Add these amazing Georgia destinations to your backcountry bucket list this fall and winter.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Beginner Backpacking, Great for enjoying the beautiful fall colors of North Georgia
Cloudland Canyon is a top option for backpacking beginners. The easy, 2-mile backcountry trail loops through a quiet hemlock grove leading backpackers around 13 hike-in campsites. The park is located on the edge of Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia offering spectacular views along miles of hiking trail and rugged terrain for 30 miles of mountain bike trail. Cloudland Canyon is one of four parks included in the, “Canyon Climbers Club,” with a trail network catering to hikers and bikers of all skill levels. Geocaching and disc golf are also popular in the park. Read more about camping with kids at Cloudland Canyon, or make your reservations.
Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge & Stephen Foster State Park
Perfect paddle-in platform camping
Wind through the cypress forests and cross open prairies by kayak or canoe in the land of the trembling earth. Paddling to platform campsites in North America’s largest blackwater swamp is a backcountry bucket list destination! Paddlers experience flatwater conditions with very little fast-moving current or dry land. Okefenokee is a wildlife photographer’s playground, home to an abundance of alligators, hundreds of bird species, and elusive endangered animals. The darkest night skies in Georgia open a window to the heavens for astronomy buffs, especially after paddling to platforms miles away from civilization. Stephen C Foster is also included in the, “Park Paddlers Club.” Learn more about paddling trips in Okefenokee Swamp and see some of the photos from our hikes.
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Imagine an island to yourself
Camping Cumberland Island National Seashore is pretty close to having my own private island. After a short boat ride to the island, backpackers hike 3+ miles to backcountry sites located along beaches, marshes or beneath the live oaks. Empty beaches stretch for miles, offering wide open views and a sense of seclusion in a blissful environment. Check out our family camping trip to Cumberland Island or start planning your own.