The mountain region of Georgia beckons outdoors enthusiasts for a romantic weekend or a full-fledged family vacation. Visitors to the mountains of northern Georgia can enjoy water sports such as boating and fishing, camping in back-country areas, and hiking through wooded park trails to observe native wildlife. Mountain activities can vary, depending on the season, with fishing opportunities in summer months, hunting in winter, and fall foliage photo excursions in the fall. State and national park services manage thousands of mountain parkland, offering year-round activities for visitors to choose from.
Geography
The mountains of Georgia lie primarily in the north, along the state's borders with Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Blue Ridge Mountains dip down into the northeast corner of the state and the Appalachian Ridge lies in Georgia's northwestern corner. Brasstown Bald, situated near the Tennessee border in the Chattahoochee National Forest, stands almost 5,000 feet above sea level, Georgia's highest elevation. Mountain regions feature dense forests of pine and hardwood trees along with mountain streams and lakes.
Climate
Mountain areas of Georgia typically experience warm summer days and cool nights. Winters can offer cold temperatures, and the higher elevations can experience snow and ice accumulations. Fall and spring seasons typically feature mild temperatures, with October receiving the lowest annual precipitation and March receiving the highest.
State Parks
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages a number of state parks in North Georgia, including Black Rock Mountain, Moccasin Creek, Tallulah Gorge, Cloudland Canyon, Fort Mountain, Vogel, Amicalola Falls, Smithgall Woods and Unicoi, among others. You can bike along paved roads in all state parks, or choose more-challenging off-road bike trails at Fort Mountain, Unicoi and Tallulah Gorge state parks. Birdwatchers can enjoy searching for a variety of Georgia species, including bald eagles, ruby-throated hummingbirds and redwing blackbirds. Hiking trails in the state parks range from nature walks requiring low exertion levels to back-country trails for more adventurous and fit hikers. Fort Mountain State Park offers equestrian trails, where visitors can ride their own horses or rental horses, available at the park. The majority of park lakes have boat ramps for visitor access; select parks also maintain marinas.
Fishing and Hunting
Fishermen can cast a line for trout, bass and panfish in mountain streams, rivers and lakes. Hunters can enjoy tracking a variety of species, including rabbit, white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, wild turkey and waterfowl. All hunting and fishing activities require licenses issued by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. Hunters and fishermen can obtain licenses at the Georgia Wildlife Resources website, over the phone, or from more than 600 license agents such as sporting goods stores, hardware stores and bait shops.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Beginning on Springer Mountain in North Georgia, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail runs through more than 2,000 miles of woodlands, pastures and mountain ranges. The trail, managed by the U.S. National Park Service, offers hiking opportunities for people of all fitness levels and hiking abilities. Visitors can access the Appalachian National Scenic Trail at Amicalola Falls State Park.
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