Amicalola Falls State Park Reviews

There's just no topping Mother Nature! The fall foliage was beautiful during my visit and the views of the falls was breathtaking! I would definitely recommend good hiking shoes and patience for the walk up/down the mountain :-)

A must visit if you are near the area. Can be as easy or strenuous as you'd like. We drove from Blue Ridge and it was about a 30 minute scenic drive. It costs $5 to go in, and you drive straight to the visitor center. At the visitor center, see a cash register for a map and explanation of the different hikes or trails you can take. We were actually going to get rain that day so we decided to go the easy drive. You literally drive, park, walk a few feet and get to the scenic bridge. You drive up a bit more and get to the top of the falls. You drive up a bit more and get to the Inn and the gift shop. There's also zip lining up there for about $29 a person. The gift shop is pretty small and inside the Inn. The visitor center had more variety for souvenir shopping, in my opinion. Would definitely recommend and would come back to do the 2 mile hike from the visitor center to the falls.

This place is worth it but the steps to the top of the falls WILL wear you out! So, my first confusion was picking the trail I wanted. I decided that for us it would be…Creek Trail, then right to the lower observation deck then on up the steps to the top. Then down the East ridge trail all the way back to the visitor center—where we started and left the parked car. Those steps are something else…but we took it at our own pace. That stairs have areas to rest…so that’s great. It’s shaded…so no worries on direct sun light. It’s well worth it!

Went to the visitors center to buy a coke and was told if I want one with ice, it would be 54 cents extra. What a rip off! The campground prices are also too high. Buyer beware.

Went here just to see and photograph these beautiful falls. First stopped at the nice visitor center. Then drove to below the falls and walked down an easy path to the falls. You can't really appreciate them by looking up.Then drove up to the upper viewpoint to look down over the falls. There is a little bridge where you can look down with a great view of the cascade. Amazing. A long trip from Dahlonega but worth the drive.

Really Beautiful Falls. 729 ft. Drop. Well worth your time and effort to do the loop hike up and down. But it’s a Tough 2.5 mile hike… steep, rugged, with a partly eroded rubble section on the trail up, 425 stairs and tiered boardwalks and viewing areas on the way down. Best views are mid falls. Not for small children, dogs or out of shape adults. For those with limitations I suggest you be driven to the top and walk down the stairs side.

Must see for your self. Picture does not do justice. There is a cafe up on top, so go on up and eat and enjoy the view .

This place is beautiful! Pretty strenuous hike but we’ll worth the trip! Only 1.5 miles all the way up and down but over 600 stairs! Breath taking!

I cooked a meal for a picnic and my husband and I headed to this park to eat and walk the trails. We found a picnic table and proceeded to unpack our food. There were many dogs in the area. The picnic tables are all along the paths and someone let their dog take a dump right beside our table. It smelled the entire time we tried to eat. The other tables were taken or we would have moved. We then proceeded to walk the trails. We are seniors but do really good on hikes. Except when getting tangled in dog leashes and having dogs jump against me and knock me down. Honestly. I love dogs but there is no room for them on these narrow trails. Especially the stairs to the top. I am surprised there are not more accidents. By the time I got down I was pretty beat up and badly bruised the next day. I love this park but really won’t go back because of this.

Enjoyed this beautiful day here! The Falls are amazing. If you love 💗 hiking 🥾 this is for you! Can’t wait to go back. Archery and zip lining are available too.

Came for a couple hours by car from Dahlonega (25 mins away). Paid the $5/car entry to park and started in the visitor center. The walk to the top (they say) is about 60 mins walk (up a bunch of stairs too). We only hiked to the base (about 25 mins up) and enjoyed the nice hiking trails and some steep climbs. Next time we'll spend more than an hour and see more! Great nature spot, and a good place to start the AT (which is about 8 mile hike from here).

Our family had a great time at the lodge and walking the falls. They have a great area that we played in the creek and cooked out.

There are a short walk and a extremely long trail to the falls. Definitely ask the rangers at the visitor center to see where the 1 mile trail is. You can drive to the top of the waterfall and walk down stairs or you can walk from the bottom of the waterfalls up the stairs to the top. Definitely a must see if you are looking for a good waterfall.

We hiked with two medium sized dogs up the hill and down the stairs by the falls. If you have dogs, I'd recommend going UP the stairs, and back down the trail. The stairs are metal grates and our dogs feet (toes) got stuck in the treads as they were going down. Ended up carrying them, which was no big deal, but be aware. This time of year is awesome with the leaves changing colors and the park was fairly busy. Parking is a premium, so get there early and plan on driving around a bit if you want to get a spot by the visitor center. We did see a bear running through the woods about 25 yards ahead of us, which was super cool.

A great place We love it here. The weather was great breezy cool sunshine. We did not walk all the stairs with some of the stairs drove around going to stop at the Lodge and see what’s happening there

Family friendly with lots of parking options! Beautiful park with stunning waterfalls and trails. Make sure that you have sunscreen and bug spray depending on the time of the year.

The falls, trails, and park are wonderful. That said, you might want to avoid visiting on a weekend. The roads to the park entrance were backed up for several miles in every direction. Once inside, there was no parking to be found. I had to drive around the lot above the lodge four times before a space opened up. There was even a lengthy backup to exit the park.

Breathtaking! Plenty to see and do. A national forest in the back of it offers tons of hiking, biking, camping, etc.

Went up for 3 nights with a class A 30’ camper. Towed a keep behind. Have been reading about the steep hill so we disconnected the keep and drove it up ahead of the camper. My Ford V10 did find some pretty high ROM gears to get up the hill but it made it and I would say with a moderate strain. Was not as bad as others made it out. Park said they tow campers off the road several times a year so make sure
You have some power.
Road has been paved in the last year so good road, steep grade. Campsites are all back in bit most are not sharp turns or hard to get into. If you have an exceptionally long 5th wheel (over 35’) might be hard.
Campsite was cleared and gravel and organized nicely. Bathrooms are great and very clean. Host do a good job. Never saw them dirty.
Overall a very nice park and I Will come back.

We really enjoyed the view from the top of the falls. The kids like playing in the water and the playground. $5 a car to get in. I would like to check out the fishing pond next time.

There are a few options to view the Amicalola Falls. You can hike up the mountain or you can drive a little ways then walk about .25 miles. The waterfall is beautiful, but it was also nice to see so many families enjoying time together outside and having picnics.

The approach to these falls is poorly marked, steep, frankly treacherous, and hard work. The maps are useless and the people that work there are not very knowledgeable. I am surprised someone hasn’t been seriously injured. There is a restaurant at the top, but we didn’t have much of an appetite. A little signage would be nice.....

We parked by the visitor center and hike up through the mountain following the sign says top of the waterfall. It wasn’t crowded and the view of the mountains from there was beautiful. It’s a great feeling when we finally saw the top of the waterfalls! Then we took stairs to go down alongside the falls. It was a bit crowded with people going both directions. There are several good spots to take photos, but on the bridge was perfect! Gorgeous view of the waterfalls from there. It was perfect amount of hiking for us, and it was so beautiful!!

The falls are beautiful, just peaceful to watch. There are options of where you can park at and view the falls or you can park and walk steps to get and even better view. Great for a day with the family.

The climb was tough, but the falls were very nice. Be ready for a workout! We took the stairs on the way up and the trail on the way down. A nice hike for the afternoon.

This park has many trails and falls to see. one of the main trails that goes from the bottom to the top of the falls has 420 steps... if you start at the top of not do bad, but going up is a challenge. Many of the trails are challenging in length or elevation but they are some shorter trails of you look. Can get on the Appalchian Trail from the park but you must sign in. Beautiful but not the easiest trails to hike if you are not in reasonable shape

This is a really good hike with excellent views halfway up. You climb around 600 stairs to get to the top, OR you could drive to the top and walk down. I'd recommend starting at the bottom-- about halfway up are the best look at the falls anyway. If you start at the top it's an easy down but you have to climb all those steps back up. But that's just me.

Bringing kids here, I knew it wouldnt be a fast hike. It is beautiful. We started at the visitor center and walked the trail to the top, and finished with the steps down the waterfall. It was very busy in June, but most people were courteous when waiting at the better picture spots. Take your time, enjoy it as long as you can.

For those people who aren't in it for the hike, you can drive to the reflecting pond at the bottom and drive to a parking lot at the top of the falls.

The best picture spot is a bridge about halfway down.

There are bathrooms at the top of the falls and at the visit center. There's a shaded playground. And this seems to be a happy spot for fishing at the reflection pond. There is tons of space for a picnic despite how crowded the stairs felt.

This was my second visit to Amicalola State park. On both occasions, I went with my 2 kids. They were 5 and 8 on the first visit. Now 6 and 9. Entry fee is $5. We parked in front of the visitor's center. There are 2 ways ( that I know of) to get to the falls. One way is to go to the base of the falls and take the steps up to the fall. The other way is to take the trail through the woods ( I chose this option on both occasions), and come down the steps to the fall. Once you see the beautiful Amicalola Falls, you can continue down the stairs to the base of the fall. I was able to do this hiking with 2 little kids. We took plenty of Gatorade, water, and some snacks. we stopped at different times, and sat down on logs to get a break. From the visitor center to the falls is about 2 miles (guestimate). It took my kids and I about an hour because we stopped several times. My friend did it with her kids (teenagers) in about 27 minutes. After playing in the water at the base of the fall, we headed back towards the visitors center, where there's a covered picnic area where you can have lunch. I did not hike any of the other trails in the park because that would be too much for my kids, but I hope to soon. The bathrooms could be cleaner, and they did not have paper towels to dry your hands in the major bathroom by the Visitor center. Overall, a great park, and would return.

We hiked up to the top of the falls and back around down the stairs and hiked back to parking area. Just under 4 miles total but STEEP on the way up and 425 stairs down (this ends at a reflection pond and is the best way to see all 7 cascades) and then a hiking trail to where we began at the visitors center. The views are 100% worth it! Really enjoyed this hike.

I go hiking all the time and I have to say this is one of my favorite state parks!! The waterfall is gorgeous and the trails they have to get there are so convenient and well kept and very thoughtful for people with limited abilities. There are also several hikes that are for very skilled people as well. They had so many various hiking trails, plus things to do such as zip lining and archery lessons. We did the archery lesson and our guide Jordan was awesome!!!! The whole state park is laid out in a perfect manner with everything generally easy to find, and all the staff we came into contact with was very nice. Definitely would visit again!

My husband and I take motorcycle vacations to visit waterfalls. There is an option to take stairs instead of the hike up the mountain. Both are a good workout. My husband and I are both in our fifties. The view from the lodge is spectacular! The reflecting pool is a nice place to relax after the hike.

The best part of this waterfall is that you can drive to the bottom and see the whole falls from the bottom, then you can drive (a very steep road) up to the top and see the falls and a great view of teh countryside from the top of the mountain as well. Well worth your time. There are also trails if you have the time and like to hike.

We spent a while here riding around the park. We especially love the water fall. The scenery is beautiful especially in some spots. We went in summer but I bet its gorgeous in the fall.

This place was not very easy to get to but was well worth the trip. I would love to stay at the lodge and experience the Falls again and again plus the trails around the lodge. Nice and peaceful.

What a perfect day! The rain was only in the AM and had passed by the time we got there. The pathway was slick but doable. We loved every bit of the short hike. We did NOT go to the very top but wanted to see it from this point. It was just beautiful. Inquired about the lodge; stopped by for some info and will certainly come to stay in the future plans.

Hiking up the falls was tricky this week due to the closed trail - check the state park website to see if the trail is still closed, here is the notice: "Due to storm damage The Middle Bridge and the Lower Stairs to the first Platform after the bridge are closed at this time. You can access the Waterfall by the Spring Trail to the Westridge Trail to the upper half of the stairs. The lower stairs to the last platform before the bridge are open as well for you to enjoy."
We stopped at the visitor center and they provided a map and they showed me on the map where the trail is closed. I hope they fix it soon!! But it is still worth going even with the closed trail. We ended up hiking all over the place but if I could do it again, I would first drive to the top of the falls and check that out, then hike down the stairs to the spring trail and then cut over to the reflection pool. There you can hike back up toward the falls along the river up to the closed trail. This is a great area to end the hike because the creek is gorgeous, there are wonderful views of the falls, and there are places to relax, rocks to sit on, and back below the reflection pool there are picnic tables and calm places to wade in the creek and cool off. There were bathrooms at the top of the falls but I did not find bathrooms or drinking water at the reflection pool area. If you end up near the reflection pool then maybe one adult would move the car there and skip the hike down, or hike back up to the top to get the car? Most trails are steep so they take longer than you might think from looking at the map.

Stopped here on a whim while we were in Dawsonville, and I was awestruck by the views! I did a little bit of hiking, and the trails seemed very nice, and well signed. The view from the bottom of the falls is really cool, but it needs to be seen from the top. When I walked out on the boardwalk over the falls, I had my breath taken away. The beauty of the North Georgia Mountains, and the sheer size of the falls below you are simply mesmerizing. This is a MUST SEE for Nature lovers traveling through this area. I’m really hoping to get back and explore more of this park soon!

