There are so many exciting outdoors adventures in Georgia for you to enjoy. Explore Georgia on one of its many scenic hiking trails, and Georgia is a virtual paradise for bird watchers. Biking has become a major activity and tourist draw in Georgia, as reflected in the diverse number of biking trails. Beaches, mountains, state parks, gorgeous lakes, meandering rivers, and a climate suitable for year-round outdoor activity make Georgia outdoors adventures among the best in the country.

Historic High Country
The Historic High Country offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures. There are, of course, plenty of hiking and biking trails to accommodate the heartiest enthusiasts. The Silver Comet Trail in northwest Georgia has over 60 miles of paved trails to enjoy and connects to the Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama. However, if you are looking for a couple of unique adventures, try hang gliding at Lookout Mountain or the “Tree Flight” Canopy Tour at The Historic Banning Mills in Whitesburg.
Read an article about the Historic Banning Mills Tree Canopy Tours and Ropes Courses.


Tree Flight Canopy Zip Line Tour at Historic Banning Mills


Hang Gliding at Lookout Mountain: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development


There is also the Pinhoti Trail for hiking and mountain biking from Rome to Calhoun to Dalton to Chatsworth and to Ellijay. Near Jasper is the Seventy-Four Ranch which will treat you to a dude ranch experience without having to travel out west.
Check out all of the Historic High Country outdoors adventures.


Hiking at Cloudland Canyon: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development



Atlanta Metro
Even though Atlanta is a burgeoning metropolitan area, there are plenty of Atlanta Metro outdoors adventures to enjoy.

For example, we suggest taking advantage of Roswell’s award-winning parks system. There area 16 miles of trails winding through the city, which lies on the banks of the beautiful Chattahoochee River. Or simply take in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and all it has to offer. The Chattahoochee Nature Center offers woodland trails, marsh boardwalk, exhibits, wildflower gardens and native wildlife. Nearby you can find several outfitters that can equip you for a leisurely rafting trip down “the Hooche”.


Chattahoochee Nature Center: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development


Of course, just east of Atlanta, you can enjoy many outdoor activities and summer evening laser shows at Stone Mountain Park. Many cities/towns in the area, such as Suwanee, have terrific greenways and parks for enjoying walking, bird watching, biking and exercise.

South of Atlanta to the south of Newnan be sure to take the Smokey Road Scenic Drive and take in the beautiful farm country and estates that make up this scenic area of Georgia. Also take time to visit the Dunaway Gardens, a 25-acre floral rock garden in Roscoe that has been featured in Southern Living Magazine.


Classic South
Classic South outdoors adventures are plentiful and diverse. Naturalists and outdoorsmen will enjoy the Woodpecker Trail, The Bartram Trail, Phinizy Swamp in Augusta, the Reed Creek Wetlands Interpretive Park near Martinez, numerous hunting plantations, and the six state parks that reside in the region – all of which offer camping, hiking, fishing, swimming and nature trails.
An outdoors sports paradise is waiting at Durhamtown Plantation Sportsman’s Resort near Greensboro. Fishing, hunting, ATV and dirt bike riding, horseback riding, and camping can all be enjoyed at this comprehensive resort.



ATV action at Durhamtown Plantation

Georgia Coast
Along Georgia’s coast there are abundant opportunities to explore nature in its purest form – serene and unspoiled. View over 300 species of birds along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail at 18 different sites, including shorelines, salt marshes, old rice fields, woodlands, tidal rivers and wetlands. Experience a pristine environment and nature at its finest on the Cumberland Island National Seashore, which has limited allowable visitors and is accessible only by ferry from St. Marys. All along Georgia’s Coast you will find ample opportunities for kayaking or canoeing through the salt marsh creeks that are teeming with wildlife and spectacular scenery. Outfitters , such as Southeast Adventure Outfitters, have canoes and kayaks for rent or you can take a guided tour through the saltwater marshes and creeks.


Wild Horses on Cumberland Island: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development


Just a short distance inland is the Okefenokee Swamp, a 438,000-acre swamp teeming with wildlife and a unique, vital ecosystem. You can canoe through one of America’s great ecosystems and natural wonders, or take a guided boat tour.


Okefenokee Swamp Canoeing: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development


Check out all of the Georgia Coast outdoors adventures.


Historic Heartland
Historic Heartland outdoors adventures are also plentiful. There are four outstanding lakes, Jackson, Oconee, Sinclair and Tobesofkee, in which to enjoy swimming, boating and fishing. Hard Labor Creek State Park also offers horseback riding as well as hiking and camping.


Lake Oconee Skiing: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development


About 25 miles north of Macon, near Hillsboro, the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge and the Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge should ring in a tone of excitement to your trip. To top up you can try your hand at some small game hunting. This activity is permitted on about 34,000 acres in the refuge.


Magnolia Midlands
Magnolia Midlands outdoor adventures include terrific hunting and fishing opportunities. If you love bass fishing in small lakes or ponds, then you will enjoy several Department of Natural Resources public fishing areas where you can get away from the boating crowds found on the big lakes. Also near Jacksonville go fishing on Montgomery Lake where the world record largemouth bass was caught.

Right smack in the middle of this region, the Oconee and Ocmulgee Rivers join together to form the Altamaha River, which provides abundant opportunities for fishing, boating, and hiking along the shores. Dubbed one of the Nature Conservancy’s “75 Last Great Places”, the Altamaha affords you the opportunity to experience more than 130 rare and endangered species of plant and animal life. Local outfitters and guides are available for a lazy trip down the river.


