We recently had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in the North Georgia mountains. We fell in love with the area back in 2017 when we first visited Helen and Unicoi State Park. This time we were a bit more west and centered around the community of Big Canoe.
Instead of going day by day like I usually do when writing about our trips, I’m going to focus just on the 7 North Georgia hikes that we completed. We saw people of all ages on these hikes. All of them are easy to moderate in level. And you should be able to do more than one in a day’s time. Please double-check addresses and trail maps before setting off.
1. Amicalola Falls State Park
- Distance – about 2.5-mile loop
- Location – 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road, Dawsonville, GA 30534
- Admission – $5 GA State Park Pass
- Picnic areas, restrooms, lodge, campground
At Amicalola Falls State Park we actually pieced together parts of 5 different trails to make one trail about 2.5 miles long. We parked in the Trail Parking lot across from the Visitor Center. The Creek Trail begins at the back right corner of the parking lot. We took the Creek Trail (yellow blaze) for about 0.6 miles. This section was mostly uphill with steps.
Map courtesy of Amicalola State Park
Then we took the second left onto the Mountain Laurel Trail (green blaze). We’re still going uphill. Turn right onto the Spring Trail (orange) and stay on this trail for about 0.4 miles. The Spring Trail ends at a parking lot. Across the parking lot connect to the West Ridge Falls Access Trail. This part of the hike is paved and wheelchair and stroller friendly. It is about 0.3 miles long with a gentle downward slope.
The Falls
The West Ridge Trail ends at the base of Amicalola Falls. From here you can continue up the stairs to the top of the falls or continue down the stairs back to the parking lot. We chose to go down via the Base of the Falls trail (red blaze). It was about 1 mile long and mostly downhill. If you were coming up this trail it would be on the moderate to strenuous side. The Base of the Falls trail goes around the Reflecting Pool and then beside picnic areas and a playground. You finish up your hike back at the parking lot with your vehicle.
Top of the Falls
If you didn’t climb the stairs to the top of the falls you can now drive to the top. It is a short 5-minute drive. At the top, there are a couple of parking lots and a small viewing area. There are picnic areas and restrooms at the top and bottom of the falls.
2. Fall Branch Falls
- Distance – 0.5 miles round trip
- Location – Stanley Creek Road, Cherry Log, GA 30522 (N 34°47.017′ W084° 18.166′)
- Admission – Free
- No picnic area, restrooms, or water
Fall Branch Falls is about 33 miles from Amicalola Falls State Park. The trailhead to the falls is located off the gravel-paved Stanley Creek Road. The parking area is big enough for maybe 10 vehicles. Use caution in the parking area, it can be very muddy and wet.
The hike to Fall Branch Falls follows the Benton MacKaye Trail (white blazes) uphill following Fall Branch Creek. After about 0.25 miles a short side trail leads down to the falls and a wooden observation deck. Here you can get great views of the multi-tiered waterfall.
After soaking up the beauty, you return to your vehicle the same way you came. This time it is mostly downhill. The Benton MacKaye Trail is not wheelchair or stroller friendly.
3. Goldmine Creek Trail Combo
- Distance – about 2.3-mile double loop
- Location – Fort Mountain State Park, 181 Fort Mountain Park Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705
- Admission – $5 GA State Park Pass
- Picnic area, restrooms, beach, campground
At Fort Mountain State Park we again pieced together parts of 4 trails to make one hike about 2.3 miles long. You have two choices in where to begin, either the smaller Big Rock Trail parking area or the larger parking areas near the lake. We chose to park near the lake.
Map courtesy of Fort Mountain State Park
From the parking lot, walk down to the lake and then head clockwise along the shoreline. Once you pass the beach area you should find the Lake Trail (blue blaze). This trail follows the shoreline and passes the campground on your left.
After a while, you come to a red-blazed side trail that angles back sharply to the left. This is the connector to the Goldmine Creek trail. Follow the connector to a sign for the Goldmine Creek Trail (white blaze), stay clockwise by turning left.
You will cross the Goldmine Creek several times by hopping over wet rocks. This part of the hike is the only challenging portion. When you hit the Gahuti Trail (orange blaze) turn right and follow it’s wider path. After about a half a mile you will turn back right onto the Goldmine Creek Trail (white blaze).
Returning
You’ll quickly come back to the previous split. Take the same connector trail (red blaze) back to the Lake Trail (blue blaze). Continue to the left on the Lake Trail as you finish the hike around the lake. Your double loop hike finishes up at the parking lot where you began.
4. Big Rock Nature Trail
- Distance – 0.75-mile loop
- Location – Fort Mountain State Park, 181 Fort Mountain Park Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705
- Admission – $5 GA State Park Pass
- Picnic area, restrooms, beach, campground
The Big Rock Nature Trail is also in Fort Mountain State Park. If you chose to park in the Big Rock parking area for the Goldmine Creek trail then you are ready for this next hike. The Big Rock Nature Trail (yellow blaze) begins across the road from the parking lot.
The trail drops a little over 100 feet on the way to the falls. It connects with the Gahuti Trail (orange blaze) along the way. Keep to your right. At about the halfway point the trail descends to a rocky section and several cascading waterfalls. There is some rock scrambling in this area. The trail then follows along the falls and up a steep set of steps before leaving the Gahuti trail. Again keep to the right.
Follow the trail back to the road. This last part is out in the open and steep. The trail doesn’t make a complete loop so you will have to walk along the road back to the parking lot. Cross the road first to allow room for passing vehicles.
