Outdoor Things to Do Near Dahlonega

City picnic area created in 2021 overlooking Yahoola Creek Reservoir, with picnic tables, benches, public parking and an accessible kayak launch.

Fenced city park beside City Hall with two pavilions, two children's play areas, infant and child swings and a paved walking loop.

Lumpkin County recreation center with a double gym, indoor and outdoor pickleball courts and a seasonal water park with slides, lazy river and lap pool.

Permanent 18-hole disc golf course inside Lumpkin County's Yahoola Creek Park, established in 2012, with holes along the park's creeks and walking trails.

Lumpkin County park with a 1.5-mile walking trail, pavilions, ball fields, tennis courts, two playgrounds, an 18-hole disc golf course and creekside picnic tables.

City drinking-water reservoir with a loop trail around the lake (about 3.2 miles, per the city), a boat ramp and dock, picnic tables and fishing where the city allows it. No swimming, wading or gas motors.

Seasonal outfitter running short tubing floats on the Chestatee River outside Dahlonega and canoe and kayak trips on the Etowah River in Dawson Forest.

Waterfall on the private grounds of Glisson Camp & Retreat Center; limited weekday public viewing outside camp season when no retreat group is on site.

Seasonal outfitter renting sit-on-top single and tandem kayaks for trips on the Chestatee River south of Dahlonega.

Member club with a Jack Nicklaus Signature course along the Chestatee River that also sells green fees to non-members, who must take a cart.

Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole golf course in the Achasta community along the Chestatee River, which comes into play on over half the holes.

Family-run stable offering guided and self-paced horseback trail rides on weekends year-round, about 1 mile past the north end of GA 400.

Year-round campground on the Etowah River that offers leisurely tube floats on the river from May through Labor Day.

Forest Service off-highway-vehicle trail system about six miles north of Dahlonega: 11.2 miles of one-way trail for motorcycles and ATVs under 50 inches wide.

Lumpkin County boat ramp and small recreation area on Lake Lanier, about 8.5 road miles from the square; trailer launching is not possible at low water.

Semi-private 18-hole golf course in Dawsonville listed as open for public play.

Free Forest Service pull-off on GA 60 overlooking the Chestatee River headwaters, the Dockery Lake campground and the Blood Mountain Wilderness.

Privately owned off-road park with about 4,300 acres and 200-plus routes for ATVs, UTVs and side-by-sides, plus camping, cabins and an on-site grille.

Dawson County park on Lake Lanier with nine primitive campsites, day-use areas, trails, a bathhouse with showers, a courtesy dock and three boat ramps.

Forest Service network of about 36 miles of connected trails for mountain bikers, horseback riders and hikers in western Lumpkin County, reached from two trailheads.

Forest Service campground and day-use area on a 6-acre trout-stocked lake in the Blue Ridge Ranger District north of Dahlonega.

Dirt parking where the Appalachian Trail crosses Cooper Gap above the Army Ranger camp; the AT runs 7.9 miles south from here to Three Forks.

Forest Service trailhead where the Appalachian Trail crosses GA Hwy 60, with panoramic mountain views, a restroom and picnic spots; a starting point for Preacher's Rock.

Private campground near Cleveland offering RV camping and storage, an onsite manager, 24/7 access and trout fishing.

Waterfall and shoals just below the confluence of Dicks and Waters creeks in the Chattahoochee National Forest, popular for summer wading.

Rock outcrop overlook on the Appalachian Trail near Woody Gap, named by Discover Dahlonega as a must-hike stretch with Blue Ridge Mountain views.

Permanent 9-hole disc golf course at Main Street Park in Dawsonville, listed in the PDGA course directory.

Stable at Forrest Hills offering public and private guided trail rides, horse-drawn carriage rides and group dinner wagon rides.

Forest Service area in the 650-acre DeSoto Falls Scenic Area with trails to two waterfalls, a campground and trout fishing on Frogtown Creek.

