We read lots of Facebook group posts and NextDoor inquires where someone’s asking: what’s the perfect Georgia weekend getaway for mountain magic? Well, after eight years, we’ve been here long enough to know that there’s not a good answer to that question.
Instead, there are an almost unlimited number of great answers when you consider the range of mountain magic options in North Georgia. So we won’t dare to say this is the perfect or best combination, but this waterfall weekend proved to be great fun for our family.
On the way to this mountain magic getaway, we passed through historic Dahlonega, once the gold capitol of the Georgia and the eastern US. We couldn’t pass up a visit to the Consolidated Gold Mine, where we toured the abandoned mining shafts and learned about Georgia’s gold rush past. That also whetted our appetite to learn more about gold prospecting in Georgia.
For our two-night base, we rented a two-bedroom cabin at Vogel State Park. With a man-made lake for swimming and kayaking, a small waterfall on a park trail plus lots of other hiking options, the park delivered on all the amenities we sought.
Our cabin offered a full kitchen, porch furnished with rocking chairs and an outdoor eating area, a fire pit, two full bedrooms and two full baths. With the bedrooms separated by the large family area, adults could enjoy a quiet, peaceful night when we sent the kids and grandkids off to their side of the cabin.
Nearby, we enjoyed side trips to multiple waterfalls during our stay.
For waterfalls, this is a pick-your-activity-length option. Onsite at Vogel State Park, Traylyta Falls pours over a small cliff just off the lake loop walking trail. A steep dirt trail leads to the wooden viewing stand for those who want views and photos. Adventurous visitors use a second trail to reach the rocky area just below the falls.
Our favorite falls on this trip were just a short ride away. We paired each with either hiking or other activities to make a day activity of each.
Just 12 minutes away by car, Helton Creek Falls features two small falls located in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Getting here requires a drive on a bumpy, shell and dirt road. We made it in our minivan, but not without some moments of trepidation. Then, there’s a short hike to the falls which tumble over two ledges along the creek. The lower falls offers a perfect location for wading and swimming, and we did a little of both with the grands. Later in the day, we returned to our cabin for a short walk, a cook-out and smores on the firepit.
On day two, after the adults enjoyed a morning walk around Lake Traylyta with grumbling kids in tow, we jumped in the minivan for the 30-minute ride to nearby Duke’s Falls. After hiking downhill approximately one mile, we stopped to enjoy the tall, tumbling falls. While others took “unofficial” trails down to the creek for swimming, we didn’t indulge here.
Instead, we hiked back up, jumped back into the minivan, and headed into Helen. While we roamed the town, the kids filled their bellies with lunch, fudge and other treats. Mountain coasters, tubing and lots of other adventures beckoned to the adventurous youngsters. After everyone had indulged in their activity of choice, it was back to Vogel for a sunset cook-out.
On this trip, we didn’t have time to hike at neighboring Blood Mountain. So it’s on our “to-do” list for a fall or winter return. Plus, we made lots of notes on other hiking trails, waterfalls and scenic drives that we didn’t get to in just one short visit. So, we’ll definitely be back to explore more of this area.
