Georgia

Begin your journey from Amicalola Falls State Park. Despite the steep climb, you should park at the base of the falls and climb the steps for a great view of one of the grandest falls in the South. (For more on that hike, see: "Climb the Stairs to Amicalola Falls"). From the top of the falls, fol...

Getting to Helton Creek Falls can be a little bit tricky. You can either access the trailhead from 348 (the less popular, more adventurous route), or you can access the trailhead easily off of highway 19.  The reason why access from 348 is a bit tricky is that the road actually has two creek cros...

Before any trip I take I pull up the dark sky map: darksitefinder.com. This incredible tool is great in finding low light pollution areas nearby.However, when I don't feel like driving many hours away on dirt roads, this is a great alternative in the Southeast. Spend a night with professional an...

Skidaway Island State Park is a peaceful setting rich with wildlife. A conglomerate of maritime forest and salt marsh, this gem offers all kinds of opportunities for enjoying the outdoors.  We sought out this State Park due to it's proximity to downtown Savannah, but it turned out to be far more...

Sweetwater Creek State Park has a lot to offer in terms of adventure. One of the best things about this park is its proximity to the city of Atlanta. It is incredible how easy it is to feel like you are hours away from the city, even though Sweetwater is only several miles west of the city. It mi...

Sweetwater Creek State Park lies just about 20 minutes West of Downtown Atlanta.  An easy drive along I-20 from the large city makes this park a very popular destination, especially on the weekends.  Out of the parks three main trails, the Red Trail is by far my favorite.  Scenic river views and ...

The hike to the five waterfalls on the Emery Creek trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in Georgia. This trail is moderate in climb, yet secluded in the Cohutta Wilderness and challenging enough to keep crowds away. Two things to note about this trail: it is wet (there are 20 creek crossing...

Starting with a scenic overlook of Yonah mountain and ending with three waterfalls, Dukes Creek falls is the perfect hike on any occasion. This easy 1 mile trail has spectacular views and is great for dogs and families. The trail is gravel and boardwalk the whole way and great for any age. The pa...

Stone Mountain sits on the outskirts of downtown Atlanta. Located in the center of Stone Mountain Park, this 1,686 ft. granite mound provides visitors with a challenging cardio workout and excellent panoramic views of the Atlanta metropolitan area.  Those who want to climb Stone Mountain should...

Black Rock Mountain State Park is Georgia's highest elevation State Park.  It is adorned with several waterfalls, sweeping overlooks, blooming Rhododendron's, and plenty of miles of trail.  The James E. Edmond trail is the longest and by far most challenging hike in the park.  Its medium-long dis...

Lake Burton is, in my opinion, Georgia's most scenic large lake.  It is completely surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and has some of the clearest water in the state.  Moccasin Creek State Park is a great launching point for all of your paddling adventures, whether you own your own vessel or ...

Once you have reached the island by ferry from St. Mary's, GA, you will receive an orientation about your campsite and the island (You can rent bicycles at the main office on the island, too). Stafford Beach is 3.5 miles from the ferry landing so you will have plenty of time to explore the island...

There are two different ways to get to this waterfall.The easiest way is through a trail in the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area. To get to this trail head, drive east on Warwoman Road from Clayton, GA. At approximately 3.5 miles, take a left onto Finney Creek Road (FS 152). You will see a sign ...

To visit the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta Beltline, park in the paid public parking (different pricing Monday-Thursday & Friday-Sunday) at the far southeast corner of Piedmont Park, behind the Park Tavern restaurant and brewery. From there, walk to the intersection of Monroe Dr. and 10th St....

The Arkaquah Trail is unique as far as North Georgia trails go for any reasons.  Its elevation gain and distance puts it near the top for most challenging day hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  If the 11 miles round-trip sounds a bit daunting, this hike can also be done as a 5.5 mile point-to-po...

We camped a few nights in the F.D. Roosevelt campground in our Airstream before setting out for two nights in the backcountry. Our first stop was at the Visitor Center to talk with the ranger and plan our route. Some of the campsites are limited and must be reserved in advance with the ranger, so...