Lessons Learned From My Trip to Georgia’s Northern Mountains

A while back, we traveled through the northern mountains in Georgia, and to my detriment, I didn’t realize how many incredible waterfalls were hidden within those forests. We mistakenly spent the day mostly traveling through and not stopping much, but knowing what I know now, I would do it much differently. The way we adventure is pretty intense as we try to fit the most out of every minute of daylight. So this is how I would plan a trip to see a bunch of waterfalls in Georgia. It might be a little loaded, but then again, so are the woods in the northern part of the state. 

One thing I would not change is my home base. We camped at the Blue Ridge / Toccoa River KOA, and I have to say it was one of the cleanest and nicest campgrounds we went to on our trip. It really is a rising star of KOA campgrounds. The only thing I may trade it for is a stay in the historic and lovely Lake Rabun Hotel, but that is because it looks irresistible. 

One thing that was on our list but we decided to cut was a visit to Cloudland Canyon State Park. This spectacular canyon houses two waterfalls that I would love to venture down to. Both Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls look incredibly beautiful, and I would love to trek through the rocky wilderness to witness these stunning natural wonders. They are also right across from each other, so it is too irresistible to pass up a second time.

Another waterfall we had to skip was Amicalola Falls because they were having construction, and we wouldn’t get the full experience. I love a good cascading waterfall, and this one looks so gorgeous I can hardly wait to see it someday. The park that houses the falls has a good amount of hiking and adventure to take advantage of and would make for a great excursion for the day. 

As I was driving through the area, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something. Not only are there incredible waterfalls, but there are also awesome mountains to summit. Blood Mountain would be on my list, too, because it's part of the Appalachian Trail and has unbelievable views. It always feels a little scandalous to be on the AT and feel like you are part of something much bigger than yourself. I have seen many sections of the AT all along the East Coast, but not enough to say I have “hiked the Appalachian Trail” per se, but I can dream.

Next up, I would explore the peaceful Lake Rabun area. The lake itself is worth the trip, but I would specifically love to get further into the woods and see some of the waterfalls the area has to offer. Specifically, I would visit both Minnehaha Falls and Panther Falls, which both offer stunning rippling, flowing water down shelves of rocks. While I was in the area, I couldn’t resist a peek at the Tallulah Gorge. 

Now that I think of it, I might need a little bit more time in the mountains in Georgia. I find that the closer you look at an area, the more you start to find, and that certainly is the case with this part of the Peach State. It might be a busy trip, but one tool I use to help me make the most of my time on the trails is an app called AllTrails. You can download the maps ahead of time and be assured that you are on the right track during your hike, which is always a time saver and allows more time to enjoy the hike. And in case you're looking for more hikes or excursions on your trip, be sure to visit our itinerary planner for nearby recommendations!