State Parks in Georgia, USA

A.H. Stephens Historic State Park is a National Register of Historic Places-listed state park in Crawfordville, named in honor of former Georgia governor and Confederate vice president Alexander Hamilton Stephens. The park, which is conveniently accessible from Augusta via Interstate 20, is home to one of Georgia's most comprehensive collections of Civil War artifacts, housed within its Confederate-focused museum. The National Historic Landmark Liberty Hall, which was constructed in 1834 and served as Stephens' home until 1875, is also preserved in its original 19th-century condition, along with Stephens' gravesite and adjancent book library. Visitors can enjoy excellent opportunities for horseback riding on more than 21 miles of bridle trails, with equestrian-friendly campsites available for overnight stay. Fishing and boating are also popular on the park's several preserved mill ponds.

Address: 456 Alexander Street NW, Crawfordville, GA 30631, Phone: 706-456-2602,

Black Rock Mountain State Park is the highest-elevation state park in Georgia, located within the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Eastern Continental Divide at elevations of up to 3,640 feet. The 1,743-acre park, which is located in Rabun County west of Mountain City, is named in honor of its black-colored biotite gneiss cliffs, which offers panoramic views of sites up to 80 miles away in neighboring Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, including the Great Smoky Mountains' iconic Clingman's Dome. Five hiking trails are offered for visitors to explore the park's unique ecosystems, including the 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail, which leads to its namesake rock formation. Anglers can catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, catfish, bream, and yellow perch at Black Rock Lake from the Turtle Rock Fishing Pier. Other attractions include the Marie Mellinger Center, which showcases naturalist-led programming and country music concerts. Visitors should note that the park is closed seasonally between mid-December and mid-March.

Address: 3085 Black Rock Mountain Parkway, Mountain City, Georgia 30562, Phone: 706-746-2141

Cloudland Canyon State Park is one of Georgia's largest and most beautiful state parks, spanning 3,485 acres throughout the Trenton and Cooper Heights area. The park, which is located along the western side of Lookout Mountain, was established in portions beginning in 1938 as Sitton Gulch and developed as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Today, the park is best known for its spectacular hiking and mountain biking opportunities, with trails such as the 4.8-mile West Rim Loop Trail offering opportunities to view nearby mountain vistas and peer into the thousand-foot canyons cut by Sitton Gulch Creek. The moderately strenuous Waterfalls Trail also showcases several beautiful falls along Daniel Creek, including Cherokee and Hemlock Falls. Other attractions include an 18-hole disc golf course, seasonal show caves, horseback riding trails, and a fishing pond. Visitors looking to stay at the park overnight can choose from 62 tent or RV sites, 10 backcountry campsites, or 16 rental cottages located within the park's boundaries. Each year in the spring, the park hosts an annual wildflower program and a Kids' Catfish Rodeo special event.

Address: 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, GA 30738, Phone: 706-657-4050

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a spectacular National Park Service-managed national seashore located along Cumberland Island, the largest barrier island within Georgia's beautiful Golden Isles. The seashore, which was originally established in 1972, is only accessible via boat from the park's visitor center in the nearby mainland town of St. Mary's, with ferry reservations strongly recommended to ensure daily access. Stunning sand dune, salt marsh, and freshwater lake habitats are preserved throughout the seashore area, which also includes the 9,886-acre Cumberland Island Wilderness and several historic sites related to the Carnegie family. Seashore visitors may bring their own bikes to the island or rent bikes from the Sea Camp Dock for daily exploration. Overnight camping is offered at the park's public campsites, including a full camping area with restrooms and facilities. Back on the mainland, the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum showcases exhibits on the region's indigenous history and Antebellum-era plantations.

Address: Plum Orchard Dr, St Marys, GA 31558, Phone: 912-882-4336

Romantic State Parks in Georgia, USA

Don Carter State Park is the newest state park in Georgia, named in honor of Georgia Department of Natural Resources board member Don Carter, an influential figure in the establishment of Lake Lanier. The lovely Gainesville-area park, which is anchored around the 38,000-acre manmade reservoir, is a popular spot for summer recreation for metropolitan-area Atlanta residents, offering a large seasonal swimming beach with public bathhouse facilities. Boat ramps are offered for visitors to access the lake's waters and the waters of the nearby Chattahoochee River for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Hikers and bikers can explore 12.5 miles of multi-use nature trails throughout the park's hardwood forest areas, which are also open to equestrian riders. Other amenities include an overnight tent and RV campground, rental cabins, a children's playground, a fish cleaning station, and outdoor fitness equipment.

