Otis Redding might have left his home in Georgia headed for the Frisco bay, but if you live in Hiawassee you don’t need to go that far for an adventure.
That is because The Peach State is home to some of America’s most beautiful state parks. All of which provide fabulous opportunities to go hiking, swimming, mountain biking, fishing, canoeing and rafting.
Comprising stunning landscapes that incorporates rolling farmlands, fabulous countryside, verdant forests and the mighty, flowing rivers, Georgia is a wonderful place to get out into nature and temporarily escape the pressures of city life.
If this is something you are in mind to do, there are many state parks near Hiawassee you can visit. Outlined below is a selection of five of the best of them we highly recommend you visit.
Map of State Parks Near Hiawassee GA
Here is a map of the Georgia state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Hiawassee
All of the 10 state parks near Hiawassee showcased below can all be reached within a couple of hours drive from this city in Georgia. This means you can easily visit them as day trips destinations.
However, should you want to stay overnight, most have camping facilities too for you to use.
1. Moccasin Creek State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 12 miles southeast of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: 3655 GA-197, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Under 20 miles from the Hiawassee City, Moccasin Creek State Park is often referred to as a place where the ‘spring spends its summer’.
It is located on the shores of the beautiful Lake Burton, and although it’s a somewhat mountainous region, it is relatively flat. This means you can take your RVs, cycles, and wheelchairs to some of the most scenic spots in the park.
Moccasin Creek State Park is something of a favorite with senior citizens. It has a seniors-only (above the age of 65) zone conveniently placed near the creek, where they say the trout are sure to bite. They allow senior citizens, children under 11, and all people with a Georgia State Fishing Disability License to fish here.
At 2,800 acres, Moccasin Creek is also an excellent place for boating. You can rent boats here in the warmer months.
You can visit Moccasin Park anytime between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. when it closes.
Moccasin Creek State Park covers 32 acres in Georgia. Established 1966.
Highlights associated with Moccasin Creek State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, and a fishing pier.
See our full Moccasin Creek State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Unicoi State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 16 miles south of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: Helen Trail, Georgia 30545
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is a 1,050-acre (4.2 km2) state park (est.
Highlights associated with Unicoi State Park include waterfall scenery, river access, and island scenery.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, and a lodge.
See our full Unicoi State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Vogel State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 16 miles southwest of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: 405 Vogel State Park Rd, Blairsville, GA 30512
Twenty-two miles from the heart of Hiawassee, the Vogel State Park is nestled snugly within the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is one of Georgia’s oldest and most preferred parks.
The best time to visit this park is during the fall. This is when the Blue Ridge Mountains turn to different shades of browns and beautiful reds.
Cottages and log cabins in the park are exciting options if you want to spend a night or two in a primitive-style setting, and you can easily rent them out. Getting one near the 22-acre lake in the Vogel State Park could provide some of the best views during your stay.
The park allows the use of non-motorized boats in the lake.
The park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Vogel State Park is a 233-acre (0.94 km2) or 94 hectares state park located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Highlights associated with Vogel State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Vogel State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Smithgall Woods State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 18 miles south of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: 61 Tsalaki Trail, Helen, GA 30545
Smithgall Woods State Park covers 5,664 acres in White County, Georgia. Established 1994.
Highlights associated with Smithgall Woods State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include rental cabins, hiking trails, and a visitor center.
See our full Smithgall Woods State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Black Rock Mountain State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 19 miles east of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: 3085 Black Rock Mountain Pkwy, Mountain City, GA 30562
The Black Rock Mountain State Park is a 32-mile drive from Hiawassee. This is the highest of all the state parks of Georgia, at an elevation of over 3500 feet!
If you’re wondering why it’s called the Black Rock Park, it gets its name from the dark-colored cliffs of Rabun county. These cliffs mostly comprise biotite (a common mineral) and gneiss (a common metamorphic rock formation).
What can you expect to see at the Black Rock Mountains State Park? Eighty-mile breath-taking roadside views and lush green hiking trails take you by beautiful wildflowers, waterfalls, and streams.
Choose between tents and mountain top cottages for an unforgettable stay at this park.
If you’re at the park for just a few hours, we suggest you use one of the conveniently placed picnic tables and enjoy the calmness and views before heading back to Hiawassee.
