6 Places to See Fall Color this Weekend

Fall is here! Take a ride this weekend to North Georgia where you can see fall creeping down the mountains. Here are six places that should have some gorgeous autumn color (one is even south of Atlanta).

Hiawassee, Ga.: Rent a pontoon boat and spend the day on beautiful Lake Chatuge where you can see the mountain color all around you.

Amicalola Falls, Ga.: Hike up the Falls to the Amicalola Lodge where you can get a beverage and a mountain top view of Fall's pageantry.

Cloudland Canyon, Ga.: This state park is near Chattanooga on the Tennessee, Georgia border. Other attractions in the area include Rock City and Ruby Falls.

Unicoi State Park, Helen, Ga.: Ziplines take you high above the forest canopy for a unique view of leaves. If you’re up for a steep hike, take the 4.8-mile Smith Creek Trail up to Anna Ruby Falls. Unicoi offers a lodge and restaurant.

Tallulah Gorge State Park, Clayton, Ga.: Tallulah Gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons in the Southeast, and you can choose from easy or difficult trails. Hike along the rim to overlooks with waterfall views, or get a permit from the park office to trek all the way to the bottom. (Permits run out early on weekend mornings.) During November, you can watch expert kayakers as they enjoy the bi-annual “whitewater releases.”

F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain, Ga.: Many people are surprised to find hardwood forests and rolling mountains south of Atlanta. The 6.7-mile Wolf Den Loop is a favorite section of the longer Pine Mountain Trail. For a touch of history, drive to Dowdell’s Knob to see a life-size bronze sculpture of President F.D. Roosevelt and views of the forested valley. Ga. Hwy. 190 is a pretty driving route.

To see leaf season in real time, follow #GaLeafWatch on Instagram.