It’s officially fall, folks, and that means social media feeds filled with fall foliage.
Don’t miss out on the golden glory of this season, so check out these parks in and near Atlanta that are known for their beautiful fall colors!
Best spots for fall colors near Atlanta
Grant Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 8 minutes
Romantic strolls have never looked prettier under the mature oaks lining Grant Park’s 131 acres of natural space. Head here for some stunning natural scenery and outdoor bliss while still only minutes away from bustling downtown Atlanta.
Panola Mountain State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 30 minutes
If you’re looking for something within half an hour from downtown Atlanta, then this is the spot for you! Pack a picnic and head to this natural heritage area that features not just some stunning fall foliage, but some great historical and cultural sites that truly represent the people of Atlanta’s long history.
Piedmont Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 12 minutes
With an intricate web of trails, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and a beautiful view of the Atlanta Skyline, Piedmont Park up in Midtown will make you feel as if you were strolling through the fall foliage in New York City’s Central Park!
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast U.S., and it's just an hour north of Atlanta! If you're looking for a quick and easy way to see the falls, take the short, flat path to the boardwalk to snap some photos and enjoy the spectacular views. If you want to see more, then hike the 5 miles into the mountains to visit the Len Foote Hike Inn to grab a hot cocoa and experience the fall foliage from within the heart of the Appalachians!
F.D. Roosevelt State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Though further south and less mountainous than others on this list, this state park still boasts some gorgeous forests and rolling hills that make for great fall picnics and camping trips. Make sure to take State Highway 190 down there for an equally pretty driving route!
Smithgall Woods State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Covering over 6,000 acres of natural landscape, this scenic park is the ideal weekend getaway. There’s fishing (some of the best around, actually!), wineries, cabins, Oktoberfest activities and, of course, some beautiful trials through the autumn woods.
Unicoi State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 30 minutes
There’s plenty to do here at Unicoi State Park and Lodge, making it a great weekend destination for the whole family. Hop on a zipline through the canopies, paddle on the picturesque lake, go glamping under the stars, practice your aim at the shooting and archery range… plus much more!
And, of course, this piece of paradise is tucked right in the heart of the mountains and all its fall foliage glory. You can’t go wrong!
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Head here for a different kind of scenic view — a deep, rocky canyon lined with cascading stripes of fall foliage. Various hikes will lead you to different views of the canyon, but the best one for fall views is definitely from the suspension bridge across the plunging gorge!
Fort Mountain State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Named for the stone tower and rock wall encircling the summit, this trail-lined park has beautiful views of fall colors along the lake, up the slopes and along the mountain ridges. If you have a mountain bike, you can explore the 14+ miles of canopy-covered routes through this gorgeous piece of land.
Vogel State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Lakeside walks under shimmering gold leaves, strolls through forested valleys and slopes, sweeping views from mountaintops — what more could you ask for? It’s all here at Vogel State Park.
Black Rock Mountain State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 50 minutes
From the observation deck within the highest state park in Georgia, visitors can get sweeping, unparalleled views of the Blue Ridge Mountains blanketed with vibrant fall colors. This one is definitely a must-do for anyone looking for grand vistas and fall foliage!
Moccasin Creek State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 1 hour, 50 minutes
It may be Georgia’s smallest state park, but this piece of paradise certainly packs a punch when it comes to outdoor beauty.
Surrounding a stunning lake and featuring picturesque bridges, scenic trails and a wildlife observation tower, the park is filled with a variety of deciduous trees that turn into stunning shades of gold, red, orange and yellow in the fall.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Distance from Downtown Atlanta: 2 hours
This park truly has it all — caves, mountain bike trails, hiking routes, waterfalls and, of course, stunning fall foliage. You may not get the grand views you‘d find atop a mountain peak, but here you can wander through dense forests and under golden canopies of autumn leaves.
If you’re anywhere in or near our luxury Atlanta apartments, make sure you check out these parks for some of the best fall foliage around!
Enjoy!
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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/ImagineDragon
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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