If you think you’ve seen all the best hiking spots in Georgia, think again because we’re about to take you deep into the woods.
We’re talking mossy trails with waterfalls, secret boardwalks through swamps and quiet paths lined with giant trees.
Some of these places are hiding right in the middle of the city, while others take a little road trip to find but every single one is 100% worth it.
So if you’re into tree tunnels, trickling creeks, and trails that feel totally magical (without the crowds), you’re gonna love this list.
Let’s go find some forest magic.
1. Big Trees Forest Preserve
Big Trees Forest Preserve is located in Sandy Springs, just off Roswell Road, and it’s packed with shady trails, bubbling creeks, and some seriously massive white oaks.
The main loop is just under 1 mile and takes you past a wooden boardwalk, a peaceful stream, and towering hardwoods that have stood for over 100 years.
It’s one of those spots where you feel like you’ve stepped into a peaceful fairytale, even though you’re just a few minutes from Atlanta traffic.
2. Bartram Trail to Rabun Bald
If you’re up for a challenge with a seriously epic payoff, the Bartram Trail to Rabun Bald is calling your name.
This 8-mile roundtrip hike climbs nearly 1,900 feet and takes you to the top of Georgia’s second-highest peak.
At the top, you’ll find a stone observation tower that gives 360-degree views that stretch into North Carolina and South Carolina on clear days.
The trail winds through mossy woods, rhododendron tunnels, and foggy ridgelines that feel like something straight out of a fantasy novel.
3. Fernbank Forest
Right in the heart of Atlanta, Fernbank Forest is a 65-acre old-growth forest that feels like a secret world hiding behind the science museum.
The trail is an easy 0.87-mile loop, but what makes it wild is that you’re walking through trees over 300 years old, with giant tulip poplars and oaks towering way above your head.
Keep your eyes out for deer, owls, and even streams and a pond along the way.
This place is proof that you don’t have to leave the city to find some serious forest magic.
4. Dukes Creek Falls Trail
Next up is Dukes Creek Falls Trail in the North Georgia mountains, where you’ll hike through a forest filled with switchbacks, rhododendrons, and rushing water sounds the whole way down.
The trail is a 2-mile roundtrip and leads you straight to a stunning 200-foot waterfall that crashes down into a rocky canyon.
The waterfall is totally picture-worthy and way louder than you’d expect.
It’s one of those hikes that feels easy on the legs but big on the wow factor, especially if you hit it after a good rain.
5. Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve
Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve in Gainesville has over 12 miles of hiking trails and 21 miles of mountain biking paths, but you don’t have to hike them all to get the fairytale feels.
Stick to the Bridge Loop Trail (approximately 2.9 miles long) for a peaceful stroll through hardwood forests, wooden footbridges, and fern-covered paths that feel totally enchanted.
This spot is quiet, though it can get busy during peak times.
The trails are clearly marked, so you can wander without worrying about getting lost in the woods.
6. Pine Log Creek Trail
Pine Log Creek Trail in Rydal is a hidden gem that’s perfect if you’re into forest hikes with a little bit of everything.
The 4.5-mile loop takes you past a peaceful creek, up a small ridge, and all the way to an old abandoned rock quarry filled with turquoise water.
There are benches along the trail, so you can stop and soak in the beautiful forest without rushing through the magic.
7. Marshall Forest
Marshall Forest in Rome is one of the only old-growth forests in Georgia that’s inside city limits, and it’s like stepping into a living museum.
There’s a short 0.25-mile Braille Trail with signs in both print and braille, so it’s super accessible, plus you’ll see ancient trees, wildflowers, and maybe even a box turtle or two.
It’s quiet, uncrowded, and protected by The Nature Conservancy, which means the forest gets to do its thing with no loud crowds, just you and the trees.
8. Moody Forest Natural Area
Moody Forest Natural Area near Baxley is a total gem if you’re into wild, untouched nature and seriously big trees.
The 2-mile River Trail takes you through rare longleaf pine and blackwater swamp habitats, with boardwalks that hover over soggy ground and views of the Altamaha River peeking through the trees.
Keep your ears open as this forest is home to gopher tortoises, woodpeckers, and even wild turkeys.
9. Crooked River State Park
Way down in the southeast corner of Georgia, Crooked River State Park is filled with salt marshes as well as shady forest trails, providing a totally different kind of hike.
The Sempervirens Trail is a chill 1.5-mile loop that winds through ancient live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, and you might spot fiddler crabs scuttling across the mud flats near the water.
It’s the kind of place where the forest meets the coast, and the air smells like pine trees and ocean all at once.
10. F.D. Roosevelt State Park
F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain has the longest stretch of hiking trails in any Georgia state park, with over 40 miles of winding paths through pine-covered ridges and quiet valleys.
If you’re short on time, try the 4.3-mile Dowdell’s Knob Loop which takes you to one of FDR’s favorite picnic spots with sweeping views over the valley and a life-size statue of the man himself.
The trails here are peaceful, a little hilly, and packed with history, so you get gorgeous scenery and a peek into the past all in one hike.
11. Standing Boy Creek Park
Standing Boy Creek Park in Columbus is one of Georgia’s newer forest escapes, and it’s full of piney trails, lakeside views, and plenty of space to explore without the crowds.
The Bimini Loop is about 3.4 miles roundtrip and takes you through a mix of hardwood forest and sandy beach spots right along the edge of Lake Oliver.
It’s the kind of trail where you can hear birds singing, spot turtles sunbathing, and maybe even dip your toes in the water if it’s hot out.
12. Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta feels like walking into a nature documentary with boardwalks, wetlands, and more wildlife than you can count.
The 0.5-mile Beaver Dam Trail takes you past giant cypress trees, lily-covered ponds, and lookout towers where you might spot beavers, herons, or even red shouldered hawks flying overhead.
It’s flat, easy to walk, and totally different from a mountain hike, this one’s all about water, birds, and that swamp magic.
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