Outdoor Activities In North Georgia
The rolling terrain of North Georgia offers an abundance of outdoor fun and adventure. Lakes, canyons, waterfalls, and rushing rivers with a backdrop of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains create an unbeatable playground for the outdoor adventurer.
For rafting at all skill levels, head to the Chattooga River. The filming site for the movie Deliverance, Congress designated the Chattooga as on of America’s Wild and Scenic rivers. The Class III level is for beginners and families just looking for a leisurely float down the river but with a revved up class IV ending. For the less faint of heart, there’s Class IV and Class V with rushing whitewater speeds that ends with a plunge down Five Falls and Soc-em-Dog.
North Georgia’s Lake Lanier, a huge reservoir lake created in 1956 near Gainesville, is the most popular lake in the Southeast. It’s like going to the beach without the sticky salt and sand with plenty of adult and kid-friendly attractions. It is the home of WildWaves, Georgia’s largest wave pool. Tubes are available for floating.
Lake Lanier’s LanierWorld is a half mile of powdery white sand along the shores of the lake. Umbrella and Cabana rentals are available. You can tackle the open waters safely with Lake Lanier’s Big Beach Aquatic Adventure course. Float along the water as you swim, climb, and slide your way through the course. Those over 42 inches tall can zoom down a double lane slide, and for the wee ones, the Fun Zone has gentler slides and a mini wave pool, a miniature version of WildWaves.
North Georgia’s Tallulah Gorge State Park is headquarters for climbing, hiking, biking, and, of course enjoying the breathtaking scenery. It joins Tallulah Falls, a series of six cascading waterfalls. The gorge is a 1000-foot deep two-mile-long gash. Explore the remote canyon floor via a series of stairs and cross a swaying suspension bridge 80 feet above the rushing Tallulah River. Canyon floor permits(limited to 100 per day) are available except on dam release days.
For a Costa Rican-type adventure in the Appalachian foothills, head to the North Georgia Canopy tour. Zip over a lush forest canopy and race your friends over river rapids while strapped onto a suspended cable. The mile-long zip line course has two sky bridges and crosses over the Oconee River for spectacular views.
A mild climate makes the outdoor adventure a year-round affair in Georgia. While you’re having fun in North Georgia’s outdoor landscape, consider staying at Sylvan Valley Lodge & Cellars located along the Unicoi Wine Trail. When it’s time to pack away the swimsuits, you can still find plenty of fun in Georgia.
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