All the gorgeousness of the Appalachians all the way down in Georgia.Â
Did you know that the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains is in Central Alabama? Or that the Blue Ridge Mountains go into Northeastern Georgia?
Georgia and Alabama aren’t the usual states we think of when we imagine the route of the Appalachians. The city of Atlanta is even in the Piedmont, a plateau area that parallels the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I had planned my end of Summer camping trip to head up to the Southern Appalachians in Northern Georgia. Hurricane Helene made my visit a bit weird for the first three days. Plus, add in the 3.5 hours I spent getting my car fixed on the first day of the trip. I wasn’t able to get to everywhere I wanted to because the national forest closed. Thankfully, Georgia state parks reopened right after the storm. I guess I’ll have to go back up there to see what I missed this last time. Oh, what a shame.
My trip started on the Wednesday before Helene hit Thursday/Friday. I had left Savannah the night previously to get a couple hours of driving in. Car issues held me up but the rain and storms held off long enough for me to be able to visit the park on the top of my list, Tallulah Gorge State Park.
Jana Irving You can see why I wanted to visit this park.
Jana Irving Tallulah Gorge has a bridge to get across the gorge. However, to get there you have to go down about 500 steps and then 500 steps up on the other side. My legs were sore for days.
Jana Irving The Hurricane Falls Bridge.
Jana Irving Hurricane Falls. There is another lower overlook for the falls, but I knew 500 stairs was enough.
Jana Irving Oceana Falls. I think.
Jana Irving View of the Hurricane Falls Bridge from the top of the gorge.
Jana Irving I backtracked a bit to Toccoa Falls, which is on a university campus.
The next day it poured and poured. There was a small break in the heavy rain long enough for me to go walk around in Helen, a Bavarian themed town that I was staying in during the storm. I was finally able to escape and head out to Unicoi State Park nearby.
Jana Irving I took the Lake Trail around Unicoi Lake. It didn’t stop raining until after I was almost done with the trail.
Jana Irving A very full creek.
Jana Irving The clouds lifting.
On the Saturday of my trip, I started heading west, stopping to see some waterfalls. One good things about the rain was how fantastic the waterfalls were.
Jana Irving Stopped at Vogel State Park. They had some sort of marathon or something going around the lake. It was weird hiking along being passed by running people. Trahlyta Falls was great though.
My top visit for the day was Amicalola Falls State Park.
Jana Irving I took a trail to the base of the falls. A bunch of smaller cascades can be seen from the trail.
Jana Irving The tallest waterfall in Georgia. The top falls (pictured) is over 400 ft. tall. The whole cascade is 729 ft.
Since the national forest nearby was still closed, I found another state park along my route west, Fort Mountain State Park.
Jana Irving Took the Big Rock Trail to see some waterfalls. I love a good foggy forest.
Jana Irving Not a bad waterfall.
Jana Irving More cascades.
Jana Irving Very pretty.
Jana Irving There was no way I was going to get a view of the lake.
Jana Irving Or of the mountains.
Jana Irving I took a CCC built trail near a fire lookout.
Jana Irving The fog adds something extra.
Jana Irving Fort Mountain was named for a mysterious stone wall constructed by an unknown Native American culture.
Jana Irving A bit of fall color.
Jana Irving A bit magical.
Jana Irving Still very foggy.
While my visit to Georgia’s Appalachians didn’t work out as planned. I am still glad I went and saw what I could. I guess I need to head back up there for another visit. Oh, what a shame.
Check out my next update where I explore Lookout Mountain!
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Explore more public lands and nature!