5. Stone Tower Combo Trail
- Distance – about 1-mile loop
- Location – Fort Mountain State Park, 181 Fort Mountain Park Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705
- Admission – $5 GA State Park Pass
- Picnic area, restrooms, beach, campground
The Stone Tower Combo Trail was our last hike in Fort Mountain State Park. From the lake area, you need to drive a couple of miles up the mountain. At the top, there is a large parking lot with a picnic area and restrooms.
Map courtesy of Fort Mountain State Park
This hike begins at the parking lot and then follows the West Overlook Trail (yellow blaze) uphill. After a while, the trail will split. To the left, a red-blazed trail goes down steps to the West Overlook viewing deck. Here you can get a spectacular view!
Stone Tower
After you take in the view, turn around and head back up the steps and head straight through the intersection toward the Stone Tower. At the tower, you can sit and rest or take a flight of stairs up the tower. During our visit, the tower was not open.
Next, follow the Stone Tower Trail (red blaze) back down to the parking lot. There are lots of steps in this section. On your way, you will pass the remnants of a stone wall built near the mountain’s summit. Continue straight down the trail passing an unmarked vehicle path and the Stone Wall trail (blue blaze).
Not to miss: Cool Springs Overlook
As you leave the top of Fort Mountain, don’t miss the Cool Springs Overlook. This is a short 0.2 mile out and back trail to a great overlook. The view is wonderful!
Big Canoe
Our last 2 hikes take place inside the private gated community of Big Canoe. Big Canoe has over 20 miles of hiking trails, 3 waterfalls, 3 lakes, swimming pools, and many cabins that are privately owned or rental properties. When we were looking for a mountain cabin we didn’t even know about Big Canoe. Once we booked and started researching the area we were thrilled with all the amenities they offered. I highly recommend this community!
The amenities at Big Canoe are free for owners, guests of an owner, or those staying at a rental property. I have read that they allow the public to access amenities like the pools, marina, and golf courses. These generally require an admission fee. If you aren’t staying in Big Canoe, call before you go (866-244-2266) to verify that you can in fact use the hiking trails.
6. Lower Falls & Upper Falls Trail
- Distance – about 3.6-miles round trip
- Location – Nature Valley area of Big Canoe
- Admission – You must be an owner, a guest of an owner, or staying at a rental property to access Big Canoe amenities.
- No restrooms or water
The Lower Falls and Upper Falls trail is accessed by the Nature Valley parking area on Wilderness Parkway. For a longer hike you can begin at the Fitness Center & Swim Club. We started our hike at Nature Valley. The parking area is good sized, but a tight fit for larger vehicles. There are no restrooms or water.
Map courtesy of Big Canoe
Lower Falls
The trail begins near the parking lot entrance and it spans multiple creek crossings via bridges. It also passes by several small rock mounds thought to be Native American in origin. After about 1.3 miles, the trail reaches the tumbling cascades of the Lower Falls. Our kids loved playing in Disharoon Creek.
Upper Falls
Next, continue north following Disharoon Creek an additional half mile to the multi-tiered Upper Falls. The trail to the Upper Falls is mostly uphill and narrow. At the falls you can continue climbing to view the top of the falls. Or cross a wooden bridge to view the falls from the bottom. This is another great spot to let the kids play in the water. After relaxing at the falls you retrace your steps back to the Nature Valley parking area.
7. John Williams & Covered Bridge Trails
- Distance – about 0.8-mile loop
- Location – Meditation Park area of Big Canoe
- Admission – You must be an owner, a guest of an owner, or staying at a rental property to access Big Canoe amenities.
- No restrooms or water
Our last hike in Big Canoe was the John Williams and the Covered Bridge Trails. We put these 2 trails together to make 1 longer loop. The parking area is located at the end of Trotters Lane in the Equestrian neighborhood. The parking area is only big enough for a couple of vehicles. We ended up having to park along the side of the road.
John Williams Trail
The hike begins on the John Williams trail (blue blaze) and climbs in elevation besideBlackwell Creek. Be sure to keep an eye out for the blue blazes. At one point we lost them and went the wrong way. After following the creek upstream, the trail passes a wooden bridge that connects to the Covered Bridge Trail. We’ll take this bridge on our return. Continue straight alongside the creek. The John Williams trail ends at the covered bridge on Wilderness Parkway.
Covered Bridge Trail
Walk across the bridge and continue down the Covered Bridge trail (to your right). This trail explores the eastern banks of Blackwell Creek. Not far down the trail you will pass the stone ruins of a historic bridge built in 1915. You’ll then go down a set of stairs to be closer to the creek. At the base of the stairs there is a bench and a nice area to wade in the creek. Our kids loved splashing around this area.
To finish up the hike, continue down the Covered Bridge trail until you come to the wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and you are back on the John Williams trail (to the left). You will then retrace your steps back to the parking area.
If you want a slightly longer hike, continue following the Covered Bridge trail past the wooden bridge. The trail climbs to loop around a large rock outcrop before retracing your steps back. On the return, you can cross over the creek at the wooden bridge and will be back on the John Williams trail. Turn left to make your way back to the parking area.
More Georgia hikes
Are you looking for more Georgia hikes? Check out my posts on Places to Visit near Unicoi State Park, Our First Visit to a Georgia State Park, and A Weekend at Crooked River State Park.
What is your favorite North Georgia hike? Tell us in the comments.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not compensated for this post. Please double-check that the trail you want to visit is open before traveling. Always carry a trail map with you on hikes. Not all trails are well marked. The maps in this post are not official trail maps, they are only snippets and are for reference purposes.
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