Black Rock State Park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Their office functions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Black Rock Mountain State Park is a 1,743-acre (705 ha) Georgia, United States, state park west of Mountain City in Rabun County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Highlights associated with Black Rock Mountain State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and mountain scenery.
See our full Black Rock Mountain State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Tallulah Gorge State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 25 miles southeast of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Rd, Tallulah Falls, GA 30573
Located just over 33 miles from town, Tallulah State Park was once known as the Niagara of the south. It offers boating, camping, hiking trails, and some of the best fishing spots east of the Mississippi.
But with its popularity comes a slight inconvenience. The Tallulah Gorge State Park has experienced larger-than-expected crowds on certain days. This limits access to certain spots on the premises at the discretion of park authorities. But it doesn’t apply if you already have camping reservations. The park allows 100 permits per day, and sometimes, they run out early.
While you can take along your pet on a leash on the rim trails, they do not allow pets (for their own safety) on the gorge floor, sliding rock trails, and suspension bridges.
The Tallulah State Park is open to the public between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Where a Thousand-Foot Gorge Hides in the Heart of North Georgia’s Blue Ridge.
Highlights associated with Tallulah Gorge State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, a designated swimming area, and playgrounds.
See our full Tallulah Gorge State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Oconee State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 38 miles east of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: Mountain Rest, South Carolina
Oconee Station was established in 1792 as a blockhouse on the South Carolina frontier.
Highlights associated with Oconee State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, hiking trails, and a designated swimming area.
See our full Oconee State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Amicalola Falls State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 38 miles southwest of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is an 829-acre (3.35 km2) Georgia state park located between Ellijay and Dahlonega in Dawsonville, Georgia.
Highlights associated with Amicalola Falls State Park include waterfall scenery, river access, and mountain scenery.
See our full Amicalola Falls State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Don Carter State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 39 miles south of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: 5000 N Browning Bridge Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506
The Don Carter State Park is the closest of all these state parks near Hiawassee we recommend.
Situated just an hour drive south of the city, the park features a wonderful landscape where the stunning Chattahoochee River meets the sparkling Lake Lanier.
Providing you with terrific opportunities to engage in recreational water based activities, the park is nestled on the northern part of the reservoir. It features a number of boat ramps that give you fast access to both the lake and river.
Boasting a big, sandy swimming beach that also accommodates a bath house, the park is also surrounded by hardwood forest which is perfect for hiking or to explore on a mountain bike.
Spread across 1,316 acres, the park offers 44 tents, trailers and RV campsites as camping options, in addition to 8 cottages.
There is also a primitive camping area which has 14 tents and hammocks for those who like to rough it.
Don Carter State Park is a state park located in Hall County, Georgia, along the shores of Lake Lanier.
Highlights associated with Don Carter State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, hiking trails, and a designated swimming area.
See our full Don Carter State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Victoria Bryant State Park
Distance from Hiawassee: about 56 miles southeast of Hiawassee (straight-line).
Location: 1105 Bryant Park Rd, Royston, GA 30662
Just a 90 minute drive south through the rolling hills of the Upper Piedmont region lies the stunning Victoria Bryant State Park.
Encompassing 502-acres, this is a lovely spot for those who enjoy hiking through nature areas of hardwood forest, flowing creeks and picturesque streams.
If you are into fishing the park also has two well-stocked, small ponds, while the outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer’s day.
Golf lovers should also enjoy playing on the park’s scenic course, which is cleverly built around undulating hills, pristine Bermuda fairways and manicured greens. While children will enjoy the three playgrounds dotted around the park.
If you are looking to stay overnight, there is a small campground onsite that houses 27 tents, trailers and RV Campsites. There are also two pioneer campgrounds that can sleep up to 75 people.
Victoria Bryant State Park covers 502 acres in Georgia. Established 1952.
Highlights associated with Victoria Bryant State Park include waterfall scenery, river access, and island scenery.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, RV sites with hookups, and a swimming pool.
See our full Victoria Bryant State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
Wrapping Up
If you’re in the Hiawassee region, there’s no reason you wouldn’t want to visit one of the state parks located so close to the city. The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chattahoochee National Forest provide a convenient nesting place for some of Georgia’s most beautiful state parks.
All the park timings mentioned above are not applicable if you rent out a cottage or camping site within the park, in which case you have all the time in the world!
