North Georgia's Lovely Leaf Gazing Locales

By Julie Senger

Autumn is that time of year when most Georgians welcome the reprieve from the summer heat and humidity with enthusiastic, open arms. Many of us look forward to the cooler temperatures, which seem to usher in excitement about football season and tailgate parties, all things pumpkin spiced, and cozy nights by a fire, as we dine on a hearty bowl of chili, soup, or stew. However, nothing defines the season more than natures breathtaking, colorful display of fall foliage. Georgians are very fortunate to have many options from which to choose when they want to gather friends and loved ones, and head out for a day to appreciate the crisp bursts of color. Here are some favorites:

Amicalola Falls State Park
Dawsonville
Amicalola Falls is the Southeasts tallest, cascading waterfall. There are wooded trails leading to the top of the falls, or you can opt for the more challenging hike, which is up the steep stairways; your reward being that you walk alongside the water the entire way up to the platform that overlooks the falls. If you want to see the breathtaking view without the hike, you can also drive to the top platform. Due to its close proximity to pumpkin farms and apple orchards, Amicalola Falls becomes very popular during this glorious time of year.

Fort Mountain State Park
Chatsworth
This park is best known for its curious rock wall along the top of the mountain. There are also a variety of trails, with varying levels of difficulty. For example, there is the mostly flat, 1.2 mile, picturesque walk around an emerald green lake, or for the more serious hiker, there is the 8-mile Gahuti Trail, and mountain bikers are welcome to make tire tracks on more than 14 miles worth of trails.

Don Carter State Park
Lake Lanier
This park is fairly new, having just opened in 2013. It boasts a protected hardwood forest, which surrounds the lake. If you have a boat, its a dazzling perspective to be able to see the trees from the water, as they provide a mirrored reflection off of its surface on cool, sunny days. For land lovers, a 1.5 mile paved trail is open to bikers and walkers, and another 2 mile trail is exclusively for hikers.

James H. (Sloppy) Floyd State Park
Summerville
Attention families with small children! This is a great park for you! Walk around a fishing lake, and spend time on the boardwalk, from which little ones love to feed the fish. There is also the Marble Mine Trail, which leads to a lovely, small waterfall.

Kennesaw Mountain
Kennesaw
History buffs get a twofer at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, which is a 2,965 acre, preserved Civil War battleground. There are 18 miles of trails for hiking, or on weekdays, you can take a drive to the top of the mountain. On weekends, a shuttle bus is available to the mountain top. Bring your binoculars for birdwatching or a closer look at the Atlanta skyline.

Sweetwater Creek State Park
Lithia Springs
One of the closer parks for those living ITP (Inside the Perimeter), youll find 9 miles of hiking trails, a delightful creek and a small lake. The popular, 1-mile Red Trail follows the creek to the ruins of an old mill. If you continue past the mill to the Blue Trail, youll find steep bluffs to scale for splendid creek views.

Vogel State Park
Blairsville
The 4-mile Bear Hair Gap Trail offers magnificent mountain color and a superb view of the parks lake. If you opt for the less challenging Lake Loop, you will happen upon a cute little waterfall. The bewitching, winding roads around the park, particularly Wolf Pen Gap Road, reveal some of north Georgias most graceful fall sights, as wind blows through the trees causing swirls of crimson red, vivid orange and golden yellow to float down around you.

Pine Mountain
Cartersville
Theres an East Loop and a West Loop that connect Pine Mountain. Both loops provide a rugged challenge thatll surely get your heart pumping, as it quickly starts to incline, reaching 1,562 feet above sea level at its summit. Once you reach the top, youll be at the highest point in the City of Cartersville, overlooking stunning views of the surrounding area. The trail is open daily for hiking. Mountain biking is allowed on Wednesday and Saturday, only on the East Loop.

Red Top Mountain State Park
Lake Allatoona
Just north of Atlanta, this park has a variety of trails with lots of different types of trees, providing a glorious array of fall hues. The flat, Iron Hill Loop welcomes hikers and bikers. Iron Hill is surrounded by Lake Allatoona for most of its 4 miles and has a few charming little bridges along the way. Another great trail with lake views is the 5.5 mile Homestead Trail, though its hillier.

Unicoi State Park
Helen
Hike a 3-mile trail, which leads from the park into the quaint, German-themed town of Helen. There, you can dine and window shop before hiking back to the trailhead. Theres a challenging, 7.5 mile loop, where mountain bikers can make a blur of the autumn leaves as they race along the trail. Theres also the steep, 4.8-mile Smith Creek hike up to Anna Ruby Falls.