creek. Access is provided by the Spring Trail or Creek Trail.
  • West Ridge Falls Access Trail – White Blaze – One of the best views of the falls is found on this easy trail. The gently sloping, recycled tire surface is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
  • East Ridge Trail – Not Blazed – Previously used as the approach to the famous Appalachian Trail, this trail follows part of an old roadbed from the Visitor Center to the top of the waterfall.
  • Hike Inn Trail – Lime Green Blaze – This provides only access to the backcountry Len Foote Hike Inn; a permit must be obtained from the Visitor Center. Overnight guests (reservations required) are treated to hot showers and family-style meals.
  • Lodge Loop Trail – Not Blazed – To the right, as you exit the Lodge’s front door, this loop features educational displays and is lighted for early morning or evening use.
  • Lodge Fitness Trail – Not Blazed – More than 20 exercise stations are found along the wooded route.

If you want to see the falls and climb the famous (or infamous) stairway to the top, you can park closer to the Reflection Pond and immediately hit the steps. You miss out on the tree-covered nature walks that are the Mountain Laurel Trail and Creek Trail, but you still get the rigorous climb up the 600 stairs. You also get the breathtaking views from the summit.

The Falls

The hike up the steps at Amicalola Falls is entirely worth the effort. The falls are the third-highest cascading waterfalls (meaning the water falls down a series of rocky steps) east of the Mississippi and the tallest in the Southeast. You are never more than a few feet from the falling water, a rarity among the many waterfall sites in the Appalachian Mountains. Hikers get an up-close view of the waterfall ecosystem. When seen from afar, waterfalls are beautiful, breathtaking, and stunning. Up close, though, they are utterly fascinating, complex stages upon which nature performs colorful scenes.

Abundant plant life overflows the banks of the waterfall, seeming to enjoy the constant spray of water that comes off the rocks. Every season is colorful, from the greens of spring and summer to the riotous explosion of color that comes every autumn. The water forms pools among the rocks, making mini-habitats for aquatic creatures, insects, birds, and animals.

What to wear and bring

If you are going to Amicalola Falls State Park for the day, be sure to bring all you will need for a day of hiking. The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable and can change without warning. Bring clothing you can layer on or take off as the day progresses. Mornings are often cool, but daytime temperatures can climb rapidly, so you want to be able to peel off heavier outer layers as you hike. Wear a hat, especially with a brim, to keep the sun off your face and to deflect branches as you walk through the woods.

No special shoes needed.

Many people are scared away from hiking because they think they must buy expensive hiking boots. Nope! While many excellent brands of hiking boots and shoes are on the market, they aren’t a prerequisite for hitting the trails at Amicalola Falls State Park. The trails here are well-maintained and are not particularly challenging. For the most part, unless you carry heavy packs or travel on rugged terrain, you won’t need more ankle support than you would on ordinary ground. Many long-distance hikers wear running shoes or multi-purpose tennis shoes.

Avoid wearing open-toed or loose-fitting shoes. A stubbed toe is painful enough, but breaking a toe on a rock is surprisingly easy. Loose shoes, slides, flip-flops, and sandals not designed for hiking can allow a foot to roll on uneven terrain. A turned ankle can result in a sprain or even a break. It’s a long–or even impossible–walk out of the woods with an injured foot.

amicalola state park inn view

View from Amicalola State Park Inn close to sunset.

Accommodations and Amenities

Amicalola Falls State Park is perfect for a day trip, but it offers accommodations for visitors who want to enjoy an extended stay. Tent and RV campers can take advantage of 18 wooded campsites. If you aren’t into roughing it, the 56-room Lodge at Amicalola Falls State Park offers resort-style accommodation reminiscent of a bygone era of grand hotels built in rustic locations. Built in the 1980s, the Lodge has an excellent restaurant, a comfortable lobby with views of the mountains, and abundant patio spaces with tables, comfy chairs, and fire pits.

Somewhere between the rustic campsites and the resort rooms of the Lodge are thirteen cabins in one-, two-, or three-bedroom configurations. There are two locations, Wooded Mountain Top or Creek Side Below the Falls. Some are pet-friendly, and there are ADA accommodations.

If you like the idea of a tent but are not at all interested in roughing it, Amicalola Falls State Park offers six glamping (glamor camping) sites. Each glamping tent includes a Keurig Coffee maker, mini-fridge, rugs, lamps, diffusers, other home decor, electrical outlets, a ceiling fan, and a residential air conditioning and heating unit. After you sit in your camp chairs by the fire ring under the string lights, you can snooze in a king- or queen-size bed. Just like the pioneers…sort of.

The Visitor Center

Amicalola Falls State Park’s Visitor Center is second to none when it comes to decor and products. You can get just about everything you need for your visit, from the practical (water, trail snacks, warm clothes) to the whimsical (bumper stickers, fridge magnets, and quirky souvenirs). There are informative displays on the park, its history, and the animals found there. 

The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. On our last visit, a staff member walked through with a large corn snake that we were allowed to touch. We learned a lot about the small, often unseen animals that make up the park’s ecosystem.

Nature at the park

Even though it has first-rate modern amenities and accommodations, Amicalola Falls State Park is, at its heart, a nature park. Bring nature guides if you are a nature enthusiast or just want to know what you are seeing. There are plenty to choose from, but we really like this series, which is available on Amazon (click on the pic for a link).

Georgia animals
Georgia birds
Georgia trees and plants

Each covers a broad range of commonly seen animals and plants, and its laminated pages are durable and water resistant. It’s the perfect size for backpacks, too. The colorful pictures are engaging even for a generation raised on cellphones and tablets. (Available on Amazon)

See the forest for the trees.

There are countless varieties of trees, both deciduous and evergreen, that climb the mountainsides and offer welcome shade on the trails during the often steamy summer months. Look for the rugged white, northern red, scarlet oaks, loblolly, Virginia pines, and majestic maples. A favorite tree is the mountain laurel, known for its gorgeous white blooms and twisted trunks.

Birds and animals.

Every morning, a symphony of tweets, whistles, and chirps lets visitors know that the Georgia mountains are home to dozens of species of birds. Keep a sharp eye out for large and small birds as they flit between trees overhead and splash into the creeks and pools. With their binoculars and guidebooks, birdwatchers often flock (pun intended) to the park.

Deer, raccoons, possums, and even bears routinely move through the park. They are visible from the trails, parking lots, and roadways. Many are used to hikers and park visitors. Still, one should always exercise caution when in the presence of wild animals. Watch them, take photos, and enjoy the contact with nature. But do not feed them!

How to get to Amicalola Falls State Park

The park is located at:

418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road
Dawsonville, GA 30534

The park is about 21 miles east of Ellijay on Hwy 52. It is about 35 miles southwest of Blue Ridge and 18 miles west of Dahlonega. It’s about an hour and a half from Atlanta on US 19N.

Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge website. www.amicalolafallslodge.com

amicalola state park google map

Click for a larger view.

Start your journey today at Appalachian Experience—where adventure meets tradition.

Search our blog

Ready to start your journey? Search our database for places to see and visit.

This is test content. Feel free to disregard and/or remove

Get the Appalachian Experience Newsletter

Unlock the wonders of the Appalachian Mountains! Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on attractions, events, and hidden gems. Follow us on social media to stay inspired by the beauty and adventure that awaits. Join our community today!