Hike, Bike and Tee Up At Georgia State Parks This Fall

There are more than just fall festivals and hayrides available this year at Georgia State Parks. What better way to enjoy the arrival of autumn than spending time outdoors? From golf course packages and hiking, to spending time with family at a fall celebration or two, Georgia State Parks are the best place to be while saying farewell to summer.

Welcome the cool, crisp fall air with a round of golf at some of the best golf courses in Georgia. Stay and play at eight Georgia State Parks’ courses that are offering overnight accommodations featuring two day, two night stay packages. These bargain packages range from $58 to $180 and include accommodations in lodges, cottages or nearby hotels, cart and greens fees for 18 holes per day. Want a challenge? Visit The Creek Golf Course at Hard Labor State Park appropriately named as “the 4th sweetest deal in the United States” by Golf Digest Frugal Golfer magazine and tackle what is voted as “the hardest starting hole in Georgia.” The Lakes at Laura S. Walker State Park is also a challenging yet fun test of golf. Settle overnight at a lakeside cottage and enjoy the views of the stunning peninsula and partake in the course selected as “the 7th best municipal course in the nation” by GolfWeek.
 
Whether biking recreationally or on a more vigorous terrain, pedaling the trails at Georgia State Parks is a great way to get outdoor exercise and take in the vibrant autumn color of the leaves while quietly rolling through the scenic woods. Recreational bikers are free to roam miles of paths at Panola Mountain, Red Top Mountain, Hart, Smithgall Woods, and Victoria Bryant state parks. With dynamic grades and terrains, grab a bike and strap on a helmet to visit seven state parks that will test your talent. Fort Mountain, Tallulah Gorge, Unicoi, Richard B. Russell, Mistletoe, Fort Yargo and Hard Labor Creek state parks are loaded with steep grades, bridges and fast berms that are designed to provide a challenge for the more experienced cyclers.
 
Enjoy exploring the outdoors on foot? Hikers can ease their mind and stretch their legs when visiting some of the most diverse and scenic hiking trails in the state. The challenging backcountry trails of Black Rock Mountain State Park and paved trails suitable for wheelchairs and strollers at Mistletoe State Park are available for all ages and fitness levels. Take fall fun to new heights with hiking excursions that include breathtaking waterfalls of the North Georgia Mountains at Fort Mountain State Park, Vogel State Park and Amicalola Falls. For guests who prefer to explore the trails after sunset, Tallulah George State Park even offers full moon hikes during the fall. To begin or expand hiking adventures at Georgia State Parks, join the Canyon Climbers Club and experience some of the system’s most spectacular landscapes. 
 
Fall at Georgia State Parks would not be complete without a little celebration to bring in the cooler weather and festive activities that await after summer. Seize the autumn day and come out to the many fall-themed events available. Harvest on the Homestead at Red Top Mountain State Park in September is perfect for families to enjoy toys and games, crafts, blacksmithing, cooking, contests, and more. Florence Marina State Park will offer a family-friendly Oktoberfest complete with haunted hayrides, games for kids, a costume contest and silent auction. For art lovers, Roosevelt’s Little White House has planned its first craft festional in October, and Cloudland Canyon State Park will hold its Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in November.
 
For more information on activities offered at Georgia State Parks in the fall and ways to welcome the cooler weather, visit www.GaStateParks.org/events
 


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