Amicalola Falls Tops Our Fall "Must Visit" List in Georgia Mountains

When September arrives, we get busy plotting our fall foliage treks to enjoy and capture Georgia's most colorful season. And this year just like each of our eight years as Georgia residents, Georgia's Amicalola Falls State Park tops our list of "must-visit" locations.

A fall visit to Georgia's Amicalola State Park delivers on the full spectrum of nature's color palette.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Full disclosure: we LOVE visiting Amicalola Falls in all seasons. We've published a high-definition video on YouTube to show the ever-changing beauty of the falls through the winter, spring, summer and fall.

Don't Miss YouTube Video: Reasons to Visit Amicalola Falls in All Seasons

But fall is our absolute favorite season to at Georgia's tallest waterfall, which also is our go-to spot for introducing our out-of-town and less-mobile guests to Georgia's natural beauty.

Among the reasons that Amicalola Falls tops our Georgia fall "must-visit" list:

A Fall Kaleidoscope Surrounding the Falls. We won't attempt to explain exactly why the colors surrounding the falls are so stunning. We're not botanists or biologists. But, we suspect its because of the high moisture in the air from the mist created by the tumbling waters. For whatever reasons, the trees and plants surrounding the upper falls put on a spectacular color-changing show throughout the fall. Thus, we often make multiple trips, to enjoy the change from green to bright yellows, then return again (and again) to watch the transformation to oranges and red. We take the easy West Ridge Trail for a short walk to the mid-falls bridge, the best place to enjoy this view.

Whether at the top of the falls or at the state park lodge, the fall valley views at Amicalola are spectacular.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Vast Valley Views. From directly above the falls, you can look out on the surrounding valley while also enjoying the sight and sounds of the water making its first plunge. But our favorite valley view is up at the Amicalola State Park Lodge. We enjoy walking out on the back deck, where the expansive valley spreads out in front of you in a full fall palette of bright colors.

Looking up from the base of the falls reveals the more of the 600+ foot cascade, plus an abundance of fall color.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Reflecting at the Base Pond. Especially later in the fall as some of the leave drop, we always stop at the small fishing pond at the base of the falls. It's a great place to peer up at the falls and enjoy the fall colors, especially if you have limited mobility. Depending on the weather and sunlight conditions, the pond also offers some wonderful reflection shots for photographer of all skill levels.

Another "Don't Miss"

For us, no fall visit to Amicalola Falls is complete without a stop at nearby Burt's Pumpkin Farm. While the colorful leaves at the falls quietly whisper "fall" in a gentle breeze, Burt's screams fall with thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, laid out in a stunning display at the farm setting. While making our annual purchases of pie and carving pumpkins, we always enjoy some of the other sweet and take-home treats available. And while our ultra-sophisticated grandsons are now too old -- or too cool -- for the kiddie entertainment, we still LOVE IT!

We always include a stop at nearby Bert's Pumpkin Farm to enjoy fall crafts, foods and pumpkins.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

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