VISIT NORTH GEORGIA
Blue Hole Falls, Hiawassee
The hike to Blue Hole Falls and High Shoals Falls is one extraordinary adventure. This hike follows the High Shoals Falls Trail through a lush, mossy creek valley to one of Georgia’s most beautiful waterfalls. And on the way, the hike passes some prime backpacking campsites, some of our favorites in North Georgia.
Edge of the World, Amicalola River, Dawsonville
Take a hike on the Amicalola River Trail to reach one of the best natural swimming areas in the state. You can wade in the water and hang out on the rocks. It’s easy to spend an entire day just relaxing and enjoying the warm weather here. Keep in mind that this area can get busy and crowded, so be prepared to be social. There have even been water slides and chutes to transport you from land to water in the most fun way possible. So, bring your kids and your dogs! You can hike a bit further down to find more privacy and quiet. If you’re visiting from out of town, you can stay in the town of Dawsonville for easy access about 25 minutes away.
Helton Creek Falls, Blairsville
This is a great place to play in the pool of the falls and also take a break to have a picnic on the large boulders in the area. Unlike some outdoor swimming areas, the Helton Creek Falls pool enjoys both sun and shade, which is nice on particularly hot and steamy Georgia days. Come here for stunning waterfall views and to slide down the rocks. At the lower falls area, many people have brought along yoga mats to slide down the rocks into the water. It doesn’t get much better than this for natural swimming! Blairsville is the nearest town if you want to make a whole weekend out of this swimming trip.
Dicks Creek Falls, Dahlonega
Dicks Creek Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall that is very popular among hikers and natural lovers in-the-know in Georgia. There are actually several good swimming holes that you can explore on hikes to the falls and along the creek. Dahlonega is near this falls area and a historic gold rush town that’s worth checking out. This is also in Georgia’s wine region, so plan to stop by a couple local vineyards.
Another great place to play around on rocks and slide down them is Tallulah Gorge. This is a top spot to go to if you want to experience a natural water slide. Stop by the park office on your way in to obtain a free permit to get access to this exciting area