Fall in Georgia is one of the best times to visit the state! There are endless opportunities to see fall foliage, and we know all of the best spots! From charming mountain towns to pretty parks and cascading waterfalls, these are the top 18 best places to see fall foliage in Georgia!
Where to See Fall Colors in Georgia
1. Cloudland Canyon
Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain in Rising Fawn, Georgia, Cloudland Canyon is known for its thousand-foot deep canyons, gorgeous waterfalls that pool into pretty turquoise waters, dramatic sandstone cliffs, natural caves, cascading creeks, and–of course–its pretty colors of fall. The waterfall trails require a strenuous hike deep into the gorge itself, but the pretty fall colors overlooking the gorge can be experienced from multiple viewpoints located just a few steps from the parking lot at the top of the mountain.
Read Next: 10 Best Cloudland Canyon State Park Waterfalls, Trails, & Things to Do
2. Anna Ruby Falls
One of the most beautiful waterfalls near Helen, Georgia, Anna Ruby Falls is especially unique because it’s actually two twin waterfalls, not just one! It’s a part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest and involves a scenic walk along a roughly half-mile paved trail across scenic bridges and winding paths before eventually reaching the falls. This trek looks pretty any time of year but is especially photogenic during fall in Georgia. Once you reach the falls, there are multiple viewing platforms that enable you to experience Anna Ruby from different angles. The waterfalls are the result of two separate creeks tumbling over Tray Mountain. The left-side Curtis Creek waterfall, at over 150 feet tall, is the bigger of the twins, with the York Creek sibling falling just 50 feet to its right.
Read Next: Anna Ruby Falls Facts and Secret Tips for Visiting the Twin Waterfalls in GA
3. Rock City
Hidden away at the top of a tiny mountain town that most people have never heard of–Lookout Mountain, GA–lies one of the most unique places to experience fall in Georgia. Rock City Gardens feels like stepping into another world from the very moment you first step out of your car. Whimsical trails cut through towering, moss-covered boulders and ultimately lead you on an adventure past enchanting gardens, a swinging suspension bridge, and finally to a 90-foot waterfall that’s the highlight of the entire journey. The waterfall, in particular, looks especially beautiful draped in the shimmering golds and eye-catching oranges of fall colors. When the weather is perfect, you can even see seven states along the horizon from a viewing platform located above the falls. Since Rock City is located just a few miles from the Tennessee border, this also makes a great detour stop to include on a Tennessee road trip during the fall season!
Read Next: 10 Best Things to See in Rock City on Lookout Mountain Near Chattanooga
4. Helen
Nestled against a babbling riverfront at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, charming small town Helen looks more like a place from a fairytale than a real-life destination. Modeled after an Alpine German village, the architecture is reminiscent of the Hansel and Gretel storybooks that, for many of us, inspired sleepy childhood dreams in the land of nod, and when surrounded by the pretty colors of fall, these buildings look even more magical. Helen is home to beautiful nature trails, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking mountain hikes that offer almost endless opportunities to see fall foliage in Georgia. The longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States also takes place in this town (and its German restaurants are so incredibly good), so be sure to put this hidden gem at the top of your list of places to celebrate fall in Georgia!
Read Next: 50 Free and Fun Things to do in Helen Georgia
5. Fort Mountain State Park
Fort Mountain is one of the most unique and amazing state parks in Georgia, but for some reason it seems to be far less well known and less traveled than most of the other entries on this list. (So if you’re looking for a place to get away from the crowds or enjoy nature in quiet solitude, this is 100% the place to be! When we visited we had most of the trails and scenic overlooks completely to ourselves!) The mountain views will take your breath away, but there’s so much more to see here than just mountains. There’s also a pretty lakefront beach (yes, you can swim!), waterfalls, horse stables, and an old fire tower that looks a lot like Rapunzel’s tower straight out of a fairytale (so that’s what I insisted on calling it). The park spans 3,712 total acres, so it’s easy to wander around exploring trails without ever encountering another person. The only time we encountered many other people was at the beach, as it was a popular swimming location for young children, as well as a place where families could barbecue or have a picnic. The mountains look especially pretty when dappled in the golden tones of fall in Georgia, so I highly recommend you visit in October or November to see the fall foliage at its brightest!
Read Next: 15 Best Things to See and Do at Fort Mountain State Park
6. Vogel State Park
Vogel State Park is the second oldest state park in Georgia, dating back to 1931. It’s situated at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest and encompasses 233 acres of wilderness that look especially pretty during fall in Georgia. Take the easy, 0.7 mile Lake Trahlyta Waterfall Trail to reach a viewing deck with up close and personal views of the Trahlyta Falls. Although the park has many other hiking trails, this is one of the best for seeing fall foliage in Georgia because the colorful leaves look so pretty in juxtaposition to the rushing water. Find Vogel State Park at 405 Vogel State Park Rd in Blairsville, Georgia, 30512.
