Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge – Dawsonville, GA
Welcome to the Appalachian Trail Season Kickoff!
A.T. Gateways is Feb. 28 – Mar. 2, 2025. We’re hiking the first 8 miles with our thru-hiker friend.
“Remote for detachment, narrow for chosen company, winding for leisure, lonely for contemplation, it beckons not merely north and south, but upward to the body, mind, and soul of man.”
– Harold Allen, early A.T. planner and volunteer
Book your lodging now for the A.T. Gateways annual event, February 28 through March 2, 2025, at Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge. The famous Amicalola Falls marks the beginning of the approach trail to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, a continuous footpath extending more than 2,000 miles to Mt. Katahdin, Maine.
My wife and I are not thru-hikers, meaning people who walk the entire trail from south to north or vice versa. But we are big into hiking and love the terrain and views of Amicalola Falls State Park. During this A.T. Trails weekend, we will say goodbye and godspeed to our dear friend, Franklin, who is thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.
After a weekend of leisure, gourmet meals and last-minute preparations, Franklin will be setting out with only his backpack, filled with life’s essentials for the first few weeks, and the AT trail app – yes he has a solar charger for his phone!
The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC), in partnership with Amicalola Falls State Park, hosts A.T. Gateways at the beginning of the hiking season. This annual event has been held the first weekend in March for over 20 years. Whether you are an aspiring thru-hiker or just someone who enjoys being on the Trail and outside, this weekend is for you and for all ages. Activities, programs and demonstrations will be held at both the Lodge and the new Visitor Center.
Ambassadors with the GATC will present “Start Smart” programs at the A.T. Basecamp in the Arch Room of the Visitor Center. This is where hikers will register their 2025 thru-hike, obtain the highly prized hangtag, and get their photo at the iconic Arch.
On Saturday, March 1, 2025, outdoors vendors will be at the Lodge with gear and trail information, and there will be programs and presentations covering everything about hiking the A.T.
See Animals of Amicalola, a meet and greet program with ambassador animals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday afternoon there will be a Trail Maintainer Magic demonstration of the tools and techniques needed to maintain the Appalachian Trail, and the opportunity to participate in a trail work trip on Sunday, March 3, 2025.
- T. Gateways details are being updated online. Check here for the latest information.
Let’s get back to where we are staying. We’re elevating our camping experience by securing a Glampsite.
Glamping and Camping
Combining luxury and the great outdoors, Amicalola’s spacious and completely furnished Safari Tents give people the extra space to glamp in comfort. Amicalola Falls State Park offers four glamping sites. If the glamp sites are booked, you can tent camp or bring an RV. See here.
Lodge Rooms
The mountain resort features panoramic views of the mountains and valleys – from the facing rooms, the balcony with fire pits, and Cascades Restaurant and the new Mountainview Bar. After a day of exploring the park’s 10 hiking trails, most people want to pull back the soft sheets of the beds in rooms that include King, double Queen, and Mountainview suite options. See here.
Cabins
Among some of the finest cabins in Georgia, Amicalola’s 14 cabins feature wood floors, open concept living rooms and full kitchens for meals together. The cozy any-season cabins are well-equipped with heating and air conditioning, decks, fireplaces and satellite TV. See here.
No matter where you put your head, you are investing in an Adventure Lodge experience! We are returning to one of our favorite places to play, discover and explore. This is your Appalachian Trail command post.
If you’re coming other times of the year, you’ll want to know that there is awesome zip lining in the park. Naturalists feed their curiosities on guided hikes. We are going to try out something more interactive and are signing up for 3-D archery or there’s even axe throwing.
Did you know? The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is the coordinating agency for maintaining and improving the A.T. in partnership with nonprofits across the 14 states, government, trail clubs, and hundreds of thousands of hours of volunteer work along the mountain chain.
Every step along the Appalachian Trail is a step within the cultural history of the United States’ way of preserving wilderness. The A.T. is a symbol of escape from busy city life.
We wish Franklin all the luck and joy in the world – and every hiker who attempts the whole trail or just sections. Either way, finding yourself in the woods is always a soulful thing. We can’t wait for our trip to Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge!
– Damian P.