This is a beautiful State Park. The falls are breathtaking and the view from the top amazing. Highly recommend visiting. If you can't do the full hike up to the falls, you can drive almost to the top and there is a relaxing 10 minute walk to the falls. Totally worth it! We had a picnic lunch under the trees and by a pretty stream that runs through the park. Nice place.

We enjoyed this experience for the memories we made. Our family of four consists of two boys, 9 and 13, and my husband and I. They put us to shame climbing that mountain. Like it was nothing. I do recommend taking East Ridge trail UP as we did. The staff inside the visitor center will suggest taking the stairs up by way of the App. Approach trail. We took the stairs DOWN and it was much easier I’d say. 600 stairs is no joke. That’s like climbing a 42 story walk up. Do wear sturdy grippy sneakers or boots. The trail is rooty, rocky, washed out, and a steady, increasing grade up a mountain. Take plenty of water. You will need to stay hydrated. Rest occasionally. The best part is talking to people on the trail or the steps. They will encourage you! Everyone is on the same journey. Reaching the top is satisfying. Going down the stairs is fine. Beautiful views. Cool mist from the falls. Take your time. There are restrooms outside the visitor center and at the top as you exit the East Ridge trail. Time your hike so you are able to eat at The Lodge afterwards. There are also restrooms there in the lobby of the hotel. They open the restaurant at 4:30 and after a hike like that the buffet really hits the spot. Pro tip to save your jelly legs: once you reach the reflecting pool just walk down the paved entrance road to reach the visitor center. You can’t see it but it’s right around the corner.

Best and tallest waterfall in Georgia. You'll get your cardio on the steps. We parked near the reflection pond, followed the scenic path along the stream, and huffed and puffed up the steps! You can do it!! (Note: we saw a couple of families with strollers. Not sure where they were going on our path, but the stairs would have stopped them.) We wore masks but very few did. Have the little ones potty before you begin your trek because the bathrooms are at the top. Take pictures - the falls and mountain landscapes are beautiful!

This state park is truly a worthwhile destination if you were in this part of the country. Spectacular views in nature at its finest. The staff at the visitor center was very informative. We even got to meet Fabio the vulture. Overall fantastic visit.

The waterfall was really beautiful and water running hard. The walk was smooth with lots of stairs. But you can drive it if needed.

We enjoyed our day hiking! There are plenty of picnic areas to bring lunch. We were able to get area to ourselves. The parking lot near the visitor center was busy but found someone leaving. We ate lunch and then set off to walk up the trail for the falls. We found the walk very busy as you along the creek but pretty spots on the creek. There are nooks you can stop if needed. The steps are a lot but so worth the view! There is parking lot in the middle and top if needed.

The way down we decided to avoid the crowd and hike down the West Ridge Falls trail/spring trail/mt. Laurel trail/creek trail. That was definitely more of a hike going down and some parts were steep for kids. It was shaded and we only saw another family and one person the entire time. I would say everyone opted for trail next to creek and steps. It was longer for sure.

Beautiful falls!

Tip: no maps to hand out so take picture with your phone! Go early if crowd is a concern

Even though it was a bit chilly tent camping when I was there it was worth it. Great hiking and amazing scenery!

Such a beautiful falls. The main falls was closed because a tree fell so only the lower falls was open. It was an easy hike, didn't have to climb the stairs ( thank God!) it wasn't too busy for a Wednesday morning

We haven’t been in years so we brought some family here that have never been. (Only $5 a car) The new welcome center was beautiful! The waterfalls are always so beautiful and great opportunities for pictures. The paved walkway to the middle is very easy to walk. You can drive to the top. The stairs to the bottom are doable with breaks in between. We ate at the restaurant and was so disappointed it was no longer a buffet! The service was awful and the food was not good at all. One family member couldn’t even bite into his meal it was so terrible. He was told “sorry” and handed the overpriced bill. Next time we are bringing sandwiches for a picnic!

Staying outside of Atlanta and wanted to find a spot to hike. Perfect! The falls are beautiful and there are at least two routes to the top that I have seen starting near the visitor center.

Cynthia Segers is a horrible general manager. She is rude and very unprofessional . Instead up stepping up to handle situations she escalates them by name calling. Do better at finding better people to run your establishments. I will review about her anywhere on any page until she is gone.

I little steep but walkable by most people from parking area. Wide, shredded-tire paved path with railing along the edge.

This is a great place to relax and hike some easy OR difficult trails. We went for easy and drove to the top of the falls and then drove to the bottom of the falls. Plenty of parking a some really scenic views. It looks like you could have a great family picnic there in the warmer weather. Visit the lodge at the top for some excellent views from the top.

Absolutely gorgeous! Second time here and we were just as amazed as last time. If you want to hike there are easy to expert trails. If you want to walk, there are parking lots that have walkways to get to the falls. If you want to drive, there are two separate parking lots to park at all the way at the top. Unbelievable scenery and extremely dog friendly!

We enjoyed our stay here. The staff were friendly. The room didn’t get cleaned each day but you could get what supplies at the desk. The view in our room was great! We enjoyed some of the trails. It would have been nice to have a small fridge in the room. The coffee pods did not make good coffee. The bed was comfortable and the room was clean.

This is a gorgeous place. There are a number of options to see the waterfall. You can drive to several parking lots. We ended up walking to the top. All 604 stairs. But don’t be intimidated! There are numerous places to stop along the way!

Our vacation dates were not the greatest weather wise, but it didn't stop us from enjoying this beautiful state park. With the foggy weather we had, it was had to see the beautiful views (finding our car back in the fog was difficult). This park is also the start/finish of the Appalachian Trail. Many other trails to enjoy as well. Some of the trails were under maintenance, so we couldn't do some. This gives a reason to come back and enjoy.

Sadly, we couldn't find parking to do the hike to see the falls, after about 30 minutes we were able to score a spot at the top part but we were a bit disappointed that you couldn't see the entire falls from that view. I would recommend going early to do the hike to the falls, so you can see the entire thing (but that was our fault). The lodge was lovely as well.

Wonderful waterfall with several ways to see them. You can drive to the top and see it from that angle but it is not exciting at all. From there you can hike down 500 steps or so to get to the bottom but you have to go back up unless you have somebody in your party willing to drive down, which I did, and that made it perfect. I would recommend starting at the bottom and walking up as far as the bridge. This gets you at the base of the main falls and gives you all the view you need. This saves you hundreds of steps. There is a lot of parking but we were there in the off season. I can only imagine how crowded it would be on a pretty day in the summer. We had a lot of rain so the falls were roaring.

Tallest waterfall in Georgia and beautiful views of the north Georgia mountains. We took the steps up and the helpful and sweet lady and visitor center told us that there are 605 total steps going up. We decided to take the dirt trail on the way back down and didnt regret it one bit. The views alongside were amazing and the hike was a little over 2 miles, so not bad at all.
Overall this is one of my favorite places for a nice hike and views in Georgia.

I was disappointed to see that Masks were not required inside the lodge and most of the staff at the front desk were not wearing masks during a pandemic. The lobby had quite a few people including the staff and some visitors not wearing masks. Ziplining staff was not wearing masks either!
Otherwise, I loved the park and the falls and the fact that you can drive up to the falls, the base of the falls with the pond by the visitors center is also very nice!

Had good hiking with beautiful views and good swimming! We had a blast! Perfect for kids and adults.

Beautiful waterfall. We entered from the West Ridge Falls access, which was a short walk to the waterfall bridge. From there you can walk up to the top or down to the bottom via 175 steps. It wasn’t too strenuous for my 13 and 9 year old. They enjoyed walking along the waterfall to the reflecting pool. It was a a great walk. Highly recommend.

My wife and I visited Amicalola Falls State Park on Memorial Day. We arrived around late morning. The park was packed and there were almost no spots left. The number of people congregating near the falls were so high we opted to skip even seeing the falls. We did stop by the Lodge to take in the views on the back porch. We hiked a couple of miles of the Appalachian Approach Trail to the north as a consolation. This was a gorgeous trail which by itself would warrant a 5-star. It was a strenuous trail as the signs state at the trailhead. The landscape and forest are beautiful. This is a great place to visit, but I advise arriving early in the morning or on an off day for greatest enjoyment.

Gorgeous falls! Well worth the treck up and down stairs. Make sure you bring your water!
Also, loved the 3D archery experience. So much fun for the kids (9,12,15). Only wish I would of had my youngest stand closer to the targets to get a better experience. Adam and WT were great guides

must do but be sure to go up to hike inn for the weekend. easy well marked trail, facilities at beginning and end, good starter package.

This park is amazing....but, be prepared, it is a busy park! Depending on what season you go here, it will be busier in the Fall months. They have camping and a beautiful lodge!

How do you rate near.perfect? We loved the walk (stairs and all!) to the falls. My wife and I are, to say politely, senior citizens, and we made it to the falls from the reflection pool. My wife actually made it up the 425 steps to the top of the falls.

It’s more than the strenuous physical activity of the hike up to the falls; it is just a magical place that defies description. Our group included 17-67 year olds and yep, it hurt a little but it’s worth it.

We visited the Amicalola Falls Lodge and had a fine buffet-style lunch. The view from the lodge is simply astounding. Enjoy all of Georgia state parks, but this has to be one of the finest!

I live only thirty minutes away yet had not visited for at least twenty years. We decided to take my five year old grandson to the falls to help burn extra kid energy. WOW has this place gotten so much better! We decided to drive to the top of the falls to show him where the waterfall starts, then drove over to the lodge. The views there were spectacular!! What a beautiful place to stay or eat. Then headed back down to the bottom. We parked in front of the playground, not realizing we could have parked further up near the fishing pond. After walking up through the trail to get to the pond, our little guy was already pretty wore out. We decided to walk back to the playground. Make sure to go into the visitors center, they have a great area for kids with different animals to see like snakes and turtles. They also have a snack shop and we had to get an ice cream. It was only $5.00 for the car to enter and was a great value. I will be back again, and will plan to zipline with my husband. FYI you need to be eight years and older to do that. Overall was a wonderful day trip, enjoyed every moment!

Definitely a thumbs up! Good excursion if you like nature.
We went here on the Labor Day weekend. There is no staff at present so it was a little confusing on where exactly to go. There are 3 levels with people mostly driving to the top/middle level. However, I would advise starting at the lowest level. The climb is fine, not very difficult even if you are not in shape. Reasons for starting at different levels -
1. Lowest level - Good climb, full experience and you know that whenever you decide to turn around, way back will all be downhill.
2. Middle level - Best view of the falls and you can try exploring both ways from here.
3. Top level - Good picnic area, nice view and you can just climb down and have someone bring the car down for you if you want to avoid exerting yourself.

The falls are pretty high so look very nice. Stairs and climbing path is well maintained and makes the climb easy. Greenery around is awesome. The picnic areas were not very clean (though I would go so far as to call it dirty).

There is no staff at present. You are expected to collect and envelope and deposit the entrance fee by yourself. Easy to figure it out.

I loved this place. Stairs are strenuous but just stop and take breaks. Its so worth it. I would come here again for sure. Park staff were super friendly and its a clean park. Highly recommended.

We took the Appalachian trail to the top of the falls & then the stairs down to the bottom. It’s a mile up & a mile down. The hike up is very strenuous but it is definitely worth it. One of the best falls I’ve ever seen!

Absolutely stunning views, certain areas are accessible to handicap individuals. Nice and clean and a great time with family

The hotel and the view are great, I have been here two other times and my experiences were excellent, the reason for this bad review lies with the restaurant. I am currently staying in the hotel and wanted to share my experience.

I am not typically a picky eater, or care much about restaurant offerings but this hotel is a bit unique in that there are no restaurants or food options within at least an hour round trip from the hotel and rooms don't have a refrigerator/microwave to bring your own food. My prior visits have allowed us to order a-la-carte either to-go or in dine in, and it has been perfectly adequate and really tasty. Literally, a cheeseburger and chicken fingers were amazing last year. Not this year. We read other reviews the week leading up to our visit (that we booked 5 months in advance) indicating that the food options were limited and/or severely lacking. We tried getting in contact with the restaurant for over a week prior to our visit to see what may have changed since our last visit, but could only leave a voicemail and nobody would return our calls.

We arrived today to find out that they only have buffet service and I agree with some of the other reviews that the food is absolutely awful, not warm, and just generally low quality for the $18.00 price per person even considering the beautiful view from the restaurant. We asked multiple times what the rest of the Memorial Day holiday weekend would bring for food options and if we would ever be able to order off the regular a-la-carte menu, but never got a straight answer.

I hope this review reaches anyone who is considering making food part of your experience to this awesome location to reconsider and stay elsewhere until they figure out an option that is able to adequately serve overnight guests (especially multi-day) with suitable food options.

Views are amazing but the steps up are no joke! Half of our group couldn’t make it. Found out after the fact that we could have driven to the top or taken a trail up/down instead of the 500+ stairs.

