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Unicoi State Park

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🌲 Forests

Unicoi State Park

Helen, GA · North Georgia Mountains

About

A 53-acre lake sits at the center of this 1,050-acre park just north of Helen, ringed by hardwood ridges that turn red and gold every October and mirror back off the still water. You can paddle a kayak across Smith Creek's old millpond, cast for trout off the dock, ride 8 miles of mountain-bike singletrack, or follow the wooded trail that links the park straight to the twin cascades of Anna Ruby Falls. A lakeside lodge and a scatter of cottages and campsites mean you can stay long enough to catch the morning mist lift off the ridgeline.

Highlights

53-acre Lake Unicoi for kayaking, fishing, and a seasonal swim beachTrail link straight to Anna Ruby Falls' twin cascades8 miles of mountain-bike singletrack and 12 miles of hiking trailsPeak fall color across the ridges every OctoberLakeside lodge, cottages, and campsites for an overnight stay

Getting there

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Curated guides that feature Unicoi State Park.

Georgia State Parks18 places

Georgia State Parks

Georgia's state parks pack a remarkable range into one state. Up north there are deep gorges and the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast; in the southwest, a pink-and-orange canyon erosion carved out of old farmland; through the middle, mineral springs and CCC-built lodges; and down south, the wild blackwater edge of the Okefenokee. These are the ones worth building a weekend around, from the Blue Ridge to the coast.