Amicalola Falls State Park

State park · Georgia

Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia
Photo: Thomsonmg2000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Georgia's tallest waterfall drops 729 feet in a series of cascades below the state park's namesake lodge, with the approach trail to Springer Mountain (the Appalachian Trail's southern end) coloring up through October in mixed oak-hickory forest.

Best for: Waterfall views

Don’t miss

  • 729-foot cascading waterfall
  • Appalachian Trail approach
  • Overlook decks and stairs
2026 Forecast

Peak: November 2–November 6

Color builds from October 20 · mostly bare by November 28

Color starts: October 20Peak: November 4Bare: November 28AugustDecember

Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Amicalola Falls State Park’s own coordinates and elevation (807 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.

Amicalola Falls State Park on the map

More things to do in Georgia

Tallulah Gorge State Park

State park

Peak November 2 2026 forecast

A two-mile, nearly 1,000-foot-deep gorge carved by the Tallulah River, crossed by a suspension bridge 80 feet above the water, with rim and floor trails set against oak-hickory color that peaks in late October.

Don’t miss: Suspension bridge over the gorge · Rim and gorge-floor trails · Scheduled whitewater releases

Burt's Farm

Pumpkin patch

Sep 1 – Nov 10 Color nearby peaks November 5 2026 forecast

This 40-acre family farm on Georgia 52 just south of Amicalola Falls has grown pumpkins since the 1980s, with hundreds of varieties spread across the fields alongside popcorn, gourds, hayrides, and boiled peanuts every September and October.

Don’t miss: Hundreds of pumpkin varieties · Hayrides · Boiled peanuts and kettle corn

Rock City Gardens

Garden

Peak November 10 2026 forecast

Frieda Carter's rock-garden trail winds through ancient sandstone formations atop Lookout Mountain to Lover's Leap, where the barn-roof-advertised promise to 'See Rock City,' a Southern roadside icon since the 1930s, delivers a seven-state view on a clear fall day.

Don’t miss: Lover's Leap overlook · Swing-A-Long Bridge · Seven-state view

Helen, Georgia

Historic town

Color nearby peaks October 30 2026 forecast

A former logging town rebuilt as a Bavarian alpine village in the 1960s, Helen hosts the country's longest-running Oktoberfest, with polka bands and steins inside the riverside Festhalle running from mid-September into November.

Don’t miss: Longest-running U.S. Oktoberfest · Riverside Festhalle beer hall · Alpine-village architecture

See all things to do in Georgia

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Frequently asked

When does Amicalola Falls State Park peak in 2026?
Peak color is predicted for November 2–November 6 (best estimate November 4). Color starts around October 20 and is mostly bare by November 28.
What is Amicalola Falls State Park best for?
Waterfall views.
How do I get to Amicalola Falls State Park?
The closest city is Atlanta, about 57 mi away. It's part of Georgia's fall lineup.

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