In October and November, a blanket of red, yellow and orange covers the mountains and foothills of North Georgia. The promise of stunning scenes nudge us out of our homes and into the woods to take in the best the season has to offer.
There are plenty of ways to get a glimpse of Mother Nature’s breathtaking autumnal show. To help you narrow the choices, Walton Gas has compiled this list of primo leaf-peeping spots and the best ways to enjoy them.
Georgia's mountains are awash in fall colors in October and November. Image Courtesy Georgia State Parks
TAKE A HIKE
Listen to the leaves crunching under your feet while taking in peak fall color season at maintained trails inside Georgia’s state parks. The most popular trails are found at:
- Amicalola Falls State Park , Dawsonville – In addition to its most popular feature, the 729-foot Amicalola Falls, hikers’ fall favorite is the 8-mile Approach Trail that leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
- Tallulah Gorge State Park, Clayton – One of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks or obtain a permit to explore the gorge floor.
- Vogel State Park, Blairsville – Located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Vogel is particularly popular during the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains transform into a rolling blanket of red, yellow and gold leaves. Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, including the 4-mile Bear Hair Gap loop, an easy lake loop that leads to Trahlyta Falls, and the challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail.
To escape the crowds for a quieter experience with equally stunning scenery, try:
- Red Top Mountain State Park, Acworth – Set on Lake Allatoona, the park is a hiker’s haven. More than 15 miles of easy-to-moderate trails wind through forested park. A short, paved trail is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
HIT THE ROAD
Gas up and head to the North Georgia mountains to experience Dragon Eyes Scenic Drive, a thrilling ride covering 77 miles in two loops with 715 curves, six gaps and scenic overlooks. With a variety of access points, you can choose to combine a shorter drive with stops for hikes. Or, stay in the car for the full loop that stretches from Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s tallest peak, at its northernmost point to the above-the-clouds mountain community of Suches at its southern reaches.
BRING YOUR BIKE
Pedal your way to outdoor adventure on one of the state’s many biking trails that rate from easy to challenging.
- Fort Mountain State Park, Chatsworth – Mountain bikers can test their endurance while leaf peeping along 27 miles of biking trails at the southwestern end of the Cohutta Mountains. The park’s East-West Bike Loop is rated as one of the most beautiful and challenging mountain bike trails in the Southeast.
- Smithgall Woods State Park, Helen – Five miles of trails and 18 miles of roads allow bicyclists to explore hardwoods, streams and wildlife in the mountains.
Fall foliage tours offered by Blue Ridge Scenic Railway are a popular way to admire stunning scenery in the North Georgia mountains. Image courtesy Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
RIDE THE RAILS
All aboard Blue Ridge Scenic Railway for fall foliage trips. The historic railway excursions begin at the depot in downtown Blue Ridge and wind along the Toccoa River, providing sweeping views of autumn’s bright palette of colors in the Appalachian foothills. The trips are popular, so book reservations at least three weeks in advance.
SADDLE UP
Bring your horse for a trail-riding adventure to enjoy fall foliage at these equestrian-friendly state parks:
- Hard Labor Creek State Park, Rutledge – The park’s equestrian area features trails of various lengths up to 24 miles. The 16-mile Lake Rutledge Equestrian Trail is the most popular for fall color. In addition to the trails, park amenities include 11 equestrian campsites and 30 horse stables.
- Don Carter State Park, Gainesville – Georgia’s only state park on 38,000-acre Lake Lanier offers more than 14.5 miles of forested horseback riding trails.
- Cloudland Canyon State Park, Rising Fawn – Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain along the Tennessee border, the park offers great views of fall colors along 16 miles of trails.
TOUR A SMALL TOWN
Georgia’s small towns are full of history and beauty, especially during autumn. Many towns offer self-guided tours that allow visitors to explore at their own pace.
- A self-guided walking tour in Madison showcases historic homes and landmarks shaded by mature trees ablaze with color in the fall.
- In Milledgeville, take a walking tour or hop aboard the trolley to see the town that was once the capital city of Georgia.
Track fall color
To help leaf peepers find the best scenery, Georgia’s State Parks offer an online Leaf Watch travel planner. Regular updates keep travelers posted on how fall color is progressing in the North Georgia mountains. The website spotlights top trails and overlooks as well as fall events and safe hiking tips.