We just went here twice in one week...once with kids..and once with family from out of town. We love the beauty of the falls and that there are several places to sit down and rest on the way up, lol. You can stop and dip your toes in the creeks or stand under the rocks along the trail dripping water. Wading in the creek after you reach the top of the falls is nice after you have worked up a sweat.

Beautiful falls. Pack a lunch and sit on one of the many rest areas on the 600 step journey and listen to the lovely sounds of the running water.

The entire park was shrouded in fog, I drove up to the lodge and couldn't see it from the driveway... So I wound my way back down and thanks to my GPS found the falls parking. I wasn't sure I would be able to see much so hiking down had me wondering if it was worth it but as I descended the fog and rain cleared. The falls is very impressive and the stairs are well done with plenty of spots for a break. I think the best view is down the main 425 steps but if you are feeling like a few more, its another 175 steps down to the base. The view doesn't really improve, but is slightly different. This is really a great falls, worthy of a stop. I debated camping here but the $45 a night for a tent site seemed kind of steep. Great falls though, would be a nice sunrise or sunset on a clear day though... unfortunately I caught it on a wet one.

Second time here and it doesn't fail to impress. Are they the grandest waterfall east of the Rockies? No but they are they prettiest set in the middle of the woods without a tour boat or blue plastic poncho clad swarms of tourists in your pictures. And its peaceful early morning and later in the afternoon!
Weekdays are reccomended since weekends in late spring summer and autumn are a madhouse with limited parking.
If you're doing a weekend daytrip get there early, stay late and pack a picnic basket or two as well as the bug repellent- it is the deep north GA woods after all. The mosquito is the state bird.
The main lodge is lovely with its gorgeous views of the mountains from every room but skip the restaurant. The staff is fantastic and accommodating but the food is nothing to write home about AT ALL. Opt for a glass of wine and the view instead or grabs some s'mores and take a seat outside on the patio with the firepit.
There are "pay for" activites to do at Amicolola but if you're just there for the nature of it, you all set. You can seriously just come to the park for the falls and hike to be happy.
There is a pet on leash policy and MOST people are considerate of the fact that domestic animals and their waste can cause problems for local wildlife. Others... not so much but I do like to school them so please, be a conservationist not just a spectator and feel free.
There is an ADA access area to look up to the falls and personally I find it one of the best views to be had. Again, that area fills up fast on weekends so be aware.
Go enjoy the falls and sand at the start of the A.T. - Maine or bust!

They did a great job with this park. It is more than just a place for a picnic. They had some zip-lines that looked like fun. The lodge had a restaurant, a gift shop and very clean restrooms. They kept the grounds very clean and the trails were in excellent condition. There were a waterfall you could hike to. The entrance fee wasn't expensive. My wife and my brothers and their families enjoyed our time here.

Campground was at capacity with no host on a Sunday. Our site had been reserved since August. Without notice we were moved to another site away from the bath house. When I called to question this insult, the person I spoke with was not concerned and only wanted to know if we were going to stay. We were not offered another site. The site we ended up in had a steady stream of water flowing from the spicket. Bathhouse had not been cleaned either. This park is "privatised" and does not meet the standards of other State Parks. Clearly it is all about profit and not customer service. The other areas of the park were overflowing with trash, no TP in restrooms, and horrible dinning at the Lodge. Won't be back at this park.

If you like to hike this is a trail you need to do. For the non experienced hikers, you can still do the hike. They have different parking areas up the mountain that you can park and walk around.

Out of all the waterfalls we visited during the trip, this one was the most breathtaking. I took the easy route to the midpoint of the falls, while my husband and grandson tackled the trail (with over 600 steps). We had a great time.

I took two friends from Florida to Amicalola Falls State Park. The entry cost $5.00. We visited on October 21, 2023 which ch was a beautiful fall day with autumn leaves. The park was crowded but we drove up to the head of the falls where there is a bridge you can cross to view the head of the falls.

Then we drove on up to the Lodge which has rooms for overnight stays and a restaurant. A small shop offers souvenirs and you can sit on a patio out back.
The view is gorgeous especially on this crisp fall day.

Such a beautiful place, even though it was fairly crowded. If you drive to the Mid point - there is a small trail that leads you to the waterfall & 175 steps down to the bottom of the falls or 425 stairs to the top of the falls. You can also drive to the top of the falls; there are look outs at both places.

Amazing Mountain View’s, trails & of course the waterfall. This is a must see!

This is a do not miss! The waterfall was beautiful and you have options of using stairs or handicap access directly to the waterfall.

We hiked up the trail which seemed easy at first, but it was a bit strenuous for people like me not used to hiking. You feel one with nature as you enter the forest, see the roots and enjoy the view of the mountains. Once you reach the falls you can take the stairs to return to the parking area but watch out for pets' wastes. We had visited this place before and it seems that there are a lot of people bringing their dogs but not cleaning after them.

We ended up enjoying a picnic near the falls and were barely lucky to get a picnic table since there were only 3!

The Amicalola lodge also offers nice views.

Easy hike with beautiful waterfalls. Lots of trail options for hikers of all levels. A great getaway from the city.

This State Park has it all. Naturally the main attraction is the falls. A beautiful and powerful experience. To best see the falls pass on the Reflection Pond. Years ago it was a great spot, but the trees in full leaf block the view of the falls. Most people at the pond were fishing.
Drive up to the West Ridge Falls Access. It is an ADA paved trail leading to a breathtaking view. Spend some time and feel it.
There are several activities at the top of the falls. Even if you are not staying at the lodge go in for the view of the mountains out the lobby floor to ceiling window.

We had such a great time exploring Amicalola! The waterfall is beautiful and so relaxing. Very easy to access to get up to the falls.

Now that leaves are mostly off, you can see more of the fall from one point. You can get a Friends of the Park pass while there to save money on multiple trips to all Georgia State Parks.

Great hiking Experience. 600 steps in all but easy to manage with benches to break it up. The views are breathtaking. My family completed the loop.... creek trail to spring trail, west ridge falls acces to the top of the falls then back down East ridge trail. Ages 50 - 11 years of age.

This was my first hike ever. The place is gorgeous. There’s 2 ways to get to the falls: the stairs or hike up a trail. I went up by the stairs and came down the trail. The stairs were pretty crowded and the trail was quiet and peaceful. Going up by the stairs gives you lots of views of the falls, which makes for great pictures. The stairs also have a platform where you can catch you breath and sit. Coming down the trail can be a bit risky since the are tons of tree trunk and loose rocks. Whichever way you choose the views from the top of the falls is amazing. Truly recommend it!!!

My husband, dog and I stayed in campground next to falls/lodge....LOVE this area....we drove to springer mountain and enjoyed hiking on appalachian trail and chatting with throughhikers. Waterfall is easy access for those that are in wheelchair or not up to walking stairs.

Had a chance to hike to the top of Amicalola Falls, the tallest waterfall in Georgia, and catch incredible mountain views on the East Ridge Trail and Appalachian Approach Trail loop. Beautiful park. All trails are marked and some are paved.

Nice trails for every ability level.
Saw lots of birds, even though it was January.
Well worth the entry fee.

Worth the 3 hour drive! Hiking uphill you will need the endurance. It is stroller/ wheelchair accesible if you drive to the top. Apparently you have to pay $5 to park but no one was at the gate soo yay us? 🤷🏻‍♀️

My family loved our time at Amicalola Falls. The falls are amazing, the hike breathtaking, and it's worth the extra effort to see the start of the Appalachian Trail.

Very peaceful always a great place to relax and enjoy what God created. People very friendly & helpful food is excellent at lodge . The waterfall is very pretty and tranquil.

So beautiful. Nature, the falls, the trails - all gorgeous. We are going back next year. Maybe even hike in to the beginning of the AT.

If you start at the bottom it’s a hike up to the top if you want a shorter route stop at the bridge under the falls this is the best view of the falls. If you go all the way to the top there is a beautiful view of the mountains. There is also 3 Parking lots one at the bottom one in the middle and one at the top for those who prefer not to walk or have trouble walking. I would recommend the one in the middle which takes you to the bridge. Beautiful park to hike through. Highly recommend for outdoor lovers.

My family, three kids, ages 16,13,9, my wife and myself all visited this park 07/23/19. We drove to the top of the falls, parked, paid the 5 dollar fee, and then went and enjoyed the falls. We started at the top, enjoyed the cool breeze and then decided to walk down the stairs. Over about the course of an hour we made it all the way to the very bottom, around 600 steps. We relaxed in the shady areas at the bottom of the falls, the kids played in the river/stream in a shallow water area. After about an hour, we slowly but steadily made it back to the top, another 600 steps again. My legs were shaky and I'm still sore as I write this review, but without a doubt it was 100% worth it, and so far is the highlight of my vacation to Georgia.

We did see one little snake on the trail, but it had no interest in us. We gave the snake plenty of room and everyone stayed happy. If anything seeing the snake was a good lesson for my kids to see that by staying calm and respecting nature, everyone can continue on with their day and be ok.

So 5 stars for this state park! Easy parking, lots of people around and felt like a safe area, saw one park ranger checking on things, the stairs were well constructed and had handrails the entire way on both sides left and right. Typically, most flights of stairs were in 20 steps or less increments with a small landing and most of them had benches. No single person would ever cause a congestion on the stairs.

Loved it...can't wait to return.

We decided to hike up to the falls. It is up and down, some roots hikes and some pathway. Then, a lot of stairs to get to the top of the falls. My 7 yr old made the hike so doable for young kids. The views are absolutely stunning and so worth the hike. Birds and bugs all over and the snakes at the visitor center were 'cool.' Parking only $5 so a definite if you want to hike w little money. Staff are pleasant and everyone we encountered was having a good time, albeit many were resting here and there. Definitely an experience we enjoyed.

Do not park at the visitor center unless you want an extra hike without the view! You can park at the reflecting pond and hike up/down the 425 steps each way, OR you can bypass the hike altogether and drive to the top of the falls. Such a beautiful view!

The hike was not too difficult up the steps to the two viewing platforms. We drove up to the top and didn’t brave the last 400+ steps. The trails weren’t too difficult or dangerous for my 4 year old. My two year old was not having it and wanted to be carried the Whole time (which I would not recommend). It was definitely worth the trip. The cost to get into the park was only 5$. There is also a relatively short and easy hike to the Appalachian trail which we will prioritize next time. We almost made it before it started raining and the kiddos were done after running around for 3 hours.

We have stayed here a number of times. The falls were beautiful as were views of the summertime mountains.

If you would like a beautiful and short hike, park at the Reflection Pool and walk the path up to the observation path to see the waterfall. You will be hiking along the stream the entire way, and the scenery is beautiful, as is the sound of the rushing water.

Don't just stop at the first platform, though. It's worth the 175 steps up to view the falls from the higher observation platform. There are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way if you get tired, and the views are amazing!

Spectacular views and trails for all levels. I recently moved to the area and although I have visited the park numerous times over the years when we vacationed here I never realized all it has to offer.

Very nice waterfall in the state park. There are relatively easy walks from each parking lot to some viewpoints—collecting pond at the bottom, middle and top. There’s also stairs for those wanting to get their steps in—one reviewer said 600!

We parked at the bottom, looked through the binoculars, then drove to the middle. Parking is tight and not plentiful at this point. It steeply slopes down about 100 yds then gradually slopes over a 1/4 mile to a bridge over the falls. The walkway is paving mixed with shredded tires.

We then drove to the top for spectacular views.

Overall a pleasant trip.

Labor Day visit and as expected the park was quite busy despite our late afternoon arrival. Had to bypass the West Ridge Fall area as no parking available and cars waiting. Drove on up to the Lodge for a little rest break on the back porch. Nice walk to the Top Falls Area and bridge

It is a very strenuous walk going up to the falls. I thought " Oh, one mile up. That's no problem." I didn't realize it's primarily a vertical climb. Lots of dogs on leashes.

Very Impressive. Worth the visit. Easy Access. Spectacular views. The mountain breezes cooled us down. Fantastic place. A must visit. Only a short drive from Kennesaw (55 miles approx). Windy roads .ake the drive sbout 1 hour 15 min. Nice snack shop and bathrooms at top driveway near falls. Young bear made the visit exciting.

This is a beautiful place to visit. There is a visitor center that has live reptiles. It also has great information on the wildlife in the area. It’s also the beginning of the Appalachian trail. If you want to go on the trail you need to register first.

The waterfall is beautiful. But if you decide to climb the stairs make sure you are somewhat in shape. The views are amazing no matter which place you are at. There are three viewpoints the bottom, middle, and the top. There is fishing at the pond at the bottom but make sure you have both a fishing license and trout stamp before you start to fish. There are plenty places to picnic, camp, and stay at either the cottages or the lodge. I know that during the fall it’s their busiest season because of the leaves changing colors so if you want to stay here make sure you do it way in advance.

Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable.
The trail was difficult to navigate but once we caught up with other hikers, piece of cake.