Altamaha River Kayaking:Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development


Enjoy the Pioneer Days at General Coffee State Park near Douglas; and enjoy camping, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities at Little Ocmulgee State Park near McRae.



Northeast Georgia Mountains
Northeast Georgia Mountains outdoors adventures offer an incredible variety of exciting things to do and see. Hike the Appalachian Trail! Georgia’s 76+ miles of the Appalachian Trail are among the most rugged on the 2175 mile footpath. Enjoy the unique Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls, Georgia’s only true eco-lodge, but be prepared because the only way you will get there is hiking to it.

Go whitewater rafting on the nationally designated Wild & Scenic Chattooga River, where several outfitters will equip and guide you through Class III, IV and V rapids.

Whitewater Rafting on the Chattooga River: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development




Visit one of the many gorgeous waterfalls that dot this landscape. Travel to Amicalola Falls State Park just northwest of Dawsonville and be amazed at the beauty of this 729-foot waterfall – the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Near Clayton there are a number of waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest to enjoy. Just north of Helen you will find Anna Ruby Falls, a spectacular double falls created by two creeks that join together. The Curtis Falls drops 153 feet and the York Falls drops 50 feet. South of Clayton along Highway 441 is the Tallulah Gorge State Park which is home to Tallulah Falls, which cascades down part of the 1,000 foot gorge.


One of the most delightful northeast Georgia happenings is a trip to Lake Sidney Lanier. This beautiful 39,000 acre lake borders five Georgia counties and offers a variety of exciting things to do. There are a number of marinas and parks on the lake, which provide ample opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming. Further east along the border of South Carolina is another fantastic lake, the 55,000 acre Lake Hartwell, which also has gorgeous scenery and terrific fishing. Hart State Park offers camping, cottages, swimming, picnic areas, canoe rentals, fishing and trails. There are several other really nice state parks are in the area, including: Victoria Bryant in Royston, Fort Yargo in Winder, and Richard B. Russell and Bobby Brown - both near Elberton.


Plantation Trace
Check out the Plantation Trace outdoor adventures in southwest Georgia. For outdoor enthusiasts, you can fish, canoe or go tubing in the Ocmulgee River. East of the nearby city of Tifton, is the Paradise Public Fishing Area with 60 lakes and ponds in which to fish.

At the George T. Bagby State Park in Fort Gaines you can enjoy all kinds of water activities on Lake Walter F. George, including, boating, skiing, fishing and swimming.

Fishing on Lake Walter F. George: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development


Fishing and canoeing are favorites at Reed Bingham State Park near Adel. At Seminole State Park, situated on beautiful Lake Seminole, a 37,500-acre reservoir, you will find excellent boating, fishing and birding. Because the park surrounds a small cove, visitors usually enjoy smooth water for skiing and tubing. Wildlife is abundant throughout Seminole, and a nature trail leads past gopher tortoise burrows, a wetland boardwalk and one of the largest Longleaf Pine forests in a Georgia state park. Observant visitors may also see alligators, osprey, bald eagles and other wildlife. Nearby wildlife management areas provide great duck and deer hunting.


Presidential Pathways
Check out the Presidential Pathways outdoors adventures. For nature lovers a trip to Providence Canyon, known as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon”, will be quite a treat. Providence Canyon is near Lumpkin and resides in a 1003-acre state conservation park known as Providence Canyon State Park. Visitors are amazed at the beauty of the multi-colored rocks and the vegetation.

Providence Canyon Hiking: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic development


Nearby you can camp or stay in cottages at the Florence Marina State Park on the beautiful 45,000-acre Walter F. George Lake. This lake is ideal for boating, swimming, and fishing. Nature lovers, particularly those that enjoy birding, will love the variety birds found here
In Pine Mountain take an outdoor excursion to the Wild Animal Safari, a 500-acre wildlife preserve, where you can have face-to-face encounters with exotic animals from six continents. Just up the road is the F. D. Roosevelt State Park, where you can enjoy horseback riding. If you enjoy hiking, you should explore the 23-mile Pine Mountain trail, which offers breathtaking views and crystal-clear streams. Nearby is West Point Lake, which has over 500 miles of shoreline and is known as a championship fishing lake. There are parks, campgrounds, marinas and beach areas to enjoy. There are plenty of Wildlife Management Areas in this area that you can find out more information about if you enjoy hunting, fishing, birding or hiking.
The Flint River flows through this area and near Thomaston amateurs and experts can both enjoy a “Float the Flint” experience. Near Sprewell Bluff there are Class II rapids where you can enjoy a lazy float down the river. Along the infamous Yellow Jacket Shoals experts can be challenged by Class III and IV rapids. The Sprewell Bluff State Park is also located along the Flint River and provides nice picnic spots.

The Georgia Veteran’s State Park near Cordele was established as a memorial to U.S. veterans and features a museum with aircraft, armored vehicles, uniforms, weapons, medals, and other items from the Revolutionary through Gulf Wars. Visitors can spend the day or longer exploring the area by land or lake. Within the Park is the first-class Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club, which affords a breathtaking view of the 8,000-acre Lake Blackshear. Guests will find a variety of outdoor activities, including: golf, hiking, fishing, swimming. Rent jet skis, pontoon boats or a party boat.

Looking for the unique? Try the Conestoga Wagon Camping at The Rock Ranch or Tree Top Trail at Oxbow Meadows in Columbus, where you can walk on a series of suspended bridges high above the natural landscape.