Amicalola Falls State Park is home to the Southeast’s tallest cascading waterfall and one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders. Amicalola, a Cherokee word for tumbling waters, is an appropriate name for this 729 foot waterfalls.
North Georgia state parks perfect for family vacation
Hiking through the beautiful countryside to amazing waterfalls; enjoying a bountiful Southern breakfast buffet or fresh trout for dinner; and relaxing during an overnight stay surrounding by mountains. These are among the highlights of a stay in one of North Georgia’s state parks.
Amicalola State Park Lodge in Dawsonville, Unicoi Lodge in Helen and Smithgall Woods in Helen are state parks located in North Georgia that are great for family vacations. All three are only a few hours drive away and provide a great place to stay for a trip to the North Georgia mountains.
AMICALOLA
Amicalola Falls State Park, which was established in 1940, is home to the Southeast’s tallest cascading waterfall and one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders. Amicalola, a Cherokee word for tumbling waters, is an appropriate name for this 729 foot waterfalls.
Amicalola Falls, located in Dawsonville, is also home to the southern end of the 2,135 mile famed Appalachian trail, as well as the Len Foote Hike Inn, a green lodge accessed by a five-mile hike through the forest.
Picnics, trout fishing and special ranger programs are among the things to do at the park. There are also 12 miles of hiking trail, including West Ridge Falls access trail, which provides one of the best views of the falls. This easy trail is a gently sloping recycled tire surface that is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. From a bridge in the middle of the waterfall, you get an upclose view of the falls. You will feel the cool water on your face and hear the thundering roar of the waterfall. It’s such a peaceful, serene spot to visit.
The park has a 56-room mountain lodge with dining, as well as cottages and a campground. A stay at the lodge should include some time on the verendah, where you can enjoy the most beautiful mountain scenery.
The buffet dinner includes trout and BBQ pork chops. Breakfast includes waffle station, fruit, pastries, and other traditional favorites, biscuits, gravy, eggs, grits and bacon.
Amicalola Falls is located at 418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Drive, Dawsonville. For reservations, call 1-800-573-9656.
SMITHGALL WOODS
Smithgall Woods was acquired by the state in 1994 from Charles A. Smithgall Jr., a noted conservationist and businessman. It was a wilderness retreat for his family and it is now enjoyed by visitors from across the state and beyond.
You enter the lodge grounds by driving down a winding, scenic 1.3 mile road. The trees along each side meet in the middle to give the appearance of a canopy of trees with a creek running along one side.
The sounds of the city disappear as natural comes alive with the sounds of birds chirping and water running along the creek. A burst of color can be spotted in the gardens, as can fresh vegetables. The 5,600 acre mountain retreat is a wonderful place for a weekend get-away.
The lodge consists of five cottages — Smithgall Cottage, Dover Cottage, Laurel Cottage, Garden Cottage and Creekside Cottage — all located within easy walking distance of each other. Picnic tables are located throughout the grounds, as are marked hiking trails.
For those not planning to stay overnight, there is plenty offered for day visitors. Fishing, hunting, hiking, educational programs, van tours of the property, bird-watching. Just go to the visitor’s center to find out more about these offerings. Fishing is one of the more popular activities, and Dukes Creek has been named one of the top 100 Trout Streams in the US by Trout Unlimited.
The Smithgall Woods is located at 61 Tsalaki Trail in Helen. The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is located at the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The lodge is part of the Dukes Creek Conservation Area.
John Erbele, general manager tells visitors: “It’s the prettiest place in Northeast Georgia. You’ll hear that in other places but just look around you…This is absolutely the nicest state park in the United States.”
For more information, go to www.SmithgallWoods.com. For lodge reservations, call 1-800-318-5248.
UNICOI
Unicoi State park and Lodge offers five trails for hiking and biking, including Smith Creek Trail that goes to Anna Ruby Falls. There are also programs offered throughout the year on natural, cultural, recreational and historical events. The park is a great place for fishing, boating, swimming, tennis, hiking and enjoying the countryside.
The property includes an 100-room lodge and 30 cottages, all surrounded by mountain views. A restaurant with buffets offered three times a day is in the lodge. There is also a craft shop with work from area artists featured.
For more information, call 706-878-2201.
One of the newest outdoor adventures in our state parks is geocaching. It's like a treasure hunt played with a GPS device. You find the coordinates online, then set out to find the hidden caches. There are over a million active caches around the world and the new Georgia State Parks Geo-Challenge offers a creative way for families to explore parts of Georgia that they had not seen before.
Across the state, activities at 63 state parks and historic sites, as well as at wildlife management and public fishing areas, offer unparalleled opportunities for hiking, paddling, camping, fishing, picnicking, biking, wildlife watching, cultural enrichment and much more.The facilities offer a budget-friendly way to take a break this summer.