My family and I came for a 4 day, 3 night visit to get away and enjoy the outdoors. The falls and hiking trails were perfect and exactly what we were looking for! If I could, I would give them a separate 5 star rating. My 3 star rating is strictly for the lodge itself. This beautiful establishment has so much potential. The rooms have gorgeous views, but once you turn around after looking out the window, you’re met with a room that hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned. The sheets and pillows had a funny smell, the chairs and other furniture have rarely been moved to be vacuumed under, and we kept finding living and dead ladybugs all over the room. The water pressure in the shower was extremely low, the sink drained even slower, and by the end of our second night the bathroom smelled like a porta potty. The floors were so yucky that we asked our daughter to not even sit on the floor to play. We had to contact the front office staff at least once a day for something, ranging from needing more towels, sheets, and pillows to needing our trash cans in the room emptied. Our interactions with the front desk staff were pleasant but they all seemed slightly unhappy. While we were there, the front door area was being painted by inmates from state department of corrections. We also learned that the trail/steps leading to and from the falls was also built with help from inmates. Not exactly what we envisioned while taking our young daughter on vacation, but the inmates were seemingly well-behaved and we appreciate the lodge trying to improve its appearance. Overall, we’d return to visit the trails, but will probably stay somewhere else next time.

We hike Amicalola Falls every season because it is always a great view. Depending on the ages of your kids you can either hike:
-Easy: drive to the mid point at the falls which brings you to a nice paved path that would accommodate a stroller; walk out to see falls
-Moderate: from the bottom of the falls to the mid point on the falls (a pretty tough hike for little ones but 8+ should be fine)
-Strenuous: from the bottom of the falls to the top (considered strenuous but 10+ should be ok with a bit of complaining) :)

The hike is worth the view!

A must see! You can do an easy 10 minute walk to the middle of the falls or drive to the top for an overlook view. We saw a bear on the 10 minute walk. Drive to the lodge for lunch or dinner and enjoy the amazing view.

The falls were just breath taking and we enjoyed our visit. We parked at the bottom and hiked to the top of the falls which was not easy as there were a lot of steps, but well worth the trip. We just broke it up and went up a flight or two of steps and then stopped, caught our breath and continued on until we reached the top. Later, we discovered that we could have parked at the top and hiked half way down for the best views of the falls, but we were glad we hiked the entire thing. Definitely recommend it.

A easy but beautiful hike to waterfalls. We tried to hike the entire trail but it is not maintained. We got about a mile in and could not go any further.

We had sooo much fun hiking to to top of the falls. The 600 steps flew by, it's so worth it. The kids loooved jumping from rock to rock in the creeks. You have to visit if in the area!!!

Fantastic location to visit - beautiful and peaceful - didn't stay but should have and would really recommend a visit. Start at the Visitor Centre and walk up and down, lovely walk, strenuous but not too much and some STUNNING views. Stop in at the Lodge for a drink even if you can't stay, you won't regret it!

We parked by the (makeshift) visitor center. Hiked up the waterfall, up all the steps. Took the side path by the restroom back down the hill instead of all the steps, as suggested by the ranger. Just over 2 miles. A great waterfall definitely worth stopping by if you are in the area.

Stopped here with kids and teens and had no problem hiking. The star trail here is up to the waterfall base but you can hike along the stream too. The trail is paved until you reach the stairs up to the base of the falls. Pretty amazing that there are falls this large in Georgia. Park entry fee is only 5 dollars per car. It fills up quickly on weekends so go early to get a good parking spot and avoid the crowds on the trail. We made it up to the falls from one of the lower parking lots easily in under an hour. Great half day hike.

Beautiful and breathtaking falls. Wish I could bottle that sound and view and take home. Easy access and great views. You have to see this if you are in the area.

Accessible, lots of amenities and beautiful views. Have attached photos that can show much better than words.

The park is easy to reach from Atlanta and has a hiking trail that will take you up to the intersection of the Appalachian trail. The lodge has a good country restaurant, and motel style rooms. You can also rent cottages.

Beautiful place. Will go back when we have more time to explore further. There were some beautiful wild flowers along the stairs.

Wow, what a beautiful place and all for $5 parking fee. It’s not for the faint hearted, lots and lots of steep stairs to go all the way up and back down to see all the falls. But well worth the effort. The last bit of the walk is nice and we saw many with dogs doing that part.

We only did the shortest loop, it was like 90 degrees, so we just took it slow. Plenty of shade on the way round but defo take water and snacks as it’s not an easy walk or climb.

Amazing, beautiful memory.

Longest waterfall east of Mississippi River. A couple of easily accessible overlooks. We did not stay at the lodge at the top of the falls, but it looks like an excellent state park accommodation.

Such a beautiful Park. It cost $5 to enter the park plenty of parking. To get to the base of the waterfall you have to climb 175 steps but it is so worth it

My family recently visited the park. This 829 acre park located in the North Georgia Mountains offers a variety of activities to choose from. You can camp, stay at the lodge, stay in a cabin, zip line, hike on multiple trails (including one that takes you to the top of the falls), fish in the pond at the bottom of the falls, take the eight-mile approach trail that leads from the park to Springer Mountain (the southern end of the 2,150-mile Appalachian Trail) or just relax and have a picnic. There are pavilions with picnic tables & grills and a playground for the kids. The centerpiece of the park are the 729-foot falls, the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. You can walk the trail beginning at the base of the falls like we did (be prepared to walk a series of stairs that make it a strenuous hike), or you can drive up to the top of the falls. Our family enjoyed as many of the activities as possible during our stay and had a great time. A fantastic place to get away from the stress of daily life relax, unwind and connect with your family rather than the internet. We had a great time and will return.
FYI...When you enter the park you will see the visitor center (opens daily at 9am) where they can give you any information you need regarding the park and the surrounding area. Park is pet friendly (must be on a leash). Park is open daily 7:00am to 10:00pm. Plenty of parking; Entry requires $5.00 daily usage fee.

This park was packed when we stopped over. Cars parking in the grass or just about anywhere they could squeeze in. We went just to see the falls. We met a park ranger that informed us about the West entrance to the falls and said that it was a flat walk from the parking lot to the middle of the falls. Climbing to the top or bottom of the falls was 400+ steps one direction, and 600+ steps the other (so over 1100 steps from top to bottom). We parked in the west lot and began our walk. Very quickly we realized that it was not flat, and actually got quite hilly, and even steep in one part. It was paved though. The steep part would have been easier to navigate if it was steps, but I get that they need something for strollers and wheelchairs (although I would not want to be the person pushing the wheelchair). The falls even from the middle were very beautiful and sounded so relaxing.

Highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River at 700+ feet in height, Amicalola Falls does not disappoint. Whether you are an avid hiker or a "go and see and snap a few pictures," Amicalola offers something for everyone. Children too. You can stay in cabins, on tentsites, in the expansive lodge (with restaurant and amazing views from the crest), or hike further in for an overnight stay at the appropriately named "Hike Inn." Visit Ellijay, Blairsville, and Brasstown Bald while you are here, all an easy drive from Amicalola Falls.

One of the most popular natural attractions in the region, for good reason. Pleasant welcome center, ample parking, moderate trails that let you get some steps in, and LOTS of scenic spots, flora, and even wildlife to see along the way besides just the big, impressive falls themselves. We saw a bear cub from the parking lot! Note: it's a 10-story or more ascent to the top -- there are rest platforms along the way, but if weak of limb or heart, think twice.

Decided to stop and take a quick hike to stretch our legs while on family vacation. Such a great choice! We loved the trail to the waterfall. It was a nice rubber trail, easy for everyone to walk along. Beautiful views and very helpful staff!

Great time. Park was very well maintained, clean. Maps could use a legend on distance, ample parking

I would love to give It a 5 stars,to get that they would have to trimmed more branches out from the fall view just a little bit ,it’s just blocking the waterfall In ppl view,I know it can be dangerous thing to do but that is just my review other wise it’s just beautiful perfect fun place to visit.

What a waterfall!! Magnificent. Parking was tight, but the park was a steal at $5. Highly recommended.

Hubby and I drove about an hour outside of Atlanta, Ga to Hike the Amicalola Falls. It was great to unplug, reflect, and be thankful to God for his many continued blessings! ✨ We parked at the top of the mountain which renders a breath taking view of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We hiked down 604 steps and stopped at several different view points before hiking back up to the top. It is quite a workout, but so well worth it. There is a fitness trail we will explore next time. There is also zip lining, archery, and RV and camping grounds at this state park.💫
The view of the 729 foot waterfall is magnificent. We also met complete strangers who warmed my soul with their kindness. In a time of chaos where society, social media, politics, and more is trying its best to cause division, many are not allowing it! People of different races, cultures, and backgrounds still stand united! God is still on control! 💫

Back in the 80s I was fortunate enough to hike part of the AT, from the Smokies back to Amicaloa. I have not been here since 1986, and this trip did not disappoint. I went up to the top of the falls and looked, the fall colors were amazing. Living in south Florida you only get to see stuff on TV, so this was a great time to be here. It was the first time since 1982 I have seen fall in all its glory. It was 37 degrees up one top of the falls which made it even better. The cool morning, fall colors, and the smell of camp fires made for a great trip. I cannot wait to bring my kids back and let them hike up the approach trail to the top of the falls. One thing if for certain, it will not take me 32 years to return; I love the AT and this place.

We took the route of the stairs all 600 of them.but once you get half way and your so vlose to the falls, worth every step. Then when you reach the top and see the breathtaking views, after you catch your own of course. You will see thr amazing reward at the top.

I had no idea how cool these falls would be! It was a bit of a rough hike first thing in the morning, incline all the way up to the stairs haha. 176 stairs to get to the first viewing platform, then 400+ to get all the way to the top! You can also hike up a trail to get to top of the falls, that was a nice hike. And there are paths to going down so you can avoid the stairs. A true must see!

The view of the falls is best from below, and the 0.3-mile hike on the West Ridge paved trail will take you there. The change in elevation is only 85', so it's wheelchair accessible.

Awesome Hike with 604 Stairs to climb to the top of the waterfall. Go early like 7 or 8am and you will beat the traffic of people that will arrive later. On our way back tons of people showed up and we were glad we didn’t have to climb 604 stairs fighting kid traffic, elderly traffic, and animal traffic.

Great day trip to see the waterfall, trees, leaves, mountains, etc. Easy hike or you can drive to the various levels. Highly recommend!

Highly recommend a trip to this park. The scenery was beautiful even in the dead of winter. The Georgia State park pass was $5 at the gate, not bad. We stopped in at the visitor center and happened to be there when they started a wildlife presentation. That was cool. There was lots of information about the Appalachian trail, which was interesting. The visitor center has maps of hiking trails to hike up to the falls, which can be an hour to two hour (ish) hike up and back or you can drive up the road towards the top of the falls and take the 1st right into a small lot, from there you can walk on a paved trail to the middle of the Falls. There are several ways to see the falls. There is a staircase going from the top down to the middle and all the way to the bottom of the falls. We chose the easiest route and it was beautiful. The lodge at the top of the Falls has a nice deck you can walk out onto or grab a chair, its a beautiful view. There is the Maple restaurant inside the lodge, it also has a beautiful dining room with great views. There are several trails around the park, great place for hiking.

This is a wonderful state park nestled in the mountains. The falls are beautiful, and worth the tough hike to enjoy them. The park offers other hikes with great views, and the lodge is very relaxing and offers great views from the patio, lobby or your room.

I can’t say enough about how great this place is -

Visitor Center - the Gateway to the Appalachian Trail. The gift shop has books and guides o’plenty as well as your other trinkets. They also do a fair amount of events - so check your calendar. It’s like hiking central here. There are people on staff that have hike thousand of miles.

The falls - I don’t think you can get the whole thing in a single picture. Anyway, a picture won’t get that fresh smell, the spray on your face as you climb up to the next level. It’s one of the prettiest falls on the East Coast.

The Lodge - there is a restaurant here that provides some of the best views of the surround area that can be had. You can literally see for miles. The food is also really good - went with a power bowl, which was rice and chicken with avocado and it was amazing.

This is one of the gems of the GA park system. Go and see it!!

We don't live too far from the Falls and we always take our visitors here to see the falls. The Falls offer areas where you can hike or drive mid way or to the top of the Falls then don't forget to drive on up to the restaurant for fantastic views, food and zip line adventures.

A lot to like about Amicalola Falls State Park. It has the lodge, great cabins for rent, a good restaurant, good hiking trails, and the Falls. The ranger programs are entertaining and informative to children and adults. The only negative is that the trails are not that well marked and lack good descriptions. Do not try to get park information from the Lodge. They don't give it and what they provide is too limited. Go to the Visitor Center. See my comments about the Falls. Hiking up the stairs is recommended only for those in shape. Best view of the Falls is at the bridge at the base of the upper falls, accessible from the stairs or a .3 mile each way hike with only a minimum of ascent from the ADA Trail parking lot.

Three couples 60+ hiked the trail. It can be done but our calves were feeling it the next day. Absolutely beautiful views. You can also drive to the top for those less adventurous. We took the 625 stairs down. There are several resting stop throughout the way down. There is a large platform where you can take picture with the waterfalls as your backdrop. Breath taking! Take the train and enjoy the outdoors. We would do it again!

Nicely kept and organized. Beautiful waterfall and park. I really enjoyed my visit and I would love to go back and be able to hike more of the trails.

