Before I sing the praises of the Georgia State Parks, I want to confirm that I’m a huge fan of Georgia’s twelve National Park System sites. I love the mix of history, nature, and culture they represent. Did you know that there are no official national parks in Georgia? We’ve got historic sites, seashores, trails, monuments, battlefields, and military parks. All are part of the National Park System, but none have the “national park” designation. We’re working on that.
Meanwhile, Georgia State Parks are not just holding their own; they are a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. With 63 parks and historic sites, each offering its unique blend of history, nature, and culture, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast and traveler. I’ve discovered some of the Georgia state parks that just might be better than the state’s national park sites.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Rising Fawn, GA
Cloudland Canyon State Park is in the far northeast corner of Georgia. There are 64 miles of hiking, to be exact, along with 16 miles of horseback riding trails. If you prefer biking, you can do that here as well. However, the gorgeous waterfalls and the thousand-foot-deep canyons not present in our national park sites bring most visitors.
The hikes to the waterfalls are moderate to strenuous, but the views are worth it. The park also boasts one of Georgia State Parks’ new all-terrain track chairs, allowing disabled guests to visit previously inaccessible parts. At the end of the day, you can rest your head in one of their many lodging options, which include cottages, yurts, and campsites. Check this park off your list if you are a member of the Georgia State Parks Canyon Climbers Club or the Muddy Spokes Club.
Providence Canyon State Park
Lumpkin, GA
Often referred to as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon,” Providence Canyon offers breathtaking views in southwest Georgia. While the Grand Canyon was created by water, Providence Canyon is here due to substandard farming practices in the 1800s. These simple human actions created gullies as deep as 150 feet!
The canyon is reminiscent of sites out west, with pink, orange, red, and purple tints to the soil. Unavailable outside the area, July and August find the rare Plumleaf Azalea in full bloom, adding to the riot of colors. Stay the night if you’re willing to camp along the backcountry trail. If not, more traditional park lodging is available at nearby Florence Marina State Park. There really is nothing quite like this site anywhere else in Georgia.
Suwannee River Eco-Lodge
Fargo, Georgia
Our next stop takes us far south to the border with Florida. Suwannee River Eco-Lodge is a unique spot, part conference center, part sportsman’s paradise. Groups can be hosted in the ten cottages on-site. Facilities include an event room and smaller meeting room as well as a commercial kitchen and outdoor shelter with a grill. Cottages can be rented by individuals as well.
Near the Suwannee River and the Okefenokee Swamp, this location is perfect for those who love sports in the great outdoors. The only national park site in Georgia that rivals it is Cumberland Island (near Kingsland). While gorgeous and one of my favorites, Cumberland Island is about as rustic as you can get. If you want a similar experience AND sleep in a bed at the end of the day, check out the Eco-Lodge.
Roosevelt’s Little White House State Historic Site
Warm Springs, GA
North of Providence Canyon toward the middle of Georgia is the 1932 “Little White House” Franklin Delano Roosevelt built while governor of New York. Roosevelt chose this spot for its access to the spring waters that were a comfortable 88 degrees year-round. F.D.R. found that while it didn’t cure the polio he contracted in 1921, “taking the waters” did ease the condition.
Tour the home, which is much as he left it on the day he passed away there from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1945. He had been sitting for a portrait then, and the “Unfinished Portrait” is displayed in the museum.
Guests can also tour the nearby pools that led Roosevelt to the small town, which some believe inspired many of the New Deal programs he created. While there are president-related national park sites in Georgia, Roosevelt looms so large in shaping the U.S. that this stop is necessary for the history
lover.
Amicalola Falls State Park – Len Foote Hike Inn
Dawsonville, Georgia
“Amicalola” is a Cherokee word meaning “tumbling waters,” which describes the 729-foot waterfall that gives the park its name. The website states, “It’s the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River.” Amicalola Falls State Park is one of a handful of Georgia State Parks that operates a lodge on the property, in addition to typical cottage and camping choices. Did I say “typical?” They offer glamping as well!
Active vacationers will love hiking, archery, ziplining, and more. If you’re feeling more rustic, hike five miles from the top of the falls to the Len Foote Hike Inn. This backcountry inn was designed with sustainability in mind and offers 20 private rooms, shower facilities, and communal eating and lounging spaces. After dinner, educational programs are given to those interested. The inn made National Geographic Traveler’s “Stay List,” so who are we to argue? This is truly a unique space nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Falls, Georgia
The beauty of Tallulah Gorge State Park keeps me coming back to see what different seasons offer. This is one of those rare spots worth the visit, regardless of whether you are strolling the paved trails around the rim or taking the strenuous hike to the almost 1,000-foot-deep gorge floor. I’ve done both and now cut a happy medium of hiking down to the suspension bridge 80 feet above the floor to see what was once called “The Niagra of the South.”
