Getting to Know Amicalola Falls State Park

Amicalola Falls State Park is one of the most visited parks in the Georgia State Park network. The beauty of the park is inescapable. Getting there will take a while. The park is located about 15 miles northwest of Dawsonville and about 20 miles west of Dahlonega. It's about an hour and a half drive from the city.

The park is 829 acres and has a number of hiking trails, camping sites, cabins, fishing areas and other outdoor activities. The visitor center near the entrance is very nice and you can purchase hiking necessities as well as souveniers.

The park's centerpiece is the waterfall. The falls cascade and are 729 feet tall in total with the largest single drop being 175 feet. The claim is that these are the tallest falls east of the Mississippi but some falls in the northeast may be taller. There is no argument that they are tall, impressive and beautiful though. If you are looking for a good view of the falls, the best time is winter a day or two after a good rain. Most of the hikes center around the falls and there are a total of 12 miles of trails. The park is dog friendly but as always, you should pick up after your pet.

If you are interested in learning more, the park holds interpretive events and hiking tours.  For more info check out the Georgia State Parks site here .