7. Amicalola Falls
The 729-foot Amicalola Falls is Georgia’s tallest waterfall but also the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. When its surrounding vegetation turns the burnt orange and rusty red shades of fall in Georgia, the waterfall gains an otherworldly appearance of some enchanted fairy dwelling that has to be experienced firsthand to truly appreciate. It’s by far one of the most beautiful places in Georgia, as well as one of the top spots to view fall foliage in the state. You can find it near the southernmost entrance to the Appalachian Trail and within the Chattahoochee National Forest just northeast of Dawsonville, Georgia.
8. Stone Mountain Park
Located just 16 miles from Atlanta, Stone Mountain is a popular place for us locals to visit in order to escape the noise of the city, have an outdoor day with friends, or just get a good workout climbing the mountain. The mountain itself is uniquely special because it’s primarily composed of quartz monzonite and is a dome monadnock, meaning that its prominence stands in complete contrast and isolation from the flat land that surrounds it below. It has a circumference of more than 5 miles (8 km) at its base and rises 825 feet (251 m) out of the ground, with its summit reaching an elevation of 1,686 feet (514 m) above sea level. From the top, the view of Georgia’s fall foliage is truly breathtaking, and way off in the distance, you can even see the Atlanta skyscrapers lining the horizon, provided that it’s not a foggy day.
The entire park encompasses 3200 acres and is the most visited tourist destination in the entire state, so if you’ll be spending a weekend in Atlanta, this makes an excellent day trip! In addition to the mountain, there’s also a skyride, nature trails, a lake, picnic areas, golf courses, restaurants, scenic railroad, a history and education center, gift shops, museum, ropes courses, dinosaur park, and other children’s play areas. In the fall, they have a Pumpkin Festival that includes a parade, pie eating contest, pumpkin-themed laser show, glow-in-the-dark experiences, and 10 unique themed areas featuring scenes from fairytales, thousands of glowing lights, bubbles, fog, and–of course–pumpkins!
9. Brasstown Bald
Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia, located at 4,784 feet above sea level in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Luckily a scenic mountain drive can take you most of the way to the top. From the parking lot, it’s just a 0.6 mile (but steep) paved walk along the Brasstown Bald Summit Trail to reach the Visitor Center located at the highest point. With an observation deck offering a beautiful 360° mountain view of the surrounding area, including four states–Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina–it’s not hard to see why this is one of the best places to see fall foliage in Georgia (and beyond!).
10. The Old Mill at Berry College
Spanning 42 feet in diameter, the wooden overshot waterwheel is considered one of the largest in the world. Originally constructed in small mining town Hermitage in the 1800s, the mill was eventually donated to Berry Schools in 1930, where it was reassembled after the move by Berry students. It has been restored over the years and still fully functions today to grind corn meal, although it is only operated on special occasions. You can even purchase cornmeal ground at the Old Mill from the campus’s Oak Hill Gift Shop. Access to the Berry Campus is free to visitors, but you must show your driver’s license at the check-in gate. Berry College is located at 2277 Martha Berry Hwy NW in Mount Berry, Georgia, 30149. You can access a printable map of their campus here.
11. Piedmont Park in Atlanta
In the middle of the bustling heart of Atlanta’s downtown cityscape lies a 200+ acre wooded park where residents can feel like they’ve slipped away into a tree-lined retreat. Piedmont Park’s beauty lies in its pretty lake, scenic bridges, walking and biking paths, woodlands, and an expansive grass meadow that regularly hosts music, food, and art festivals throughout the year. The Atlanta Botanical Gardens shares a border with the park and offers even more opportunity to experience the beauty of nature. Atlanta has been affectionately nicknamed the “City in a Forest,” and it’s easy to see why. Breathtaking views of skyscrapers rising out of the middle of the woods is a sight not common to major cities in the US, and when you combine those views with the vibrant colors of fall in Georgia, it’s hard to resist the lures of such a city.
Read Next: Perfect Weekend in Atlanta Itinerary from a Local
12. Yonah Mountain
Mount Yonah can be accessed from Georgia Highway 75 between Cleveland and Helen, as its located between the two small towns in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. During fall, it’s one of the best places to see fall foliage in Georgia without ever needing to get out of your car. If you do wish to get out and hike to the top, the trailhead can be found at the west side of the mountain. The trek up is just 2.1 miles (4.2 miles roundtrip), but it’s rather steep in some sections, so the hike is considered to be moderately strenuous.