Backcountry lodge in Amicalola Falls State Park reached only by a five-mile hiking trail through the foothills; overnight guests get meals and a bed.

Lake Lanier campground and day-use park on Chestatee Road in north Hall County.

Dawson County's 120-acre passive park off GA 183 with about five miles of dirt hiking and biking trails, a half-mile paved accessible loop and restrooms.

Free Forest Service parking on FS 42; a 0.9-mile hike south reaches the Springer Mountain summit plaque marking the Appalachian Trail's southern terminus.

Dawson County park on Lake Lanier with 14 primitive campsites, day-use areas, a bathhouse with showers, a courtesy dock, four boat ramps and a pier.

Waterfall on Long Creek reached from the Three Forks trail crossing: about one mile on the AT, then a short blue-blazed side trail.

Public 18-hole golf course in Gainesville, open year-round, with cart rentals.

Outdoor outfitter where the Appalachian Trail crosses Neel Gap, selling backpacking gear, trail advice and AT souvenirs.

Eight-site Forest Service campground on Rock Creek past the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery, popular for stocked and wild trout fishing.

Free trailhead where a blue-blazed trail climbs about 400 feet to the Appalachian Trail; Blood Mountain's summit is 1.5 miles beyond the junction.

Georgia state park of 829 acres in the Chattahoochee National Forest, home to a 729-foot cascading waterfall with a walkway and stairs from base to top.

DNR wildlife management area of 25,500 acres in five tracts with improved roads, marked trails, Amicalola River access, hunting and fishing.

Blue-blazed trail from Amicalola Falls State Park to Springer Mountain and the Appalachian Trail's southern terminus, with several difficult climbs.

Dirt parking where the Appalachian Trail crosses the Richard Russell Scenic Highway; the Logan Turnpike Trail also ends here, and Neels Gap is 5.7 AT miles away.

Free, open-all-year Forest Service trail: an easy 0.2-mile walk with abrupt grade changes to an observation deck at the upper and lower falls.

Free Forest Service scenic area with a short trail through a north-facing hardwood cove known for wildflowers and birds.

Day-use Forest Service area on the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway with a moderate trail down to decks at the foot of the falls and views toward Mount Yonah.

Georgia state park near the Appalachian Trail with 90 campsites and cabins. Lake Trahlyta is drained for dam repairs, so its loop trail and waterfall are closed; other facilities are open. ParkPass required for parking.

Free Forest Service trailhead off Chambers Road and FS 323 near Cleveland for hikes up Yonah Mountain.

Forest Service trailhead on the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway for the Raven Cliffs Wilderness trail, which follows Dodd Creek to Raven Cliff Falls.

Georgia state park with 28 miles of trails, five first-come picnic shelters and seasonal reservation-only catch-and-release trout fishing; visitors register at the visitor center.

Forest Service campground on Cooper Creek with 13 standard sites and a group site, trout fishing in Cooper and Mulky creeks, and short interconnected hiking trails.

Forest Service campground on Cooper Creek, a tenth of a mile south of Cooper Creek Campground, with trout fishing and connecting trails.

Gainesville location of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, with garden areas including a children's garden, stream garden and overlook garden.

Small Forest Service campground and day-use area on a bend of the Toccoa River, the launch point for the 13.8-mile Toccoa River Canoe Trail.

The only state park on Lake Lanier, where the Chattahoochee River meets the lake, with boat ramps, paddling trails, 44 campsites and 14.5 miles of hiking and horse trails.

Permanent 18-hole disc golf course in Gainesville, listed in the PDGA course directory.

Thirteen-site Forest Service campground in the Chattahoochee WMA beside the Mark Trail Wilderness, reservation only, with a vault toilet.

State historic park preserving a historic farm and mansion in Sautee Nacoochee, with mansion tours and the Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail.

Georgia state park and lodge within the Chattahoochee National Forest, about two miles from Helen, with a lake beach and lodge accommodations.

