Summer is a great time for early morning and late afternoon hikes, when the Georgia heat is less intense. And when we’re doing morning and afternoon hikes, we always keep our eyes peeled wildlife watching along the trails — even when we’re hiking or walking in more urban settings.
Apparently, we’re not the only one’s keeping an eye out for nearby wildlife. Interest in wildlife watching continues to climb according to the latest National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. More than 86 million US residents participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity. That includes observing, feeding, or photographing fish and other wildlife in the United States, states the most recent survey published by the group. Wildlife watching opportunities vary greatly based on season, location, personal interests and access. But it’s possible for virtually every Atlanta and NW Georgia resident to participate in some type of wildlife observation.
Here are five favorite wildlife watching location ideas near the greater Atlanta area:
Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. The 21 locations of the Chattahoochee NRA offer prime riverside and wooded locations near Atlanta for wildlife watching. Waterfowl like geese and ducks and other forest dwellers are plentiful. As many as 198 bird species and more than 40 mammal species are known to exist in the park, according to a 2022 environmental assessment published by the National Park Service.
Georgia State Parks. There are six Georgia State Parks within an easy one hour drive of the Greater Atlanta Area. Wildlife including a variety of native birds and mammals are present at all of the parks, including around the lakesides at Stone Mountain. Nearby Panola Mountain is a 100-acre granite outcrop similar to Stone Mountain. But it’s smaller and much more pristine. Visitors can make reservations for ranger-led hikes that teach about both plants and animals found in this unique, pristine ecosystem. The extensive lake front at Red Top Mountain State Park and Allatoona Battlefield Park are great for observing ospreys, other birds, and forest mammals.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. While its rare to encounter forest mammals on the highly-trafficked main trails, many hawks and other birds reside on the mountaintop. Along the more remote Brumby Camp Loop, Noses Creek Trails and the trails of the southern section, we often spot deer in the woods.
Botanical Gardens. These lush gardens are often home to smaller mammals like squirrels, rabbits, chimp munks and other ground-dwelling mammals. We visit Butterfly Exhibit at Kennesaw’s Smith-Gilbert Gardens during summer months to experience native species up close. You’ll also spot a variety of butterflies at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens locations near downtown and in Gainesville.
Local Lakes and Streams. Even if you don’t have a national or state park nearby, many Atlanta
are neighborhoods have easy access to local lakes and streams. These are prime spots for wildlife viewing, especially in early morning and sunset feeding times.
A Different Version of Wildlife Encounters
While the above-listed spots focus on watching wild animals in nature, here are two places we’ve really enjoyed watching different animals in captivity:
Goats on the Roof, Tiger, GA. This quirky roadside attraction is perfectly described by its name. A heard of goats hangs out, waiting to be fed, on the roof of this combination store, restaurant, ice cream shop and more. Our friends at Florida Family Insiders stopped there recently and did this great video.
Safari Park, Pine Mountain, GA. African animals roam the Georgia savannah in a drive-through setting. Animal food is available for purchase, and the animals expect it. So, here’s our big tip: use the rental vehicles rather than your own car to maximize your enjoyment and avoid potential scratches on your own car. Frankly, we went primarily to entertain our littles. But our adults had a blast, too, and laughed throughout the ride.
Other Offbeat Stops on Georgia Byways
We often stop when we find intriguing or odd attractions along Georgia byways and elsewhere. (For example, we have marked on an upcoming road trip a stop to see the world’s largest cherry pie pan.) Check out this post of some of our previous finds.