13. L.T. Lefler Grist Mill in Marietta
Located at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, the old L.T. Lefler Grist Mill is a lesser-known, hidden gem place in Georgia to see fall colors. The fully functioning mill is a part of the campus’s 19th Century Village, a tranquil place containing historic architecture and nature paths, together designed to help students relax and reflect on simpler times. To see the village come alive with color, fall in Georgia is the best time to visit!
14. Tallulah Gorge
In this 2,689-acre Georgia state park, the Tallulah River has carved out a two-mile-long gorge that’s nearly 1,000 feet deep. Multiple viewing platforms located around the rim provide some of the best places to see fall foliage in Georgia, but if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can obtain a free permit to hike all the way down to the gorge floor. (These permits are limited to only 100 per day, however, so make sure you start your day early.) Tallulah Gorge is also known for its iconic suspension bridge that hangs 80 feet above the Tallulah River and its series of six waterfalls that are collectively known as Tallulah Falls.
15. Minnehaha Falls
Minnehaha Falls can be found just down the road from Lake Rabun in Lakemont, Georgia. From the Rabun Beach Recreation Area, head west on Lake Rabun Rd for one mile before turning left on Bear Gap Rd. The trailhead is located approximately another mile and a half down this road. The hike to the falls is incredibly short–just 0.2 miles (or 0.4 miles round trip). Once you’ve arrived, the waterfall cascades down a tiered cliff for approximately 100 feet before continuing downstream to the Lake Rabun shore. Both Minnehaha Falls as well as Lake Rabun look especially pretty painted in the fall colors of Georgia.
16. Bell Mountain
Bell Mountain Park and Historical Site is one of the few mountains in Georgia that offer unique water views and mountain views combined into one. The resulting synergy, when further transformed by the colors of the season, turns the entire area into one of the most spectacular spots to see fall foliage in Georgia! From an observation deck rising 3,424 feet in elevation at Bell Mountain’s summit, visitors can get a 360 degree view of the surrounding area, including the scenic Lake Chatuge that sparkles far below. Find this gorgeous spot in Hiawassee, Georgia, at 220 Shake Rag Road.
17. Savannah
I’ll admit Savannah isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of fall in Georgia. The best fall foliage in Georgia is often found in the North Georgia Mountains, as evidenced by the majority of the entries making up this list. However, we just couldn’t leave Savannah out of this ranking. Although it lies on the southern coast of Georgia and is nowhere near any mountains, its romantic cobblestone streets, Spanish moss-draped trees, and historical parks that flaunt vibrant colors with the changing of the seasons truly marks the city as a fall destination unlike no other. It’s one of the most romantic places in Georgia, and it’s the perfect place to see fall foliage!
18. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a historic line, dating back to 1886. Today it hosts more than 78,000 annual passengers, still transporting them along its original 26-mile loop route from Blue Ridge, Georgia all the way to Copperhill Tennessee, and back, while chugging alongside the Toccoa River. It’s an especially popular tourist attraction for experiencing fall foliage in Georgia. Patrons can elect to purchase either outdoor, open-air seating on benches facing outward to maximize unobstructed scenery and photo opportunities, or closed indoor seating with air conditioning and padded, forward-facing or rear-facing seats. Restrooms and snack carriages are available on all trips!
When is Georgia’s Fall Season?
Fall season in Georgia runs throughout the months of October and November, but the best times to experience peak fall foliage colors are usually concentrated within the last 2 weeks of October or first 2 weeks of November. Vibrant reds, burnt oranges, and radiant golds all dominate the roadsides during this time.
What is Georgia Like in Fall?
Fall in Georgia is characterized by crisp, cool days and sunny skies. Average temperatures stay between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, offering a sheltering respite and much-needed contrast from the scorching hot days of summer that preceded these cooler months. Many small towns hold harvest festivals throughout the season, and corn mazes in Georgia are also popular at this time.
Read Next: Escape Medusa’s Gaze at Uncle Shucks Corn Maze
What is the Best Time to See Fall Colors in Georgia?
Late October or early November is typically the best time to see fall colors in Georgia.
Where’s the Best Place to See Fall Foliage in Georgia?
The North Georgia mountain towns have the best fall colors in Georgia, but there are a few outliers that make a bold exception to this rule. Historic Savannah located on the southern coast of Georgia is one such example exuding such romantic charm that, when combined with the dramatic golds of the turning season, just can’t be missed!
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