This is a beautiful little state park with trails, playgrounds, picnic areas,cabins and camping. The highlight is the falls - the longest east of the Mississippi according to the brochure. Suggest parking just past the Visitor Center and hiking up to the falls. Once you get there, you can climb 600+ stairs to the top of the falls. It's strenuous, but worth it. Of course coming down is a lot easier and faster. The one issue is the lack of parking. If you go on a holiday or weekend in the summer, go early in the morning to get a good parking spot. You can drive up the hill to find parking, but it's not as convenient.

It was challenging finding a parking spot on Memorial Day weekend. I would recommend visiting this park midweek if possible. We really enjoyed the beauty of the falls and it was worth the 425 steps down to view the falls from the bottom looking upward. There are landings with benches available every so often so you can rest a bit before continuing down.

The park itself is very nice with many hiking trails to choose from. But the heart of this park is the huge waterfall that is a must see! The entrance to the park is $5 and done on an honor system (it was when we went anyway) so it's an inexpensive way to spend the day. Stop at the visitor center for trail maps and information before heading off on hiking trails. There is a trail across from the visitor center that leads to the reflection pond. It's a beautiful hike and not too difficult. But the best hike starts at the top of the falls....

You can drive up to the parking area at the top of the falls then take the stairs to the bottom. It's 425 steps to the bridge across the middle of the falls then another 175 steps to the bottom viewing platform. That's a total of 600 steps and keep in mind you have to come back up! This is very strenuous so be prepared to rest a lot and bring plenty of water. But the view of the falls is so worth that hike! It really is breathtaking ❤

Do not use your debit Visa card while dining at the lodge. We were charged $4900 for a bill we signed for that was $49. This was two days ago and we are still trying to get our money back. They are not very responsive to our complaints and act like it’s no big deal and things will work themselves out. What if had happened to one of them? Bet they would get it straightened out real fast. Very frustrating and painful experience.

My husband and I decided to to camping and didn't really know what to expect with very few pictures to go by. I can tell you thecampsites are beautiful and we'll maintained, the shower facilities are great, the proximity to adventure activities is exceptional. 4 days was definitely not long enough and I can't wait to book again. It's a little known spot with great old and rustic downtown areas with such charm you just never want to leave. One of the best vacations I have taken.

Very pretty and lots of nice views on the trail hike to the top. The hike is not for the un-conditioned. You can however drive to the top if hiking isn’t for you. The falls are pretty, but the views of the falls are a bit obstructed by greenery. The highlights for me though were the views along the trail, and the marked trail head of the Appalachian Trail. Definitely wear your walking shoes and bring water. Since it’s outdoors and spread out most people weren’t wearing masks along the trails, but at the top where it was more crowded masks and people trying to give each other space seemed prevalent. Everyone at the guide center at the base was masked.

This a great waterfall. Trail is 1.1 mile one way. It is designed to go along the waterfall up and then trough the forest on the way back, but due to lack of instructions and signs people are going both directions, which is not great during covid time. Anyway, this a moderate difficulty hike. You will need at least 1 hour. Entrance is $5. We enjoyed it.

We stopped to take a look and was surprised at the awe and beauty these falls have to offer. The view is just breathtaking of the north GA mountains. There are many platforms and stairs but they bring you up close to the falls. Totally recommend a visit if you are in the area!

We visited Amicalola Falls state park this weekend and it was spectacular. The falls are nice especially with all the leaves off the trees so you can see everything from the bottom of the approach trail.
Quite a few people here.
We hiked to the falls and it was very pretty. Saw some icicles too.

Please kill the Joro spiders in the bathrooms at the welcome center and around the welcome center. Please! There will be 1000's more next year if you don't.

Beautiful, breathtaking....stunning. I do believe it is a must see. I do however suggest that if you truly want to see it and get the pictures you want, you must go early! We drove from Birmingham, Al and arrived (after a lunch and other sightseeing) around 1 pm and I must say it was a mistake. Thank goodness it was only $5, a car to get in. We drove for about 45 minutes looking for parking. It was so crowded that cars were just sitting waiting for spots to open. We left.....we went back the next morning around 8 am and it was the best decision ever....peaceful, quiet and absolutely beautiful. So glad we went back!!

Brought the family over from Vogel State Park for 3-D archery and zip lining. Both were really fun and the kids had a great time. The staff were very friendly and did a great job.

Beautiful place, with an amazing structure on the trails. The only sad thing was the amount of garbage that I saw in the hiking trails. They should do signs and put bins. But I recomend the visit.

The trail at the falls is closed and has been since building a very expensive welcome center which was not needed. From the top of the falls you can see Atlanta about 70 miles away which is about as close to Atlanta as I like to go.

Amicalola State Park is one of the best State Parks we've visited. Easy access to the lower and upper falls, the lodge and views are outstanding. Visitor Center is being rebuilt as of this writing, but the experience of the falls was great. Staircase access to the falls - no muddy paths or roots to navigate over, but there are a lot of steps from bottom to top. Nicely spaced resting platforms with views of the falls or hillsides thru the journey. Highly recommended!

Park at the top and take the short walk up to the falls. The viewing area is incredible and you feel like you're in the falls. We tried to go down but the lower path was closed. You can't get in the falls like I like to do but it is still worth it.

This is a must see park - do not miss it! Beautiful falls - great picnic and camping areas - even good RV areas. Do not miss this if in North Georgia.

This is a beautiful site with beautiful sights. Bring your walking shoes or hiking boots! Whether you start at the top of bottom of the falls, it's worth the hike to go to the other end...but then you have to get back (unless you have a friend pick you up and drive you back). There's a more than adequate lodge and a "hike inn" providing nice accomodations to those who want to hike a bit.

Don't plan on eating at the lodge. The restaurant posts a bogus menu. What they really have is a very limited buffet with medioocre food.

Decided last minute to head up to Amicalola Falls from Atlanta today. We haven’t been here in many years and it was so nice to be back. We walked up the stairs to the platform and had to walk the rest of the way up on the path. Our dog couldn’t handle the steps..hurt her paws. Once were were at the top of the falls we took the trail down and we loved it! Our dog was happier and the kids loved it. It was a great family hike!

The park and lodge were great! We enjoyed hiking and zip lining. We stayed in Cabin 8 and it was a dump! Musty smell, dirty floors and doors and woodwork that badly needed painting! We killed millipedes and spiders in the bathrooms. Light bulbs were missing and our refrigerator would not cool. Not great when we had our family together for a few days! Maintenance came but did not fix it so food spoiled before the end of our stay. Found a ladies dress and hair scrunchie in our bedroom- not ours!

My husband and I brought our five year old grandson here tuesday. He had off of school and we needed a place to burn some energy. We decided to hike the stairs to the top of the falls. We got there at 10am and there were only a few people there at that time. It took us almost 1.5 hrs to climb to the top. We are in our late 50's and in pretty decent shape. This hike was pretty tough! If it was not for the fact that our grandson wanted to keep going I bet we would have turned back half way. But we got to the top and gave each other a high five! After a brief bathroom break we headed back down. I was surprised how going down would use another muscle in my leg! After four days I still feel the soreness! Make sure if you go to take it slow and bring water!

I recently rented a cabin at Amicalola falls state park for Thanksgiving weekend with family. I have rented the cabins before so knew what to expect…or so I thought. The price has risen significantly since I came 8 years ago, but none of the increase in price has been spent in the cabins. The cabin was filthy, we washed all dishes before using. They had put in new mini split hvac units, which were not working.. it got down to 61 in the cabin and they wouldn’t send anyone out to fix it the first night. They had removed the duct work from the previous hvac system but left the floor registers open to the crawl space under the cabin. The fireplace had no ability to close off the cold air coming down the chimney. There were no extra trash bags, no extra blankets, barely enough kitchen utensils for 4 people and it was a 3 bedroom cabin designed to sleep 8-10. The oven hadn’t been cleaned in a very long time. Seating at the dining table was for 4. We were uncomfortably cold the entire time we were there. For the price they are charging I would look at nearby Vrbos for a more pleasant experience. I don’t think I will be returning.

The park is great but my review relates to camping with an RV. The parks website mentions a 25% grade in its intro. It DOES NOT explain how hard it is to pull a camper up that slope much less how dangerous it can be coming down if you lose control. I talked to five other campers who had rigs on top of the mountain and all said they would not come back. All our rigs were close to red lining and burning up as we approached the summit. Come use their tent sites or glamping tents but do not pull a camper.

So beautiful to see!!!! Can’t wait to see it again next year!!!!! Will be bringing everyone together for the next trip!!!

I guess I wasn't sure what to expect when we came here. I think my husband and I were both quite surprised and impressed by our first glimpse of the waterfall as we hiked to it. We stopped at the visitor center/lodge just inside the park and spoke to a very sweet, helpful British employee who provided good directions for a 2+ mile hike and a map of the park's trails. We set off right from the visitor center following her directions and it was a fabulous hike and good workout. We climbed the 604 stairs and wood walkways that took us right next to the waterfall and even across it. We encountered quite a few people, even though our visit was on a Wednesday morning. It wasn't crowded, thankfully, but I imagine it gets crowded on weekends and holidays. The views of the waterfall were phenomenal! And we were lucky to have good fall foliage. At the top we were surprised to find a parking lot (you mean we could have driven to the top?! ha ha. Yes, you can drive to the top, but it was so much more rewarding to have climbed the stairs.) We chose to hike the ridge line trail back to the visitor center rather then back down the stairs. It was a good hike with some loose rocks and some steeper inclines that made it a little challenging. What a great experience and probably my favorite thing we did on our trip!

Good hike for a beginner, several to choose from. Haven't made it to the top where the restaurant is yet, but heard it's nice.

We parked at the foot of the falls and walked up. Two of us stopped at the bottom of the steps, the end of the inclined path, and two of us continued to the platform across the falls. This is a beautiful falls. If you are near here and have the time, take the drive over. You can park at the top or bottom for any fitness level.

The views out the back of this lodge are worth the trip - just breathtaking!! Check out the obligatory souvenir shop - they have some different things. Restaurant was closed when we were there but we’ll check that out next time.

Truly a beautiful state park. We spent a few hours hiking and had a picnic lunch surrounded by the peaceful scenery. If you want to see the top of the falls without a lot of hiking, drive up Top of the Falls road (to the left of the visitors center as you enter the park) and park in the West Ridge Trail parking lot, you can hike just a short distance from there to the top of the falls and they are just beautiful! When we pulled into the parking lot, we parked facing the woods, to the left there is an unmarked trail (the sign is down at the moment) and that trail is made from recycled tires so it is not a hard trek from there to the top of the falls. We also visited the lodge, you can walk through the lobby and walk out to the balcony and look at the view from there which was also lovely. They have a gift shop in the lobby too so we purchased a souvenir from the gift shop before we left to go home. We had a great time and would love to go back!

This is a great state park, amazing waterfall and beautiful views. There is a very nice lodge hotel/ restaurant. Great place to spend a few hours or a whole weekend.

This was our first trip in a couple of months and were so ready to get outside. There were several other people there but everyone kept their distance. It's a challenging hike but so worth it. Make sure to drive to the top of the falls for a great view too.

We have a small 20' travel trailer towed with full size Dodge pick-up. Experienced commercial driver. We had booked a 5 night stay. Upon arrival around 4p, found we could not get into 1 of 2 offered sites due to extreme steepness of road. I had questioned reservationist when booking, as I had read about 25% grade entering park. I was assured there would not be a problem in campground. Very nice place, but sites better for tent, van, small rv. There are only a couple of spots that would accommodate a larger rv or travel trailer - and they were booked.

We were referred to a campground a couple of miles away - a very unsatisfactory one. Stayed 2 nights and located a wonderful one: Diamond Lure RV Park, for the rest of our stay.

Loved looking at these falls. Very easy access to get to the falls and the walkway takes you right up next to them! No charge to look either!!

Went there today for relatives to see. With the leaves off the trees it was spectacular! We started at the lodge to show them the view of the mountains. We then went down to the start of the falls. The highlight was further down the mountain where we parked and walked to the short trail to the bridge over the falls.
We have been to these falls many times. This is the best time of the year to go when the weather is good.
The new visitors center is still under construction. We will go there as soon as it opens.

Very nice trail up to falls on a shaded path. It is however strenuous. You have the option to drive up to the falls, park and have a more level walk to falls.
Restaurant in the lodge is OK for lunch or dinner. Nice view looking south.

We had a great time at Amicalola Falls State Park. Lots of trails to explore and several fun activities. We also loved the educational programs. The Birds of Prey program was very interesting and seeing the owls and hawks up close was super exciting for the kids. We also loved the Beetles Save Needles talk and learning about the blight of the Hemlock trees and efforts to save them. We will definitely be back.

Its a challenging hike up and down from the bottom to the top. I would recommend hiking up on the wilderness trail and then coming down the path of steps along the falls. The two most common phrases are " How much further to the top" and "Wow, this is beautiful." Good news, there are bathrooms at the top of the falls.