UPCOMING EVENTS
•Outdoor Adventure Weekend, Saturday, June 5, through Sunday, June 6, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge – Dawsonville. Bring the family for an early morning kids’ Fishing Rodeo on Saturday. Participate in trail maintenance and guided hikes to honor National Trails Day. $5 parking. 706-265-1969.
•Visiting Artist Series at Unicoi, Saturdays, June 5, 12, 19 and 26, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sundays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Unicoi State Park and Lodge – Helen. The program lasts each weekend from Memorial Day through mid-November. Several talented artists and craftspeople from Georgia and surrounding states will demonstrate and have samples of their work for sale. $5 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.
•Saturday Evening Concert Series. Saturdays, June 5, 12, 19 and 26, 8 p.m. – 9 p.m., Unicoi State Park and Lodge – Helen. Every Saturday from Memorial Day through mid-November. Some of the best musicians in the area perform a variety of music, from Appalachian Mountain to bluegrass to Southern gospel. "Pass-the-hat" donations. $5 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.
•Family Camp for All Ages. Monday, June 7 through Friday, June 11, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Unicoi State Park and Lodge – Helen. Make your family vacation memorable by attending fun classes and outdoor workshops with your family. Activities include canoeing, archery, wilderness survival, stream studies, and more. No age limit. Register in advance. $20 adult, $10 child five and older. $70 maximum per family. $5 parking. 706-878-2201, ext. 305.
•Georgia Master Naturalist. Monday, June 7, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Smithgall Woods Conservation Park – Helen. In cooperation with the University of Georgia Extension Service, a nine-week training in conservation and wildlife issues relevant to southern Blue Ridge ecoregion will be offered. Class will be held on Mondays. Registration closes May 22. $175 plus $5 daily or $50 annual ParkPass fee. 706-878-3087.
•Amphibian Monitoring Workshop. Friday, June 11, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.,
Smithgall Woods Conservation Park – Helen. Georgia Adopt-a-Stream staff will review the natural history of amphibians, the reasons they are important, which species are found in Georgia, and lead a hike to view amphibians and learn frog calls. Co-sponsored by Georgia Adopt-a-Stream, the intent of this program is to develop "citizen scientists" to help monitor numbers and diversity of frogs and salamander species. Register by June 4. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
•Youth Fishing Days at Buck Shoals. Saturday, June 19, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.,
Smithgall Woods Conservation Park – Helen. Children and their special "big person" can fish in a lake stocked with catfish, bass, and bream. Fish caught can be kept. Bring your own bait and rods. Some rods are available for loan. Call for directions to Buck Shoals. Note this is not held at Smithgall Woods. $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
For more information on Georgia’s state parks, go to www.gastateparks.org/amicalola. For more information on visiting the North Georgia mountains, go to www.georgiamountains.org.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com
AMICALOLA
Amicalola Falls State Park, which was established in 1940, is home to the Southeast’s tallest cascading waterfall and one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders. Amicalola, a Cherokee word for tumbling waters, is an appropriate name for this 729 foot waterfalls.
Amicalola Falls, located in Dawsonville, is also home to the southern end of the 2,135 mile famed Appalachian trail, as well as the Len Foote Hike Inn, a green lodge accessed by a five-mile hike through the forest.
Picnics, trout fishing and special ranger programs are among the things to do at the park. There are also 12 miles of hiking trail, including West Ridge Falls access trail, which provides one of the best views of the falls. This easy trail is a gently sloping recycled tire surface that is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. From a bridge in the middle of the waterfall, you get an upclose view of the falls. You will feel the cool water on your face and hear the thundering roar of the waterfall. It’s such a peaceful, serene spot to visit.
The park has a 56-room mountain lodge with dining, as well as cottages and a campground. A stay at the lodge should include some time on the verendah, where you can enjoy the most beautiful mountain scenery.
The buffet dinner includes trout and BBQ pork chops. Breakfast includes waffle station, fruit, pastries, and other traditional favorites, biscuits, gravy, eggs, grits and bacon.
Amicalola Falls is located at 418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Drive, Dawsonville. For reservations, call 1-800-573-9656.
SMITHGALL WOODS
Smithgall Woods was acquired by the state in 1994 from Charles A. Smithgall Jr., a noted conservationist and businessman. It was a wilderness retreat for his family and it is now enjoyed by visitors from across the state and beyond.
You enter the lodge grounds by driving down a winding, scenic 1.3 mile road. The trees along each side meet in the middle to give the appearance of a canopy of trees with a creek running along one side.
The sounds of the city disappear as natural comes alive with the sounds of birds chirping and water running along the creek. A burst of color can be spotted in the gardens, as can fresh vegetables. The 5,600 acre mountain retreat is a wonderful place for a weekend get-away.
