Amicalola Falls State Park
1284 Top of the Falls Rd, Dawsonville, GA
Dawsonville, GA
A silvery ribbon of water tumbling more than 700 feet down the mountains, the tallest cascade in the state and the doorstep to the Appalachian Trail.
Amicalola Falls drops more than 700 feet in a series of cascades down the southern edge of the Blue Ridge, making it the tallest cascading waterfall in Georgia and one of the tallest in the Southeast. The name comes from a Cherokee word often translated as tumbling waters, which fits the way the creek breaks into ledge after ledge of white water on its way down the mountain.
The park around the falls is a favorite base for north Georgia hiking, with a mountain lodge, trails of every length, and long views over the ridges. It is also famous as a gateway to the Appalachian Trail: the approach trail here climbs about eight miles to Springer Mountain, the trail's southern terminus, so many thru-hikers begin their two-thousand-mile journey by first walking up past this waterfall.
What Guests Love
- The full 700-plus foot cascade seen from the base, the bridge, and the top overlook
- Climbing the long staircase alongside the falling water
- Starting the approach trail toward the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain
- The mountain lodge, easy trails, and long views over the Blue Ridge
Worth Knowing
- The stairway to the top is a real climb; take your time and use the handrails
- Trails can be wet, slick, and icy in cold weather, so wear shoes with good grip
- Weekends and fall color season draw crowds, so arrive early for parking near the falls
- You can reach viewpoints by driving to upper lots if the full stair climb is not for you
Details
Dawsonville, GA
Learn about Amicalola Falls State Park
The falls and how to see them
The falls are made up of several cascades that together fall more than 700 feet, and the park is designed to let you experience them from many angles. A reflection pool and viewing area sit at the base, a footbridge crosses partway up for a face-on view, and an overlook at the top opens onto the valley below.
Linking those viewpoints is a long stairway that climbs beside the rushing water, one of the most popular walks in the park. It is a genuine workout, but the payoff is standing right next to the cascade as it thunders past. Those who would rather not climb can reach the upper viewpoints by road, so the falls are within reach for a wide range of visitors.
The gateway to the Appalachian Trail
Amicalola is best known to long-distance hikers as the start of the approach trail, an eight-mile climb from the park up to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. Every spring, hopeful thru-hikers gather here to sign in, shoulder their packs, and begin the long walk toward Maine.
A stone archway at the park marks the ceremonial beginning of the journey, and the visitor center is a good place to soak up the trail culture even if you are only day hiking. For casual visitors, shorter loops and connector trails offer a taste of the same mountain country without the full commitment of the approach.
The land and its history
These mountains are the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee, whose language gave the falls their name. In the 1830s the Cherokee were forced from their north Georgia homeland and driven west on the Trail of Tears; their descendant nations continue in Oklahoma, and the Eastern Band remains in North Carolina.
The state park was established in the twentieth century to protect the falls and the surrounding forest, and it has grown into one of Georgia's most visited parks. The lodge and cabins let people stay overnight in the mountains, and the trails connect into a wider web of public forest land that stretches north into the Blue Ridge.
Wildlife and the seasons
The forest here is classic southern Appalachian woodland, with oak, hickory, tulip poplar, and rhododendron along the creeks. Black bears range through the higher country, white-tailed deer are common, and the mornings ring with songbirds and the drumming of woodpeckers. Salamanders thrive in the cool, wet seams beside the water.
Spring brings the highest, loudest flows and a bloom of wildflowers, while summer is green and shady in the deep coves. Fall is the showpiece season, when the ridges turn gold and crimson and crowds come for the color. Winter is quiet and sometimes icy, when the falls can wear a fringe of frozen spray and the bare trees open up the long views.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Dawsonville
Dawsonville
About 15 miles, a 25 minute drive
A small foothills town with deep roots in stock car racing history and an easy base for exploring the north Georgia mountains.
Springer Mountain
About 8 miles by trail
The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, reached by the approach trail from the park, with a summit plaque marking the start of the long walk to Maine.
Dahlonega
About 25 miles, a 40 minute drive
A historic gold-rush town with a walkable square, wineries in the surrounding hills, and a gold mining heritage.
Len Foote Hike Inn
About 5 miles by trail
A backcountry lodge reached only on foot from the park, a quiet overnight destination deep in the forest.