The Best Outdoor Destinations to Explore in Georgia

When it comes to Georgia’s scenic natural beauty, pictures can’t do it justice. This southern state has a landscape encompassing soft-sand beaches, coastal scenery, and mountainous terrain with deep green forests.

If you are seeking to explore Georgia’s beautiful outdoor settings, you’ll have plenty of options. The state is filled with natural sites that bring in large numbers of visitors every year. We’ve made a list breaking down some of Georgia’s top outdoor destinations with natural beauty best experienced in person. 

Tallulah Gorge, two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep, is considered one of the state’s seven natural wonders. Cut by the winding Tallulah River, the gorge is a vast canyon surrounded by trees. A suspension bridge overlooks the gorge and its five waterfalls. People particularly enjoy visiting to climb, canyon, mountain bike, or camp. 

Amicalola Falls, measuring 729 feet, is the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi and one of Georgia’s most scenic. It is a premier hiking destination with a five-mile trail that leads from the waterfall to pleasant lodging options.  

There may be a negative stigma about the beauty of swamps, but Okefenokee Swamp is certainly an argument for their appeal. This massive swamp area is the largest blackwater swamp in North America, located in the 400,000-acre Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The cypress trees dangle over the water, and the area teems with wildlife, including alligators, otters, bobcats, and more. It is a popular, unique area for overnight camping. 

Cumberland Island, off the southern Georgia coast, is practically an uninhabited island, although many animals, such as wild horses, loggerhead turtles, alligators, and more, can be found there. It boasts sandy beaches, beautiful coastal scenery, and the ruins of palatial mansions once owned by Thomas Carnegie. It is a popular destination for camping, boating, and hiking. 

Radium Springs is the biggest natural spring in Georgia. An underground cave feeds the spring water into an above-ground pool, which has a turquoise glow. It is surrounded by thick forests and neighboring bodies of water. Many like to boat in these surrounding waters and hike to the unique natural spring.

Wormsloe Historic Site is a scenic street in Savannah covered by Spanish oak trees blanketed in moss. These trees frame the long street, ideal for a picturesque drive or scenic hike. The road leads to the ruins of Georgia’s oldest standing structure. The surrounding trees and open plains also make this site an incredibly beautiful natural area to explore on foot.