Nature in Focus
Add interpretive nature experiences amidst the wow of waterfall habitat into your North Georgia Mountain escape.
You are in a region of amazing beauty when you come to Amicalofa Falls State Park & Lodge. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest within the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains is among the most ecologically rich in the temperate world. Hundreds of plants that grow on the steep slopes, cliffs, upland pools, stream banks and valley floors are found nowhere else in the world!
Welcome to Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge. With 829 acres in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Amicalola Falls State Park is just one of five Georgia State Parks with a lodge and restaurant.
While my family is here, we are adding wildlife experiences to the fun so that we can learn to recognize birds and other animals and plants we may see along the trails. Of course, the kids will zip line, throw hatchets and romp around with curiosity (the activities are monitored by experts, and there are age limits for safety). But I want us to add a layer of depth to this vacation by connecting with what is around us.
As we unpack and excitedly spread out the trail map, I find that more interpretive ranger experiences are available this season than in past years and they are free to attend. So here we go …
• Animals of Amicalola Falls – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: at 1 pm and 4 pm. Reserve Your Spot
Whoo, whoo lives here? After lunch, catch the naturalist-guided 30-minute interactive program that introduces amazing facts about our forest friends and what you can do to help protect them. Programs may include up to 2 live animals: species of snake, box turtle, hawk, and/or owl. The website notes that in the rare event an animal is not available, another wildlife program may take its place.
Meetup: Visitor’s Center Arch Room
• Iconic Trees of Amicalola Falls – Until September 7: 2nd & 4th Saturdays at 11 am. Reserve Your Spot
Head out on the Lodge Loop Trail which overlooks the awe-inspiring mountain range. In the 1.5-hour tour, the volunteer naturalist will open tree ID guides and share scientific sketches to help hikers become familiar with the trees natural to the area. It’s not yet fall, so you can examine the end of summer activity in the forest. Meetup: Lodge Lobby
- Bats of Georgia – July through November: 2nd & 4th Saturdays at 8 pm. Reserve Your Spot
The mysterious heroes of the night are the focus of this 30-minute experience. Georgia master naturalists and bat experts share how cool bats are (the only flying mammals) and what we can do to help them thrive. Using a walkie-talkie, the leader will guide the group walk using special bat-detecting gear that connects everyone in citizen-science. Meetup: Campground Picnic Pavilion
• Fundamentals of Nature Identification – 2nd & 4th Saturdays at 2 pm Reserve Your Spot
Familiar with iNaturalist? Learn how to use this nature ID app during a guided tour around the Visitor Center. It’s all about exploring and sharing your natural observations with the world. This tour is more focused on how to identify surrounding plants and animals. Meetup: Visitor Center Arch Room
At the end of a day exploring outdoors, the girls like to relax by the lodge fire before we enjoy dinner in Cascades – the ideal mountain retreat restaurant with panoramic views of the valley beyond.
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is centrally located among Dawsonville, Dahlonega, and Ellijay, Georgia. Before the rush of visitors for fall color, I hope you take advantage of this mountain retreat for family fun and learning.
From suites and rooms to cabins and campgrounds, we found our niche and now it’s time to hit the trails and reserve our spots in the free naturalist programs. Happy exploring to all!
– Ava S.
