An official website of the State of Georgia.
Nothing beats a scenic overlook, and Georgia State Park’s many mountainous locations give plenty of opportunities to scout one out.
Hike to the highest of heights and reward yourself with breathtaking views at some of the top overlooks at Georgia State Parks.
Black Rock Mountain State Park (Mountain City)
GaStateParks.org/BlackRockMountain
It’s no surprise that Georgia’s highest state park also has one of the best overlooks of Georgia State Parks. Both the Cowee Overlook and Black Rock Mountain’s scenic overlook at the visitor center parking lot showcase up to 80-mile vistas across the Blue Ridge Mountains. A short 2.2-mile hike on the Tennessee Rock Trail offers views of three states—Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee—at the summit. The park’s 10 cottages are clustered on the edge of the mountain, offering views of the Georgia mountains and town of Clayton below.
Cloudland Canyon State Park (Rising Fawn)
GaStateParks.org/CloudlandCanyon
Straddling the edge of Sitton Gulch, Cloudland Canyon’s vantage point from the western edge of Lookout Mountain offers spectacular views into the canyon and its surrounding woodlands. Hike the one-mile roundtrip Overlook Trail along the canyon’s rim to the main overlook for the best view in the park.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park (Pine Mountain)
South of Atlanta, a life-sized sculpture of President Franklin D. Roosevelt marks the Dowdell’s Knob overlook. Follow the light blue blazes of the one-mile Dowdell’s Knob Trail through the oak and hickories, and the vista reveals a sprawling expanse of rolling hardwood forest and meadows. Continue the markers to a waterfall near Brown Dog bluff.
Fort Mountain State Park (Chatsworth)
Fort Mountain State Park is known for its stone fire tower, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and restored in 2015. The tower is situated at the highest point of the mountain, and now visitors can climb to the top of the reconstructed cupola for views of the surrounding mountains, best seen when the leaves are thin in fall and winter. Another option, follow the boardwalk at the start of the Gahuti Backcountry Trail for sweeping views of Chatsworth and northwest Georgia mountains.
Tallulah Gorge State Park (Tallulah Falls)
GaStateParks.org/TallulahGorge
One of Georgia’s most spectacular sites is Tallulah Gorge, a two-mile-long and nearly 1,000-foot deep gorge. From above, the East and West Rim Trails meander along the edge of the cliffs and showcase the winding river far below. Trek down the stairs to the suspension bridge, swaying 80 feet above the rocky bottom, to get a closer look at the river and waterfalls. Backcountry campsites two and three are located off the North Rim Trail and closest to scenic overlooks of the gorge.
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