7 Cool And Calming Hikes To Take In Georgia To Help You Reflect On The Year Ahead
Hitting the trails this winter is something of a hobby for most hiking enthusiasts in Georgia. While some Georgians tend to stick to the spring and fall months to hike, there are others who will make it a year-round adventure. So with the new year ahead of us, and surely some of your resolutions involving getting outside or getting moving, we have 7 cool and calming hikes in Georgia that will help you reflect on the year ahead.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
When thinking about the new year and reflection, why not get to the highest summit in Georgia and take it all in. The Blood Mountain loop is part of the Appalachian Trail and can be quite a strenuous workout for most. But once you reach the summit you’ll feel like you’ve conquered it all, which is a great feeling to carry into the new year.
If you’re looking for a short and sweet hike in North Georgia then check out Minnehaha Falls. The Minnehaha Falls trail is a quick, less-than-half-mile trek through the forest that will lead you to the stunning waterfall at the end. While not many hikers know about this waterfall hike, it is surely a favorite for those who do.
Clocking in at about two miles roundtrip, the DeSoto Falls Trail is a real gem for hikers, plus it is more of a family-friendly hike, too. With an easy-to-moderate rating, visitors to the DeSoto Falls Trail are able to bring their kids to enjoy the beauty of the forest, plus the multi-tiered cascades.
High Falls State Park is a beautiful large park near the city of Jackson featuring a bevy of tumbling cascades along the Towaliga River. While the park itself is over 1000-acres in size, the hiking trails aren’t as intense. You can take the High Falls Trail which is only about a mile, which gives you a nice bit of time to enjoy nature.
Known as the “Little Grand Canyon” Providence Canyon in Georgia is more than just beautiful views and picture-perfect outcroppings. Canyon loop is less than 5 miles roundtrip, but really lets hikers explore the beauty of this canyon. Enjoy the colorful rocks and the stunning scenery at this epic Georgia trail.
Nothing is better on a hike than having a scenic finish. The Yonah Mountain Trail will take you from the base of the mountain all the way up to the summit in under 5 miles roundtrip. You can make a whole day of this hike, meandering through the rocky forested areas before reaching one of the greatest views around.
One of the most popular hikes you can take in Helen, Georgia is the Raven Cliff Falls Trail. This one might be a bit longer than the others on this list, but you’ll be able to have a roundtrip of five miles in order to get some new year reflection done. But what’s even better is that after the canopy of hardwoods and lush greenery, you’ll find a cascading waterfall, too.
Have you ever hiked these trails before? Share with us in the comments section! Or if you have a few more hikes that you’d like to recommend, keep us and your fellow Georgians in the loop.
Address: Lakemont, GA 30552, USA
Address: 76 High Falls Park Dr, Jackson, GA 30233, USA
Address: Providence Canyons, Georgia 31821, USA
Address: DeSoto Falls, Georgia 30528, USA
Address: 3000 Richard B Russell Scenic Hwy, Helen, GA 30545, USA
Address: Yonah Mountain, Georgia 30571, USA
Address: Blood Mountain, Georgia 30512, USA