Great way to spend a cold Christmas afternoon. Parts of the trail were snowy and icy but so long as you paid attention it was great. Happy that we went on a day when it wasn’t packed. We got to enjoy the park, scenery and beauty.

We hiked all the way up to the top of the falls by a path that was difficult at times but doable. It was a cool beautiful sunny day, otherwise I would not suggest going the way we did. We took the stairs going down, stopping along the way to take pictures. It was very pretty with the waterfall as a backdrop.

It looks like a place where you could spend several days hiking on well groomed trails with spectacular views. The lodge is majestic and the views are like nothing else. When we first arrived at the base of the Falls, there is a pond, and we watched several fishermen take many trout. It isn’t an easy drive. So, when we were leaving, we were amazed to see a very large, Amazon Prime panel truck, working its way up the mountain to the lodge for a delivery. It’s an interesting world.

Visitiing Amicalola Falls State Park is like dropping in on an old friend's home. I've been to the park regularly for more than 40 years. This time it was to help send a friend off on his first step on a through hike on the Appalachian Trail The park is where the approach trail to the Southern Terminus of the AT begins. The Rangers will weigh your pack,give you a mandatory talk about the journey about to be undertaken and then it's 8+ miles to Springer Mountain, the starting point of the AT. The Trail changes with the years, but the adventure is always out there for you to find. Drop in and walk around the park, up the stairs to the top of the falls ( which is spectacular) and just enjoy the views. The Lodge has great food, a nice place to visit if you have time. It's always worthwhile to swing into NE Georgia and visit this place. It will bring a smile to your face and peace to your soul.

This is a beautiful place to visit and worth the trip. Walking up the entire stairs to the very top is a challenge but most folks can do it, just take your time, stop occasionally and appreciate nature.

My family and I stayed at one of the camp sites (in a tent) and loved it. I greatly appreciate not only that there was electrical hookup and water, but a picnic table, grill, and then clean/safe showers and restrooms. Very cool spot and we will definitely visit again.

The Amicalola falls inside this state park is quite beautiful, it's worth to go to take a look, you can either walk up the trail or drive to the different points, there is a reflection pool, but the water is greenish, not beautiful, you can see some reflection at some angle, but the lake itself is not impressive. The lower observation deck is the place that you can see the falls at the best angle. Besides the falls, there is also playground for kids, I see there is also zipline, but when we get there, it's after 5pm, not sure if it is too late? so no one there, and no staff there to operate the zipline. The visitor center also is a museum, there are some life reptiles in it. But the visitor center close so early at 5pm, so if you need to get information, you'd better go earlier. But even the visitor center is closed, you can still go to the falls. This state park required to pay $5 per day admission fee, and you can go to other state parks within GA for free for the same day with the day pass.

We love this place; however, we didn’t realize that the hike was closed and they tore down the welcome center to rebuild. We could only see the top of the waterfall. We were able to enjoy the lunch buffet and the food was excellent.

The falls are mesmerizing and the views at top and bottom are incredible. Hike down if you can unless you're in great shape. The hike up is not for the faint of heart. Other than some litter throughout the park and dirty restrooms it was a nice visit.

What a beautiful sight! We chose the easy route because we had a stroller and 4yr old. We visited the visitors center and my little boy got to pet the snakes! Loved our visit!

Amazing Waterfall. You can walk from the trail at the very bottom (across from the Visitor Center) or you can drive to the base of the falls and do a short hike to the base observation deck). You can walk the 425 steps up from the base to the top and then back down. You can drive to the top of the falls and park and walk to the observation deck and view from top down. Or you can take the 425 steps down and back up.

If you are "in shape" you will have no problem going up and/or down the 600+ stairs. If you don't exercise at all, you probably will regret it. My sister and I exercise regularly but not crazily, so this was a fun adventure. But we passed people who clearly don't exercise and you could tell they were regretting their decision.
We were there in the fall so there were few leaves on the trees. I would like to go back in the summer because I think the greenery and more rainfall feeding the falls will make for a totally different experience. After that, I don't think I would need to go again unless I was going with someone who hadn't been there. I think it's a "one and done" type of experience.

We had several hours free before dinner and wanted to see something new. Our daughter-in-law found this park and the waterfall. We thought it would be nice to walk it and enjoy some outdoor fun.

The park is amazing! The falls are spectacular! The walk from the base to the top is phenomenal! You may need to take a break or two as you walk up but it is totally worth it. The views from the Reflection Pool up to the top is truly special. Get to the top and look down to see the waterfall from a completely different view with the mountains in the background. It's a where you want to take another picture. Don't stop here though. Walk to the Lodge for refreshments and an inspiring view of the valley and mountains. It's breathtaking...

When visiting Blue Ridge, GA, I learned that it was near the starting point to the Appalachian Trail, and I always wanted to hike a small portion of it. The actual trail is 7 miles up a very steep, very narrow, gravel road, and is extremely difficult to find; however, I learned that the trail originally started at Amicalola Falls State Park with a stone arch that hikers would pass under to start their hike. That’s how I discovered this beautiful park and its water falls. It is definitely a place to visit, if you are in the area.

Lots of hiking options from easy to very challenging. Beautiful scenery! Lovely part of Georgia. Amicalola Falls Lodge nearby has a restaurant and gift shop.

$5 fee to enter but we’ll worth it. Incredible waterfall. 600 stairs from top to bottom! My daughter and I absolutely loved it! Visitor Center is temporarily in a trailer while main one is under renovation.

We enjoyed camping here and the walk and photo ops of the Falls was spectacular! Stopped by the Visitor Center which looks relatively new and ate lunch at the Lodge. They offered a buffet which I’m never a fan of so consequently the mountain views were the best part on the menu! We can’t wait to return here again in the Fall to take in the amazing scenery!

You can ask in the store for directions but essentially you can drive to the top of the falls or just do the hike. We chose the hike with over 600 stairs on the way up and a more leisurely way down on a Mountain View path. Great views!

Loved this place - a bargain at $5 entry fee. The English lady in the welcome store was so welcoming and lovely to talk to
We walked up through the forest to the top of the falls and down the stairs. Wow, you are not prepared for the power of the falls from a small creek running at the start
Stunning views, and was so quiet when we were there

Each year, we venture to Amicalola falls state park in conjuncture with other fall vacation activities. Coming from Florida where elevation changes are almost nonexistent, seeing the falls first hand is an amazing sight. The state park is a great place to explore and has several vantage points to see. View the falls from the bottom and then head to the top by vehicle, or of course you could take the stairs. The view from atop the falls is amazing, but we always like to head to the lodge on the top of the mountain and head out to the observation deck. There are chairs to relax in and it’s the perfect place to sit in the warm sun on a cool October day and to even catch a sunset. Don’t forget to venture into the gift shop or grab a bite to eat. Definitely add this as a stop on your itinerary.

We rented a cabin in Vogel State Park on Thursday 3/24/22, 3/25/22 and in Amicalola Falls State Park 3/26/22 and 3/27. Very expensive, but no complaints for Vogel. We expected a similar experience at Amicalola since these are state parks and fairly close together. The housekeeping was generally poor: hair in the sinks, poorly swept up, the garbage can was filthy. It was the same size cabin as Vogel, 2BR, 2 Ba, but Vogel had 2 TV's and Amicalola had one with limited channels. On the out door grill, someone had spread out and partially melted a pack of gumdrops, indicating poor maintenance of the grounds. The coffee maker had water in it, indicating no housekeeping. The refrigerator light was out and waster was standing in it, indicating it was failing. We opened up the sofa bed and the mattress was disgusting. It should be burned. If I had been there with a bunch of guys enjoying a weekend of roughing it, but I was there with my 3 grand children. The state allowed them to shave off the top of the mountain and build a hotel. We unfortunately rented a cabin 1/2 mile away from the hotel. The cabin should have been renovated 15 years ago.

This is one of Georgia's most beautiful parks. You can visit for a day or rent a cabin or a hotel room. The entrance fee is $5. There are several exhibits and knowledgeable staff at the welcome center. There are 604 stairs (2 levels) which were constructed by the department of corrections. You can also drive up to the top of the falls and park if someone in your party has difficulty climbing stairs. The hotel is at the top and you are welcome to step inside and enjoy the view on the back deck whether you are a hotel guest or not. There is also a restuarant and gift shop inside the hotel with water and snacks for purchase. On the way down, we enjoy taking the trail. You can do this by walking down the 400 stairs and turning left instead of going back over the bridge with the view of the falls. You will see another parking lot at this second level and the entrance to the trails. Just enter through that location and stay on the Orange trails. It will take you directly to where you (likely) saw people fishing when you started your hike and where you parked your car. There are also picnic tables and a playground. Enjoy!

So glad we stopped here. The waterfall was stunning. Blue skies all the way around, beautiful mountains in the background and the trees are all changing color. Absolutely breathtaking!

The pictures you can find on line don’t do the falls justice, absolutely stunning! The park is well maintained and clean but it is some work to get to the highest viewing platform. Once you are there the falls create a natural air conditioning that makes every drop of sweat worth it.

We enjoyed the hike to the top of the falls so much in February that we returned in May to do it again!

This may have been the neatest falls we have seen on the east coast. The park is well set up and stairs allow you to walk to the bottom and top of the falls from a central parking lot. The lodge at the top was worth a visit as well. Really great adventure. Dont miss it.

Beautiful falls. Worth the drive and Beautiful drive along the way. Definitely have to check out if in the area. You can drive right up to the upper falls observation area. A short walk to lower falls from the lower parking. Absolutely stunning.

Hiked up to Amicalola Falls; moderate 2 mile round trip hike, but there are 600 steps rated as strenuous. Colorful fall foliage and views. Drivable if you want to skip hike. Well marked trails. Interesting visitor center with helpful guides. Highly recommend!

The B&B we were staying in suggested we check this place out and we are sure glad they did. The waterfalls were beautiful. The visitor center was nice. There are a lot of steps to see the water falls so be prepared. But the pictures you will get climbing the stairway is breathtaking

It is an easy walk with a great rubberized surface to the bridge at the base of the falls. Great place to take pictures in both directions. The view from the top is pretty, but from the bottom is breathtaking.

The falls are BEAUTIFUL, and are the highest in Georgia. There are three vantage points. You can hike uphill to the bottom and see the falls, then continue up 604 stairs to see the falls at higher points. OR....if you don't want to do all that when it's 90 degrees outside and you're 60+, just hike to the bottom. You can drive and take short, smooth walks to the middle AND the top. Amazing!

Nice store and visitor center. There are also some cabins you can stay in.

Don't miss these falls. They are truly stunning. Saw them our first day here and I bet the rest will not measure up.

We had a wonderful stay at this superior state park. The rooms are nice, and most have a great view of the mountains. There are also observation areas outside the lodge. The staff was, without exception, very friendly. We stayed an extra day due to my wife not feeling well, and Lauren worked above and beyond to facilitate a move to an available room. Keri in the restaurant was equally helpful and kind. These two ladies were fantastic!! We look forward to coming back soon. Also, the falls are amazing.

This a remarkable place to visit no matter what the occasion. Just make sure you have your walking and or hiking shoes. Very beautiful and full of nature

My wife and I love nature so after seeing some pictures of this place on FB from a friend I decided to make a reservation and oh so glad I did! It was a beautiful day when we arrived and we almost immediately after checking into the Lodge went to explore the waterfall. I can only say it was stunning. They have stairs that we took that starts at the top of the falls and it goes all the way down. It was strenuos but oh so worth it. Especially when you get down to a part where you are essentially right below the falls looking up is stunning!! Pictures and there were many don't do it justice. There is also the West ridge trail that gives easy access to right below the falls for those whose health would prevent them from being able to access the stairs( I think there are over 600 altogether) There are multiple other trails to hike in this park as well. They have adventure activities and we would like to do the zipline the next time we come. If I lived near this park it would definitely be a frequent place I would go. This place is HIGHLY recommended!!

There is something for everyone. People were responsible and wearing masks on the trails. We went during the week which seemed a little less crowded. The lodge has spectacular views off the back and you can view the top of the falls from there. We then drove down to the middle parking lot and snagged a space. This has an easy walk to the falls if you aren’t up for the strenuous stair climb up from the visitors center or down from the lodge area. It is paved and is handicapped accessible. We stayed there long enough to enjoy the falls by ourselves. Wonderful day trip

Beautiful state park, worth the parking. The steps to the top are fun, but not for physically-challenged people. Dog friendly and cottages there and an nice hotel with a gorgeous scenic view on a balcony area. The park's gift shop is nice too.

I was amazed by the splendor of the falls and mountains in this area. As strenuous as it is to hike the falls, those who are unable to make the hike can still see the falls via the road that goes to the top. The place is very well kept, and the customer service is great. Highly recommend!

One of the best State Parks we have visited! Stayed at Lodge, good accommodations. Also saw 2- black bears, a special treat near falls!

We hiked from the visitors center to the Hike Inn and back! 12 miles of beautiful water, Rhododendron forests and animals! We went during the week so there weren't as many people around. Definitely a great hike for people who are avid hikers. Just be sure to check in/out with the visitors center if you are hiking more than the falls.

