This Picturesque State Park Is Home To Georgia's Tallest Waterfall

If you're visiting Atlanta, Georgia, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the city. You can take the Beltline urban trail through parks, restaurants, and more, or hit the Coca-Cola Museum or the Georgia Aquarium. It's a wonderful place to visit, but if you've got a car, you absolutely have to drive a bit over an hour to Dawsonville's Amicalola Falls State Park to see the breathtaking cascade of the tallest waterfall in the state and the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast. 

Amicalola Falls is a massive 729-foot spectacle. It takes its name from the Cherokee name for it, "Um-ma-eolola," which means "tumbling waters."   The park surrounding it has so much to do that you might even be tempted to skip Atlanta completely — you don't have to leave the park at all to have a fantastic vacation. Right inside the Chattahoochee National Forest, Amicalola Falls State Park has incredible trails, including one that connects to the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail, which you can hike all the way to Maine. There is camping, glamping, a beautiful lodge and restaurant, ziplining, nature walks, archery, hatchet-throwing, and more. There is even a fascinating inn that you have to hike to get to.

Amicalola Falls State Park is around 80 miles from the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest in the world. It's got free on-site parking, and great picnic spots if you're just coming in for the day. However, you should consider staying longer with all the accommodation options. The entry fee for the park is only $5 at the time of this writing.

The big draw in the park is the waterfall, of course, and there is more than one way to see it. You can try out the Amicalola Falls via East Ridge Loop Trail, which is a two-mile loop with a 793-foot elevation gain through the woodlands. There are stairs to get here, but it's worth the climb. You can also try the Amicalola Falls Trail, which is much shorter at less than half a mile out and back, with a much smaller 242-foot elevation gain. Just make sure to wear the right shoes, as the water can make it a bit slippery. You may also want to bring bug spray with you. 

However, you can also take a guided hike to Amicalola Falls through the park's Lodge. You can book it online here, and it's $12 for both adults and children at the time of this writing. It starts at the visitor center and goes through the park's stone archway that marks the start of the Appalachian Trail. Along the way, you'll pass lovely wildflowers, a reflection pool, and, of course, the gorgeous cascade. You should be okay with a strenuous hike up stairs, and it's worth bringing water and snacks. The lodge has all sorts of other things to try out as well, like zip line canopy tours and archery, and you can get out all your stress with some hatchet-throwing. However, if you want to do something really unique, you should take the 4.8-mile Amicalola Falls to Len Foote Hike Inn trail. It's one of the coolest places to stay in a national park.

The Len Foote Hike Inn is off-the-grid– you have to hike in. In fact, it's included in the National Geographic Traveler's Stay Lost list. You'll need reservations, and you have to check in by 2 p.m. at the park's Visitor Center, where you can find parking. There are rooms with bunk beds (and a pad if you have a kid with you, though more than three people require more rooms). The Sunrise Room at the Inn has board games, puzzles, books, and walks to explore wildflowers and the surrounding forest. You're allowed to have your phone, but you can't use it for videos, scrolling, or calls in the common area, so everyone can unplug. There aren't even electrical outlets outside of the bathhouse, but there is a solar charging station in the lobby. You can get dinner and breakfast there and purchase trail lunches. The Lodge is another experience entirely, with almost every room featuring a perfect view of the park. You can dine at their Cascades Restaurant for every meal, with views that will steal your heart.

Another option is camping. The park has 13 cabins with heating, A/C, fireplaces, and TVs, with some on the mountaintop and others by the creek. Some are even pet-friendly. There are also sites for tents and RVs with water, power, a fire ring, and grill, and safari tents for glamping, with a mini-fridge, A/C, heat, hammocks, electrical outlets, and even a coffee maker.

Before you leave Georgia, you should drive 1.25 hours to hit the artsy Athens, Georgia's best college town with great food, music, and more. While you're there, don't miss the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia and their Winter Wonderlights show if you're visiting during the holidays.