The lodge consists of five cottages — Smithgall Cottage, Dover Cottage, Laurel Cottage, Garden Cottage and Creekside Cottage — all located within easy walking distance of each other. Picnic tables are located throughout the grounds, as are marked hiking trails.
For those not planning to stay overnight, there is plenty offered for day visitors. Fishing, hunting, hiking, educational programs, van tours of the property, bird-watching. Just go to the visitor’s center to find out more about these offerings. Fishing is one of the more popular activities, and Dukes Creek has been named one of the top 100 Trout Streams in the US by Trout Unlimited.
The Smithgall Woods is located at 61 Tsalaki Trail in Helen. The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is located at the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The lodge is part of the Dukes Creek Conservation Area.
John Erbele, general manager tells visitors: “It’s the prettiest place in Northeast Georgia. You’ll hear that in other places but just look around you…This is absolutely the nicest state park in the United States.”
For more information, go to www.SmithgallWoods.com. For lodge reservations, call 1-800-318-5248.
UNICOI
Unicoi State park and Lodge offers five trails for hiking and biking, including Smith Creek Trail that goes to Anna Ruby Falls. There are also programs offered throughout the year on natural, cultural, recreational and historical events. The park is a great place for fishing, boating, swimming, tennis, hiking and enjoying the countryside.
The property includes an 100-room lodge and 30 cottages, all surrounded by mountain views. A restaurant with buffets offered three times a day is in the lodge. There is also a craft shop with work from area artists featured.
For more information, call 706-878-2201.
One of the newest outdoor adventures in our state parks is geocaching. It's like a treasure hunt played with a GPS device. You find the coordinates online, then set out to find the hidden caches. There are over a million active caches around the world and the new Georgia State Parks Geo-Challenge offers a creative way for families to explore parts of Georgia that they had not seen before.
Across the state, activities at 63 state parks and historic sites, as well as at wildlife management and public fishing areas, offer unparalleled opportunities for hiking, paddling, camping, fishing, picnicking, biking, wildlife watching, cultural enrichment and much more.The facilities offer a budget-friendly way to take a break this summer.
UPCOMING EVENTS
•Outdoor Adventure Weekend, Saturday, June 5, through Sunday, June 6, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge – Dawsonville. Bring the family for an early morning kids’ Fishing Rodeo on Saturday. Participate in trail maintenance and guided hikes to honor National Trails Day. $5 parking. 706-265-1969.
•Visiting Artist Series at Unicoi, Saturdays, June 5, 12, 19 and 26, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sundays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Unicoi State Park and Lodge – Helen. The program lasts each weekend from Memorial Day through mid-November. Several talented artists and craftspeople from Georgia and surrounding states will demonstrate and have samples of their work for sale. $5 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.
•Saturday Evening Concert Series. Saturdays, June 5, 12, 19 and 26, 8 p.m. – 9 p.m., Unicoi State Park and Lodge – Helen. Every Saturday from Memorial Day through mid-November. Some of the best musicians in the area perform a variety of music, from Appalachian Mountain to bluegrass to Southern gospel. "Pass-the-hat" donations. $5 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.
•Family Camp for All Ages. Monday, June 7 through Friday, June 11, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Unicoi State Park and Lodge – Helen. Make your family vacation memorable by attending fun classes and outdoor workshops with your family. Activities include canoeing, archery, wilderness survival, stream studies, and more. No age limit. Register in advance. $20 adult, $10 child five and older. $70 maximum per family. $5 parking. 706-878-2201, ext. 305.
•Georgia Master Naturalist. Monday, June 7, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Smithgall Woods Conservation Park – Helen. In cooperation with the University of Georgia Extension Service, a nine-week training in conservation and wildlife issues relevant to southern Blue Ridge ecoregion will be offered. Class will be held on Mondays. Registration closes May 22. $175 plus $5 daily or $50 annual ParkPass fee. 706-878-3087.
•Amphibian Monitoring Workshop. Friday, June 11, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.,
Smithgall Woods Conservation Park – Helen. Georgia Adopt-a-Stream staff will review the natural history of amphibians, the reasons they are important, which species are found in Georgia, and lead a hike to view amphibians and learn frog calls. Co-sponsored by Georgia Adopt-a-Stream, the intent of this program is to develop "citizen scientists" to help monitor numbers and diversity of frogs and salamander species. Register by June 4. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
•Youth Fishing Days at Buck Shoals. Saturday, June 19, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.,
Smithgall Woods Conservation Park – Helen. Children and their special "big person" can fish in a lake stocked with catfish, bass, and bream. Fish caught can be kept. Bring your own bait and rods. Some rods are available for loan. Call for directions to Buck Shoals. Note this is not held at Smithgall Woods. $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
For more information on Georgia’s state parks, go to www.gastateparks.org/amicalola. For more information on visiting the North Georgia mountains, go to www.georgiamountains.org.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com
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