Address: 5000 North Browning Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506, Phone: 678-450-7726

Elijah Clark State Park is one of the gems of Georgia's freshwater coast, spanning 447 acres near the city of Lincolnton along the shoreline of Lake Strom Thurmond. The park is name in honor of American Revolutionary War hero Elijah Clarke, a leading pioneer militia figure in Georgia during the late 18th century, and preserves Clarke's reconstructed historic log cabin, which is fully furnished with period-appropriate furnishings and tools. Clark and his wife Hannah's gravesites are also showcased at the park, which is a popular spot for boating and fishing throughout the summer months. A swimming beach is open at the park seasonally, offering a bathhouse and other amenities. Overnight campers can stay at their choice of 160 tent and RV campsites, 20 rental cottages, or two group sites. Other amenities include a miniature golf course, a children's playground, and day-use picnic shelters. Each year, the park hosts the city's annual Bluegrass Festival in May.

Address: 2959 McCormick Highway, Lincolnton, GA 30817, Phone: 706-359-3458

Fort Mountain State Park preserves the indigenous history of the Cohutta Mountains region, located along the mountain range's southwestern end near the Chattahoochee National Forest and the expansive Cohutta Wilderness. The park, which spans 3,712 acres near the Fort Mountain communities of Ellijay and Chatsworth, was designated in 1938 and developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps to preserve significant natural sites related to the region's Cherokee history, including its namesake 885-foot zigzagging rock wall. Park visitors can enjoy more than 60 miles of recreational hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails and observe its unique natural scenery, including hardwood and pine forest areas and lush blueberry thickets.

Address: 181 Fort Mountain Park Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, Phone: 706-422-1932

Family-Friendly State Parks in Georgia, USA

George L. Smith State Park is a lovely historic park in Emanuel County, named in honor of former Georgia House of Representatives speaker George L. Smith. The 1,634-acre state park is best known as the home of the Parrish Mill and Pond, which converts a gristmill, sawmill, dam, and covered bridge constructed in 1889 into a living history museum. More than seven miles of nature trails traverse the park's protected tortoise habitat and bird sanctuary, making it a prime spot for birdwatchers to spot species such as the white ibis and great blue heron. The park's 412-acre mill pond is a popular destination for canoeists and anglers, offering three paddling trails and seasonal boat rentals.

Address: 371 George L. Smith State Park Road, Twin City, GA 30471, Phone: 478-763-2759

George T. Bagby State Park and Lodge is a recently-privatized retreat in southwestern Georgia, located along the banks of Walter F. George Lake. The park, which is operated under the management of Florida-based Coral Hospitality, is home to a beautiful 60-room lodge set against the backdrop of Georgia's rolling hills landscapes, featuring luxurious overnight accommodations and Southern-style cooking served up daily at the Pilot House Grille restaurant. The 18-hole Meadow Links Golf Course has been acclaimed by Golf Digest as one of America's best publicly-affordable championship courses, while the park's picturesque 48,000-acre lake is home to a full-service marina and boat access ramp. Other amenities include a three-mile nature trails, a private swimming beach, and overnight rental cottages and cabins.

Address: 330 Bagby Pkwy, Fort Gaines, GA 39851, Phone: 229-768-2571

Hamburg State Park is a delightful park located along the banks of the 225-acre Hamburg Lake, located near the cities of Warthen and Jewell. The park, which is named for South Carolina's former nearby industrial town of the same name, spans 741 acres and showcases technologies common to historic rural Georgia at its preserved 1921 water-powered gristmill facility, which is still operational today. A museum showcases a collection of agricultural tools and appliances common to rural Georgian farm life in the 19th and 20th centuries, open to the public during special event times. Park visitors can enjoy great opportunities for fishing along Hamburg Lake and the Little Ogeechee River, which are stocked with crappie, bream, and largemouth bass. An overnight campground also offers 32 tent and RV campsites, as well as day-use picnic sites and group shelters.

Address: 6071 Hamburg State Park Road, Mitchell, GA 30820, Phone: 478-552-2393