After seeing the pictures of this waterfall online, we ventured to the park, Yes, it was crowded as others have noted. The climb up was bit harder than I anticipated. I made it to the base of the falls, but opted not to continue up to above the falls. Continual paved incline followed by a couple hundred stairs. Some people were quitting and turning around. If you're up for it, then I'd say its worth it. Supposedly its the tallest waterfall in Georgia.

This state park offers many hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls with multiple viewing decks (stairs) and a lodge where you can enjoy a meal with beautiful view.

This place was beautiful. We hike from the middle went down and went all the way back up. We saw different angle of the falls . I red some reviews that it’s crowded, my family went on mid week during school, non holiday avoiding crowds due to covid, was pretty successful not much people. It’s good a place to enjoy nature and appreciate creation.

Amicalola Falls State Park is a beautiful area for all to enjoy. There is a fishing area as well as the main falls. The main falls are super tall and you can climb stairs all the way to the top. The stairs are well kept and most people can do it. The park is not well signed in some places, so make sure to ask for clarifying directions. This is a great place!

One month and the change is visible. It's such a beautiful and peaceful place. Restrauant at the lodge has great and decent priced food! Wherever we are near this area, we will stop.

My daughter was visiting last month so we took her to Amicalola Falls. We did the walk around the base of the falls. The hike is easy and takes about 40 minutes. There was plenty of water, due to all the rain and the falls as always were amazing to look at.

My wife and I had not heard of this water falls until we were in Georgia. Travel early in the morning to get there. Good thing, park very crowded on weekends. Staff helpful in highlighting the best trails. Wonderful views, good hiking, and well managed park. Just get there before the crowds do to really enjoy.

This is a beautiful park with lots to do. You enter at the bottom of the park, in deep woods with cabins, a welcome center, a little museum and some shopping. You can buy an annual pass here, or just pay the $5 daily fee. There's a playground, hiking trails and a little pond at the bottom of the falls. After all, this IS the beginning of the Appalachian Trail, so the hiking and views are spectacular. You can drive to the top, to the beaufiful lodge and hike the trails there, or hike to the top or midway. Midway, there is a parking lot and a quarter mile ADA trail through the forest to the falls, where you can go out on a wide metal bridge in front of the falls to be right in the midst of the falls for the most amazing view UP the falls and down the falls out toward the surrounding countryside. This is MY HAPPY PLACE! One of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen!

Beautiful park with a great views and an amazing waterfall. Great hiking trails and access to the beginning of the AT in the park

We loved this place!!! We drove to the very top and ordered lunch to go from the lodge. We ate on the back patio overlooking the Blue Ridge Parkway. Just a stunning view. After lunch, we parked our car at the midpoint of the falls. It's a short & easy hike to see the beautiful falls. We hiked down the mountain to the pond and then all the way down to the visitors center. We played in the stream at several spots and at the playground at the bottom. My husband walked back up to get the car since we didn't want to make the kids (8, 6, & 2) hike back up! :)

Wonderful place! You can have Nice pictures from the waterfalls and You can also enjoy the beautiful sunset at the top ... It's a place to spent just a couple of hours

Well, first off you can't beat the price. It's $5 per car for access to the park. Some of the activities in the park cost more, but if you're just going for the waterfall hike it's well worth it.

There are multiple trails up the mountain, but two main ones. Our group of 10 (ages 9 to 65) took the main mountain trail (as opposed to the stairs) on the way up. There are not any views of the waterfall on this path, but you get a nice workout. There are a few semi-treacherous stretches on this path, but it's doable. The stairs are probably a better option on the way up if you have people in your party that may struggle with narrow, rock based paths. We took the stair path on the way down and that's where you have a chance to be on top of the waterfall. Very picturesque and beautiful. Depending on your skill level, it's a short visit and well worth it.

Enjoyed a couple of days at the park and the lodge and found the falls and the setting of the park and lodge to be beautiful and serene. Several trails to hike in the park including the many steps up/down to see the falls. We parked at the mid point parking lot of the falls to take pictures while it was still early in the AM....then drove down to the bottom of the falls parking lot and walked up. Depending on your activity level there are a couple of ways to park and see the falls and you can adjust your activity based on your ability or desire. Definitely the best views of the falls are at the mid falls viewing areas.

Absolutely loved visiting and exploring Amicalola Falls State Park in the Blue Ridge area. The falls and the views are spectacular, and the park's grounds are well maintained. Several items to note...Like many outdoor attractions, try to get there early to beat the masses. Parking up on the main drives to the Falls can get cramped. Also, the trails and boardwalks are in decent shape, but they are steep in some spots and, when wet, a little slippery. A lot of folks want to take shots at the top of the Falls, but the better scenery (IMO) is at the "bottom" - the main boardwalk a little more than half way down. Enjoy.

Beautiful waterfall with very well paved roads and trails. My family and I went to this park at around 10 am and there weren't that many people but as we were leaving more and more cars were in the parking lot so I would suggest going earlier if you want to avoid crowds. The map that the park provides on their website is really helpful. We only went to see the waterfall, but there are plenty of sporty outdoor activities that can be booked on their website.

We parked on the top of the waterfall and worked our way down but there is also another parking lot at the bottom of the waterfall before reaching the top parking lot. The trip between the top and the bottom are paved wooden stairs that have areas to step aside to sit and rest which is convenient for going up or for looking at the view.
The GPS directions led us straight to the park where the park entrance will charge a $5 fee. Overall this was a great way to start the day.

You can either drive through the park or take the hiking trail. The scenery is awesome. Wish we had been there when the leaves were in full color.

We hiked to the waterfall on Christmas Day. The trail to the falls is set up very well. There are many vantage points. There are several stairs, so it could be difficult for some. The loop trail that goes from the bottom of the falls back to the upper parking lot is fun, but tough. It leads up a very steep grade. If you're up for it, I recommend it. Overall, it's a really nice park that is well kept. The view from the lodge at the top is amazing.

Great place to experience.
The entry per car is $5 with multiple parking.
People who like hiking must visit it once, as we need to climb more than the 1000 steps to reach on the top for the full view of the waterfall.
Whiling return back to the parking ,we took the trails which was again a great walkway.

MUST VISIT AT LEAST ONCE!!
Happy Exploring

Words do not do it justice but I have to keep typing to get this review to enter so I will keep going a little longer and try to submit this review.

This is our second time visiting Amnicalola Falls and this trip was equally as pleasurable. We brought our 2 dogs with us and they had a great time too. The falls from both the upper and lower platforms are spectacular and the views from the top are stunning. I recommend starting at the bottom but bringing a backpack with a light lunch and some water and enjoying the grassy picnic area with a bite to eat and a book before heading back down.

So glad we went and we almost didn't! We were staying in Blue Ridge and someone up there recommended this place to spend the day and while it was about 45 min drive from Blue Ridge it was SOOOO worth it!! The falls are fantastic and the overall park is well cared for and has great amenities. Can't wait to go back and explore more!

Absolutely a beautiful waterfall!! You can park at the base of the Falls and enjoy. Then you can either take the 425 steps up to the top of the Falls or drive up to the second parking lot and view the Falls from the top.

This park was amazing. We loved the falls, but we started at the top and walked our way down. We were able to stop along the way for some amazing pictures. We were very happy to have made the trip to Amicalola Falls.

First time at the falls in 25 years of living in Georgia. Why didn't we go sooner? My boys would have loved it but they are adults now. My husband and I are in our 50's and in good shape so we followed the trail up the right side of the mountain. It was challenging at times but we stopped to take pictures. What an amazing day and amazing views. We reached the top and sat on a picnic bench and ate the sandwich I bought. There was a small concession stand with bathrooms and another parking lot just in case you want to start at the top and walk down. There is a bear warning sign at the top that would have changed my experience if I had seen it sooner. Walked down the stairs on the way down and most patrons were wearing masks. There are platforms for stopping and benches for sitting down for a break. The only complaint I have is that at the bottom of the falls there is another parking area But it was not the one at the visitors center so we had to climb another vertical trail to reach it which took about another 30 minutes. there should be a sign on the way down to avoid having to climb back up again. I was mentally and physically done after 4 hours on the mountain. Note to self for next time. Definitely will return again. Our initial plan was to visit the Montaluce Winery but we doubled down and so glad we did!

We visited few years back. Small waterfall. Nice place to cool off in the summer. Tucked away hidden spot, serene and scenic, not crowded at all. Ideal for picnics and local getaway (spend an hour or two is sufficient). Brief hike to the falls so wear comfy sneakers; may be slippery at some areas. Just sit, chill, relax and take in all of nature has to give. Free ample parking.

First time visitor - the park is beautiful! Very clean and well kept. We stayed in cabin #1. Cute cabin, comfortable bed. Living room furniture needs upgrade. Back porch has chairs and a creek runs by. Lovely.
Ate at the restaurant. thankful for the option. Beautiful scenery & excellent service.
Visitor center very nice.
Educational programs were excellent. We did an animal program, a bird program, a hemlock tree program and a guided hike. Raina led most of what we attended and did a great job. All the employees were very helpful and I wish I could remember all their names.

We drove to the top parking lot which is a mess because people wait there for one of the 10 or so spots instead of driving to the adjacent lot. The falls are fed by a vary small creek so although it is high very little water goes over. From the top you can see very little. When I saw the sign that said 425 steps down, I passed. My wife went all the way down and said it was not worth it. Perhaps we have been too spoiled by Niagara Falls, Iguacu Falls, and Victoria Falls.

The hike up to the top of the falls is a pretty good workout and the falls are beautiful. It was really crowded though. Best to go early or late to beat the rush.

We drove up from South of Atlanta. Arrived at noon. Paid 5$ for car entry. Parked in front of the visitors center. Hiked the 2.1 miles to the waterfall. The hike was easy to moderate as we accidentally took the loop in reverse. There are over 400 steps if you loop from the left. We saw young, old and all fitness levels including lots of dogs. This is another beautiful, well-maintained Georgia park and we appreciate it very much.

We like to moderate hikes and started out around 9am before the crowds on this particular Sunday.
We took the path less traveled to the top and then the mainstream path back down. BEAUTIFUL Falls and clean park

The falls are beautiful. The stairs are intimidating. Please don't take your dogs on them. I hate to think much the metal steps will hurt their feet! Traffic was really bad around the visitor center and parking is limited at This is a real problem if you need a bathroom. There is some parking at the top and one bathroom for men and one for women so expect a line. Bring your own toilet paper.

This state park offers something for everyone. On our latest visit, we took a short out-and-back hike on the Appalacian Approach trail, and then drove to the reflection pond and enjoyed a swing beside the pond. While we were in the visitor center, we took time to see the rescue reptiles housed there. From colorful corn snakes to beautiful box turtles, these creatures can be studied up close. All the animals are rescues that cannot be returned to the wild, so their purpose now is to educate. The rangers in the visitor center eagerly answer questions, hand out maps, and help anyway they can. Stop in at the beginning of your visit to the park.

area was very pretty. i was unable to access walkway right in front of the falls as they we're doing construction but still a nice view from the side. Didn't do much with the trails but everything looked nice

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At 729 feet tall, Amicalola Falls is the third tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River and is quite a sight to behold. Amicalola Falls State Park offers something for everyone. There are several different trails, including the back country approach trail to the Appalachian Trail. On our most recent visit, we hiked the "Base of the Falls Trail" from the reflecting pool at the bottom of the falls to the bridge which spans the falls midway up. Along the way, there were multiple great vantage points to see all the water from the spring rains roaring over the falls. We also saw many native wildflowers in bloom when we visited in mid-April. For a spectacular and easy view of the falls, we walked the "West Ridge Falls Access Trail" to the midway bridge. This ADA compliant paved trail is manageable for almost everyone. At the top of the falls, we found beautiful deciduous azaleas blooming outside the Lodge. Because of the "Shelter in Place" order due to COVID-19, the Lodge dining room and gift store are closed, as is the visitor center, but there are restrooms available both at the top of the falls and the bottom of the falls. Highly recommend visiting this park for fresh air and great views.

Due to physical limitations we just parked and walked the easy trail to the lower observation platform. It was .3 of a mile and an easy walk, due to the smoothness of the path. The falls are gorgeous and the walk thru the woods is lovely. Next time we'll have to drive to the top and see the lodge and the view from above.

We like walking the trails and looking at waterfalls, and this one is very nice the water was rolling down and freezing on the limbs it was really amazing to see nature at it's best,and the steps wow 425 I think it was a good work out for us both,would like to stay here someday to have more time,must come to look and walk the trails

Falls were beautiful. I’m sorry now we didn’t go to the very top of the falls. We walked the incline and 175 stairs to the base of the main falls. Mountain View from lodge was wonderful. Will go back when the leaves change.

How beautiful these falls are! Standing below - looking up at the 700 foot falls is breathtaking. But if you're brave enough to CLIMB the 600 + STAIRS to the top - well THAT will TAKE your BREATH AWAY! But it is so worth it. If you just want to enjoy the view - you can drive up too. Either way - walking out on the bridge in front of the falls is a must. But don't forget to pack a picnic lunch. You'll want to enjoy everything this park has to offer.

