Don't let summer's sweltering temps dissuade you from taking your outdoor activities somewhere besides the nearest body of water. Some of Georgia's most impressive views, refreshing pools and best workouts can be had on a good hike.
These gorgeous spots boast shade, waterfalls and swimming holes sure to help you beat the heat this summer.
Tallulah Gorge
338 Jane Hurt Yarn Road, Lakemont.
Tallulah Gorge State Park offers some of the most breathtaking views in the state and some of the best hikes. Replete with shade and magnificent waterfalls, it's perfect for getting outside – even when you're fighting sweltering temperatures.
Your best bet here is the Hurricane Falls trail. Beginning at the Tallulah Gorge Interpretive Center, the mostly-shaded, 2.25-mile hike takes you across a suspension bridge, deep into the gorge and offers gorgeous views of Hurricane Falls. You can also obtain permits at the Interpretive Center to access the gorge floor, where you'll find sliding rocks and shallow, clear swimming holes perfect for cooling off.
Hiking difficulty: moderate
Sweetwater Creek State Park
1750 Mount Vernon Road, Lithia Springs.
There's a reason that Sweetwater Creek is still one of Georgia's most popular outdoor destinations. From shaded forests to creek beds and waterfalls, the site is packed full of features that make it easy to enjoy even the warmest summer days.
Sweetwater's 2-mile Red Trail will take you past historic Civil War-era mill ruins, alongside rushing whitewater rapids and breathtaking rock outcrops and right to its small but scenic waterfalls. You'll also trek through dense shaded forests that can make it feel up to 15 degrees cooler than it would in the sun.
Honorable mention here goes to the White Trail, which takes you along cascading falls, scenic ponds and lush, green meadows.
Hiking difficulty: easy/moderate
Amicalola Falls
280 Amicalola Falls State Park Road, Dawsonville.
You'll find Amicalola Falls State Park nestled in the waterfall-packed region around the Chattahoochee National Forest, but no other trails or parks boast the state's tallest falls. It cascades down a whopping 730 feet from a tall bluff, straight into the basin of a cool, shaded forest. Sounds pretty ideal for summer, right?
For the best scenic views, opt for the Amicalola Falls Loop Trail. The entire loop comes in at around 10 miles, beginning at the visitor's center beneath a stone arch that announces the start of the Appalachian Trail. You'll hike along ridges, bridges and stairs before coming upon the towering crest of the falls, dropping right alongside the trail.
Hiking difficulty: moderate/difficult
Vickery Creek at Roswell Mill
95 Mill Street, Roswell.
Not only will you get towering falls on this hike – you'll also be treated to quaint covered bridges, historic mills and ample shade.
Vickery Creek Trail is no more than a 5-mile hike, taking you around and through rolling forest banks. The path offers bluff views of the Roswell Mill's cascading falls as they empty into a beautiful, rolling creek bed, and the site's bridges and mills offer quick reprieves from the heat. The trail's walkability also makes it kid- and pet-friendly.
Hiking difficulty: easy
Blue Hole and High Shoals Creek Falls
Highway 17/75 Indian Grave Gap Road, Hiawasee.
This hike offers a two-for-one in terms of majestic, scenic falls, and you can find it just north of Helen.
The trail that takes you to two of Georgia's most beautiful waterfalls winds beneath shaded tree canopies and along stream beds. The forest is lush, but the trail is a breeze to follow and you'll walk along flowing creeks that make it easy to cool down. You'll hit Blue Hole Falls first, as it empties into a beautiful blue pool, and further along the same trail you'll come upon High Shoals Fall, which empties into a deeper pool at its base.
It's a little tricky to find, and the entrance to the trails is off an almost-hidden gravel road, so make sure you've brought along a GPS and researched your location.
Hiking difficulty: moderate
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