Reaching altitudes of 3640ft, Georgia's highest state park is 5 miles north of Clayton. At that height, its obvious draws are the vistas. Like Brasstown Bald (Georgia's highest point), you can see four states from the park's various lookouts on a clear day. There are 11 miles of trails spread over four routes as well as a campground and primitive backcountry camping sites. A picnic from its summit visitor center is the way to go.
Black Rock Mountain State Park
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
21.48 MILES
This dramatic 186ft-high waterfall, reached along a 500ft path from the visitor center on the campus of Tocca Falls College, is one of the tallest free…
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19.59 MILES
Not to be confused with Tennessee's far more famous Ruby Falls, Georgia's Anna Ruby Falls is tucked away in Unicoi State Park (part of the Chattahoochee…
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11.38 MILES
The 1000ft-deep Tallulah Gorge carves a dark scar across the wooded hills of North Georgia. Walk over the Indiana Jones–worthy suspension bridge, and be…
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21.31 MILES
At this adventure-oriented park, visitors can rent kayaks ($10 per hour), take paddleboard lessons ($25), hike some 12 miles of trails, mountain bike, or…
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22.94 MILES
Toccoa's pride and joy is this 14,000-sq-ft museum dedicated to the inaugural US Army paratrooper training camp, located here during WWII, and the four…
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26.55 MILES
The highlight of this alluring, 622-acre park is the crystal-clear, spring-fed Lake Jocassee, which was artificially created in the early 70s, when the…
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29.39 MILES
On a good day, this double waterfall barrels out of the woods over a rocky outcrop, tumbling 100ft into a moss creek valley below. But on a rainy day, it…
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25.11 MILES
This small, family-owned and -operated winery does brisk business in the region for its sweet fruit and muscadine wines. While they aren't likely to be…
Nearby attractions
1. Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center
1.04 MILES
Fancy living off the grid? Since 1966, this important, hands-on experiential museum telling the story of Appalachian culture has been solely focused on…
11.38 MILES
The 1000ft-deep Tallulah Gorge carves a dark scar across the wooded hills of North Georgia. Walk over the Indiana Jones–worthy suspension bridge, and be…
19.59 MILES
Not to be confused with Tennessee's far more famous Ruby Falls, Georgia's Anna Ruby Falls is tucked away in Unicoi State Park (part of the Chattahoochee…
21.31 MILES
At this adventure-oriented park, visitors can rent kayaks ($10 per hour), take paddleboard lessons ($25), hike some 12 miles of trails, mountain bike, or…
21.48 MILES
This dramatic 186ft-high waterfall, reached along a 500ft path from the visitor center on the campus of Tocca Falls College, is one of the tallest free…
6. Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina
21.83 MILES
South Carolina's only museum dedicated solely to Cherokee history is contained in a small white-brick building in the northwestern corner of the state…
7. Habersham Vineyards & Winery
22.6 MILES
One of Georgia's pioneering wineries dating all the way back to 1983. Winemaker Andrew Beaty trained at the University of California, Davis, and wineries…
22.61 MILES
This 1870 Italianate farmhouse set on 173 acres, 2 miles southeast of downtown Helen, is Georgia's newest state historic site. The nearby gazebo-topped…