The Falls were beautiful! You can drive and park in a parking lot halfway up and easily walk on a wide rubber path to the falls. Then you can drive to the top of the falls. The Visitor Center had some interesting displays about the origins of the Appalachian Trail and Prohibition.

I was truly surprised at the beauty of this Georgia state park. It was a cold, foggy day when I visited and the park was nearly empty but somehow that added to the beauty. The falls are gorgeous and the hike to see them can be as hard or as easy as you want. There are options to drive to within a short hike from the viewing platform halfway up, drive all the way to the top or you can opt to hike up from the bottom. The lodge at the top is beautiful and I'm sure had the day been clear the view would be fantastic from there. The $5 entrance fee is well worth it. Highly recommend.

Stayed a night before backpacking and enjoyed the beautiful waterfall. Staff at lodge and visitor center were friendly and helpful.

Visit year round for changing views and great hiking.

We come back here year-round for the ever-changing scenery and to enjoy the power of the falls. While we have grown to truly appreciate those Georgia State Parks stairs, our legs don't always agree on the walk up. For those wanting a less-strenuous journey, drive up to the mid-point and take the West Falls trail. It's a relatively-flat (and ADA-rated) trail to the scenic bridge.

After taking in all the falls views, drive up to the Lodge for a spectacular view from the back deck, or try the zip line.

We only went to the park to hike one of the loops to Amicalola Falls. The park is clean, lots of parking and BEAUTIFUL! The trail is very “natural” with steps placed where they need to be for access. I would love to go back and do some more exploring of the other areas of the park.

Very convenient access via very nice highways. Great parking area, gift shop, information center, and bathrooms. Nice trail which gets increasingly steeper with some narrow areas could be slick if it was wet. Then you hit the stairs. My wife stopped at the bottom but I continued on up to the mid-point. Absolutely spectacular falls!!!! We spent a week in Blue Ridge and visited 4 falls and Amicalola was the best by far. Well worth the hike.

We had never been to Amicalola Falls State Park and wish we had come here sooner. We stayed at the lodge at the top of the mountain (separate review). At the visitor's center we started the hike up to the falls and it was beautiful. The water, the foliage, the scenery, and just being out in nature was very refreshing to the mind and soul. We will definitely be back to the park.

An excellent hike done in late October.
Had an immersive experience in the forest, saw a fox, but the forest was strangely quiet.

Hiked with a friend and 2 dogs.

Underwhelming waterfall but very pretty views. We parked at the visitor center. It cost $5 to park. Visitor center had lots of merch w a cute ice cream shop inside. The toilets outside the visitor center were metal like you see in prison shows and it was so cold it made me yelp when I sat down. The hike started at a trail head by the visitor center. It went up into the woods on a typical dirt path for little over half mile then suddenly dumped out onto this paved section by this pond people were fishing in. You had to be careful the kids fishing were paying attention or else you’d get a hook in the neck as you were walking behind them when they cast their reel. It was safer to walk in the parking lot. Then the trail went up a hill where the rest of the path was a mix of soft paved material and stairs. A lot of wooden stairs. Each set was marked w a sign of how many stairs were in that set but each was marked “strenuous” and it was. They had benches and pull over rest spots. The top was ok. There was another parking lot it the top so you don’t have to hike up the stairs if you don’t want to. The back half of the loop was a dirt path like it started. Pretty but it was crowded and the waterfall was underwhelming. I still enjoyed it.

The waterfall was great. We didn't do a whole lot of walking around due to physical issues . I did venture up the trail towards the bottom of the falls however it started raining and there was actually hail too. Unfortunately I was wearing flip flops which I do not recommend especially in the rain.

It was a chilly day, but we were only in the area for a week over Thanksgiving. Love the outdoors and wanted to see a waterfall. This was gigantic and worth the sight. There is a staircase from the bottom to the top, but we drove and parked at the top. From there, we took stairs down to a bridge that goes across the falls. Was cool standing out over the falls looking up at it. I'm sure it's more enjoyable in the summer warmth. If you walk down, be ready for the burn in the legs walking back up. We were all out of breath. There is a gift shop at the bottom where we bought a couple trinkets before leaving.... Also, we had to pay a fee to get into the park, but forget how much it was.

The park has lots of great hiking trails. We stayed at the lodge which was very nice. The restaurant at the lodge was very good. Very happy with our stay at the park.

My family of 4 (girls age 10 and 12) are staying at the lodge here and walked down the East Ridge trail to the visitor center and then picked up the GPS tracker and followed the directions back up. We left at 11:00 to go down, took about 45 minutes (stopping for photos a lot) and then were back up to the lodge by 2:00 after some time resting, waiting in line and figuring out the gps. It was invigorating and fun but somewhat rigorous. If you have 2 cars, suggest parking one at the bottom and one at the top. If we had to do it over again, we would park our car at the visitor center, so the scavenger hunt up to the lodge and then hike back down the east ridge trail to the car. That said our kids did it without to much complaint and the creek at the top refreshing to cool off your feet. Very rewarding experience if you are up for a bit of a challenge. The spots themselves were not hard to find so not mentally hard.

Im at a loss for words at some of the bad reviews???? The lodge was amazing!! The staff was so nice. Melony was great. She took time explaining to us about the area and gave us recommendations. We had a issue with our tv remote and the maintenance man came right away and fixed it! The peaceful spot it’s located was perfect. The room was very clean. The staff was incredibly helpful. The restaurant was good too. So convenient to walk down and enjoy breakfast lunch or dinner and see the spectacular view of the mountains.
The only thing I would say to improve is the restaurant coffee. But that would not keep me from returning as soon as I can get back. Thanks everyone at Amicalola lodge. We had a fantastic time and will be back!!! Debbie and James Adams. Lakeland Florida

We stayed at Amicalola so that we could hike Springer Mountain. We had a 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom cabin at the park which was very comfortable. The cabin was fully furnished, including shampoo, soaps etc. Beautiful stone fireplace in the living room and nice back porch. There was also a firepit and picnic table in the yard. The park had many hiking trails as well as the approach to the Appalachian Trail.
The lodge is pretty with upper and lower decks looking out over the mountains. The buffet in the restaurant was limited, but the food was excellent- especially the Boston Cream pie.
There were 425 steps to the bottom of the Falls. Quite a challenge,but there is a paved ADA trail to the lower falls.
Rangers at the visitor center were helpful and informative about the AT.
We’ll be back!

Beautiful park and falls. The hike up was worth it, but be ready for LOTS of stairs. Also, Labor Day weekend was CRAZY crowded.

Easy walk on wide trail, with nice wood railing to view the falls. Gorgeous cascades. Great photo opportunities.

Our visit was a very nice experience, and I VERY MUCH appreciate the ADA-compliant rubberized trail! There are several ways to view the falls, which allows one to appreciate the beauty of the waterfalls. You can view by looking down from the top of the falls (and can also drive to the top and park if unable to walk the distance). Or, you can walk or drive to the mid-point section of the water fall where parking is available. There is a nice bridge here that spans the width of the falls from where you can view and take nice photos. You can look up as well as look down to view. There is also the option of a more strenuous trail where you can start at the bottom of the falls and walk the trail and climb the stairs all the way to the top. The distance from the base of the falls to the top overlook is only one mile. There are benches along the trail for those who may need to stop to rest. Be sure to bring water and bug spray! The only con was the limited parking to access the trails. Visiting during the week is best. I highly recommend visiting the Amicalola Falls for ALL ages.

We arrived early because the kids wanted to fish at the base of the falls. Purchased the fishing license for this occasion. There were lots of trout in the pond but after 2 hours of fishing we did not catch anything. The hike up the stairs nearly killed us. My husband decided to skip it and drove to the top of the falls to pick us up. It turned out to be a good idea.
I do not recommend this hike to the elderly people or someone with knee problems. Too many stairs.

This is a beautiful, beautiful waterfall area. There were many steps (over 600) to the bottom of the falls. Great photo ops in so many areas of this decent down the falls. There are places to rest along the way as not all of us can run up and down over 1,200 steps without getting winded.

The area around the falls was clean and well kept. We thoroughly enjoyed this area.

Absolutely amazing! My 4 year old and 12 year old walked the trail as stairs easily. Wheelchair access from the road at different elevations. Pictures do not give it justice!

My review is strictly for the campground, with the death defying 25 % grades up while towing a massive 31 foot 7,000 lbs traveler trailer. Woah, woah, woah, is all I have to say. My rig powered up it, but almost seemed like it was gonna run out of steam. This is a very dangerous and terribly engineered road up to a state park campground, I mean what were they thinking. We made it to the top and got to our site which is up another steep grade into turn (I actually had to put my truck in 4 wheel drive to make it up the graded turn inside the campground. Obviously there was only one class B camper other than us, and no campground host, bc most people can't make it up here. Actually on our way down a harley davidson motorcycle blew it's transmission trying to make it up. The guy had to roll his bike down and get it towed. This place is a death trap, don't come here with a RV, you've been warned. I have no idea how it is going to be going down the treacherous mountain, stay tuned, and stay away...

Lovely, comfy lodge where you can unwind after your hike to the top of the falls. Tho colors are not at peak this week, there were colors to enjoy. We stayed at the lodge and enjoyed meeting a high school friend for a relaxing evening in front of the fire and dinner in the lodge. The stair way trail to the top of the falls was strenuous but do-able with benches to rest on along the climb.

Great place to slow down and enjoy waking up and hanging out with family and friends. Scenery is breathtaking. Quiet, yes just stop and listen...that sound is peaceful relaxing calming.

My husband and I drove into the park, took the first left, drove up a hill, and took the first right into a small parking lot, there's a little path (about 1/2 a mile) that leads to a bridge over the falls. It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Worth it.

If Camping is about tents and trailers, the few sites they offer were very well equipped with water and electric, but quite expensive ($60 a night!), and they don't accept most passes, or give you any discount if you are over 65. The sites have a camp host, but reservations can only be made at the big lodge. They also offer cabins and yurts for glamping. The magnificent scenery advertised is from areas related to the falls, so you must go to the areas (below and above parking if you want to see panoramic views. Outside of that, I did not detect any other sites. You have great lookouts. It's worth a trip, and because there are only a few tent sites shared with trailers, it's very competitive.

Big park, friendly staff, good hikes and good way to exercise for non-hikers willing to climb many, many flights of stairs, with pleasant views and spots to rest alng the way. Tallest Falls in all of Georgia. I also very much liked finding the "Cherokee Trees" in the region.

We enjoyed our visit here to the water fall. For those who were physically capable you could climb and get all sorts of great views (535+ stairs) or if less physically capable could drive to the lower staging area and walk on the gentle slope wheelchair accessible path to the base of the falls and then drive to the top of the falls and look down.

Very beautiful views. Looks so green and wonderful. There is some mist and fog arising from the falls as we came early last weekend.

Well worth the $5 price per car, and we got a military discount so it was only $3. Along with Whitewater Falls in NC, this was one of the most impressive waterfalls we've seen. You get very close to it, and the falls is in your face. Beautiful fall colors. Take the time to check this place out, but go on a weekday or early in the morning because this kind of natural beauty will definitely attract crowds.

Very nice and relaxing place to visit for people of any age, groups, couples or just solo. Feel connected with Nature while enjoying stunning views in any season of the tree covered hills from the Amicalola Lodge and the Falls themselves. Great place to stretch those lazy bodies while hiking to the top of the falls from the base via steps or just on forest trail. Besides the magnificent falls and the lodge, In the park you will find several zip lines, camping sites, visitor center, playground, fully stocked pond that holds annual fishing competition an more. You will enjoy every minute of your stay.

This hike was amazing! Absolutely gorgeous in the fall. It's $5 to get into the state park. Across from the visitor's center there is a small parking lot and we took the trail that was behind that parking lot. You can drive to the reflection pool, or even all the way to the top, but you'd miss out of SO much. Unless you aren't physically able to hike then don't drive it. Park, take the trail from the back of the parking lot across from visitor's center and enjoy the scenery! The trail is moderate, and then lots and lots of stairs. Watch out for snakes- my daughter spotted on right in front of us. But we will never forget the views. Hiked this in about an hour with my three kids- 13, 12 and 9.

This waterfall is beautiful, but it also has a ton of stairs! If you start at the visitor center, it will be a LONG straight up hike. We drove up to the middle and walked .3 miles to a long platform. You can stop there and take pictures or walk down 175 steps to get a better view. Just remember you have to walk back up! There are several platforms you can stop on if you don't want to do the whole thing. Then there are 425 steps to the top or you can just drive up to the top and start there! Parking at the top has more space than the middle area as well.

Nice state park with waterfalls and different trail options. I didn't climb to the top of the waterfall, but there are multiple vantage points and ways to see things, regardless of hiking ability.

Amicalola Falls is STUNNING! There are viewing areas from both the top and the bottom that require zero to minimum walking. They have wheelchair access as well. We ate at the restaurant in the lodge as well. There is about a 3 mile drive to a cute church in the woods with civil war veterans buried there. Very neat place and a beautiful exhibit of God’s creation!