Privately owned, pay-to-play 18-hole disc golf course at North Georgia Canopy Tours in Lula, listed in the PDGA course directory.

Permanent 20-hole disc golf course in Forsyth County's Central Park, listed in the PDGA course directory.

Golf course in Gainesville with three nines (Village, School and Mill) and online tee times up to 14 days ahead.

Permanent 9-hole disc golf course on the University of North Georgia Gainesville campus, listed in the PDGA course directory.

Environmental education center rooted in the 1,440-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve, with hiking trails and set public visitation hours.

Seasonal Forest Service campground off GA 75 about 5.5 miles north of Helen; drinking water is no longer available.

Forest Service site near Helen with a paved trail from the visitor center to twin waterfalls, picnic sites and the short braille Lion's Eye Trail.

Forsyth County preserve protecting over 820 acres of Sawnee Mountain, with a visitor center, interpretive exhibits and about 11 miles of hiking trails.

Forest Service take-out for the Toccoa River Canoe Trail with campsites, a small-boat ramp, vault toilet, picnic tables and an information kiosk.

Permanent 9-hole disc golf course at Platt Park in south Hall County, listed in the PDGA course directory.

Georgia's highest point at 4,784 feet, with a visitor center, observation platform, picnic areas, store, three trailheads and a steep 0.6-mile paved summit trail or shuttle.

Permanent 18-hole disc golf course on the North Georgia Technical College campus, listed in the PDGA course directory.

The only developed Forest Service campground on Blue Ridge Lake, a 3,290-acre TVA reservoir, with camping, swim beach, picnicking, boating and fishing.

Free Forest Service area on the west side of 3,290-acre Blue Ridge Lake for boating, skiing and fishing for bass, bream, catfish, perch and crappie.

City of Sugar Hill golf course taking tee times one week in advance by phone.

Fly-fishing operation outside Dahlonega with a private trout stream; the guide also runs guided trips on rivers and lakes. Booking by text.

City-owned pocket park at North Chestatee and Warwick streets with ornamental and pollinator plantings, benches, a lending library and a water feature.

Accessible 2,800-square-foot playground in Hancock Park with a mine-shaft climbing structure, Cloud 9 swings, animal sculptures and outdoor musical instruments.

Lumpkin County Parks & Recreation home base next to City Hall Park, with athletic fields, picnic pavilions and a community center with gym and rental rooms.

Free Forest Service day-use area on Boggs Creek for picnicking, stream fishing and short hikes; camping, RVs, trailers and OHVs are not allowed.

Free, no-services Forest Service day-use area along Dicks Creek and Waters Creek inside the Chestatee WMA, near Dicks Creek Falls.

Trail on the historic Logan Turnpike toll road: a scenic first mile along Town Creek, then a steep climb to the Appalachian Trail at Tesnatee Gap.

The Appalachian Trail's first 76.4 miles run through Georgia from Springer Mountain, crossing Lumpkin County at Woody Gap and climbing over Blood Mountain.

Primitive backcountry trail starting on Springer Mountain with about 80 miles in Georgia, crossing the Toccoa River on a 260-foot suspension bridge.

Rugged trail along Duncan Ridge through the Cooper Creek WMA from Blood Mountain to the Benton MacKaye Trail in Fannin County, among the area's most difficult.

Dawson County day-use park on Lake Lanier with trails, restrooms, a covered pavilion, a courtesy dock and three boat ramps.

Dawson County Lake Lanier park with day-use areas, restrooms, a courtesy dock and one boat ramp.

Dawson County park with a free canoe and kayak launch on the Etowah River; the downstream take-out at Kelly Bridge charges a small fee.

USFS mountain lake recreation area on GA 180; the fishing pier stays open while the campground, beach and pavilion are closed for construction.

USFS riverside campground on the upper Chattahoochee River; temporarily closed for facility improvements.