parks to watch

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F.D. Roosevelt State Park

Nearby community: Pine Mountain

Features: This 9,049-acre park, the state’s largest, is 80 miles southwest of Atlanta. It offers trails through hardwood and pine forests and past small waterfalls. Visitors can view a life-sized bronze statue of President Franklin Roosevelt at Dowdell’s Knob, where he sometimes picnicked.

More information: gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt

Fort Mountain State Park

Nearby community: Chatsworth

Features: The park is probably best known for a mysterious rock wall that stands along the mountain’s highest ground and was presumably built by early Native Americans. The park also features a 17-acre lake, complete with a beach.

More information: gastateparks.org/FortMountain

Moccasin Creek State Park

Nearby community: Lake Burton

Features: The state’s smallest state park is located on the shores of Lake Burton. It offers hikes and a wildlife observation tower. A fully accessible fishing pier sits above a trout-filled creek open only to people 65 and older and children 11 and younger, as well as all ages with a Georgia disability fishing license, the park’s webpage says.

More information: gastateparks.org/MoccasinCreek

Smithgall Woods State Park

Nearby community: Helen

Features: Visitors can picnic near Dukes Creek or hike a 1.6-mile loop that features views of Mount Yonah. The parks system describes Dukes Creek as one of the state’s premier trout streams, but warns that fishing is limited, so visitors should call ahead for reservations.

More information: gastateparks.org/SmithgallWoods

Tallulah Gorge State Park

Nearby community: Clayton

Features: Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Hikes along the canyon rim include overlooks with waterfall views or, with a permit from the park office, to the bottom of the canyon. A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the bottom, offering views of the river and waterfalls.

More information: gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge

Unicoi State Park and Lodge

Nearby community: Helen

Features: In addition to the 100-room Unicoi Lodge and restaurant, the park offers paddleboard lessons, archery and beginner’s fly-fishing lessons. Visitors can also hike the trails and see Anna Ruby Falls.

More information: unicoilodge.com

Vogel State Park

Nearby community: Blairsville

Features: Vogel is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Twisting roads around Vogel and hikes through the park offer some of north Georgia’s prettiest fall scenery, the state park system says.

More information: gastateparks.org/Vogel

Source: Georgia State Parks