The park’s also home to the oddities of towers used by Karl Wallenda in 1970 when he crossed a 1,000 foot tight rope 750 feet above the gorge. The nearby dam does controlled releases in spring and fall for whitewater paddlers and on those days, hiking down into the gorge is dangerous and prohibited. A day (or extended stay, if camping) at Tallulah Gorge State Park will give you that national park wilderness feel so close to home.
Panola Mountain State Park
Stockbridge, Georgia
This park is a 15-minute drive from downtown if you live in or near Atlanta. Panola Mountain is one of Georgia’s three monadnocks, a large outcrop of erosion-resistant rock in a generally level area. Stone Mountain is the largest, but Panola Mountain is more pristine. The only way to access the mountain is through a ranger-led hike, ensuring the protection of the mountain and its ecosystem. If you’d rather stay on level ground, the park has 35 miles of paved trails for walkers, runners, or bikers!
Panola Mountain is part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, a partnership with the National Park Service. It’s also a National Natural Landmark. With this much recognition, Panola Mountain State Park is a stand-out.
George L. Smith State Park
Twin City, Georgia
George L. Smith State Park’s secluded location close to south Georgia is perfect for those wanting to kick back and relax. History lovers will adore the refurbished gristmill, sawmill, covered bridge, and dam built in 1880. There is plenty of fishing to be had by the mill pond, but this park’s best experienced in the water.
You can canoe and kayak through the black waters of the pond, navigating around stands of cypress and tupelo trees. It’s an experience that you won’t get on the Chattahoochee River. These waters are calmer than the “Hooch, making it an excellent spot for younger paddlers and first-timers. Make this the first park you check off for the Park Paddlers Club!
Crooked River State Park
St. Mary’s, Georgia
Crooked River State Park is a few miles off I-95 in south Georgia but feels like worlds away. Nestled along the Intracoastal Waterway, guests can enjoy saltwater paddling and fishing. Nature trails lead you through maritime forests and salt marshes with plenty of opportunities to see wildlife. Did you know the gopher tortoise is Georgia’s state reptile?
You can see those and fiddler crabs, snakes, turtles, and birds. For history lovers, check out the ruins nearby of a tabby mill built in 1825 and later used as a factory during the Civil War. If you want a state and a national park experience, the ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore is just down the road. It would make a great day trip, but then head back to Crooked River State Park, where giant oaks draped in Spanish moss surround the campsites and cottages.
Georgia State Parks Junior Ranger Program
Georgia State Parks has a Junior Ranger program like the National Park System. They’ve had one for a while, but the current program is much improved. When my kids were young, they had one program for all the parks with a few different levels. My kids only stayed engaged for a short time. Now, however, they have site-specific activity books and badges for each park. It’s a fantastic way to get kids engaged during the park visit, and all of you may learn things you didn’t already know. Kids love to collect things, so these badges will be a hit. The cherry on this already attractive sundae is that the program is free.
Georgia State Parks Stand Up to the National Parks
I’m not trying to dissuade you from visiting Georgia’s national park sites. They’re amazing treasures. I am trying to convince you that many Georgia State Parks rival or may even be better than their National Parks cousins. Look into a Friends of Georgia State Parks pass if you visit parks frequently. I received one for Christmas, and it’s already saved me money on camping fees.
Speaking of camping, that’s something that, with the exception of Cumberland Island, you can’t do at the Georgia National Park sites. In addition to standard cottages, tents, and R.V. sites, select Georgia State Parks offer glamping, barrel cottages, tent cabins, and my favorite, the yurt. The national sites are great for day trips. If you need a weekend or even a week away, there is a Georgia State Park that is perfect for you.
About The Author: Amy Albers is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer based in Atlanta she has over a dozen years of experience writing and using social media to share her family travel and solo travel experiences Amy enjoys tent camping and has special expertise with state and national parks however she has never mad about a hotel stay she loves exploring her home in the southeastern United States but is always happy to explore other destinations as a genealogy and historic history librarian Amy is a sucker for all things historic.