NORTH GEORGIA’S STATE PARKS & HISTORICAL SITES

Vogel State Park

Georgia’s 2nd oldest state park is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The park includes Neel Gap, a beautiful mountain pass near Brasstown Bald, the highest point in GA. Vogel is particularly popular during the fall when the mountains transform into a blanket of colored leaves. Hikers can choose from several trails: the popular 4-mile Bear Hair Gap loop, the lake loop that leads to Trahlyta Falls, or the challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail. The park’s 22-acre lake is open to non-motorized boats. During summer, visitors can cool off at the mountain-view beach. This park is rich in history, with many facilities being constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp during our nation’s Great Depression.

Amicalola Falls State Park

Spectacular scenery and hiking trails make this one of Georgia’s most popular state parks. At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascade in the Southeast. Visitors have choices on how to best view the tumbling waters, ranging from an accessible pathway to a challenging trail with staircases. Those who tackle the latter can join the park’s Canyon Climbers Club. An 8.5-mile trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the famous 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail. Numerous other trails provide shorter day hikes. A mountain-top lodge is popular with guests who prefer hotel comforts, while cottages and a campground offer more rustic accommodations.

Chief Vann House Historic

During the 1790s, James Vann became a Cherokee Indian leader, wealthy businessman, & established the largest & most prosperous plantation in the Cherokee Nation, covering 1,000 acres. In 1804 he constructed a beautiful brick home that was the most elegant in the Cherokee Nation. After Vann was murdered in 1809, his son Joseph inherited the property. Joseph was also a Cherokee leader and became more wealthy than his father. In the 1830s almost the entire Cherokee Nation was forced west on the infamous Trail of Tears. Today the Vann House survives as GA’s best-preserved historic Cherokee Indian home. A guided tour allows visitors to see the house which features beautiful hand carvings and more.

Fort Mountain State Park

A scenic drive leads visitors to this mountain getaway. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders will find some of the most beautiful trails in GA, winding through forests and blueberry thickets, crossing streams and circling a lake. Hikers can also explore a stone fire tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and an ancient rock wall which stand on the highest point of the mountain. The mysterious 855-foot-long wall is thought to have been built by early Indians as fortification against more hostile Indians or for ancient ceremonies. During summer, visitors can cool off on a lakeside beach. Guided horseback rides are available throughout the year.

Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site

20 years before the famed 1849 gold rush in California, thousands of prospectors flocked into the Cherokee Nation in North GA, marking the true beginning of our country’s first gold rush. Their dramatic story is told inside the historic 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in GA. Dahlonega prospered with this mining activity, and a U.S. Branch Mint opened in 1838, coining more than $6 million in gold before closing in 1861. The museum’s exhibits include a set of these coins, a nugget weighing more than five ounces, a large hydraulic cannon and nozzle used to blast soil from mountainsides, a film and gift shop.

Black Rock Mountain State Park

Georgia’s highest state park encompasses some of the most outstanding scenery in GA’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Roadside overlooks provide spectacular 80-mile vistas, and 4 hiking trails lead visitors past wildflowers, streams, small waterfalls and lush forests. Visitors enjoy the summit visitor center for its views, gift shop and picnic tables. The park’s small lake is popular with anglers and circled by an easy walking trail. At an altitude of 3,640 feet, Black Rock Mountain is often cooler than other GA parks and may close during icy weather.