This is Georgia’s best state park

Georgia’s best state park features a suspension bridge, a gorge that stretches two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep, waterfalls, cliffs, 20 miles of trails, campsites and a sand beach.

Any guesses which state park it is?

It’s Tallulah Gorge State Park in north Georgia.

Southern Living recently unveiled its 2023 South’s Best Awards. The seventh annual awards name the South’s best small towns, the South’s best cities, the top BBQ restaurants by state, the best locally-owned restaurant in every state, the South’s best hotels and more.

When it came to state parks, all the opportunities Tallulah Gorge State Park offers visitors helped it stand out from the rest.

The Hurricane Falls Loop offers hikers a strenuous 2.25-mile hike that follows the rim past sweeping overlooks, then down a long staircase to a suspension bridge swaying 80 feet above the falls. On days when water releases aren’t scheduled, the park allows 100 visitors per day to hike to the gorge floor.

The park offers archery, biking, fishing, geocaching, swimming and rock climbing with a permit.

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Water release days at Tallulah Gorge Tallulah Gorge is a great place to visit no matter the time of year. (Nelson Hicks)

Several times during the year, there are special water release days. On a typical day, the water flow through the gorge is 35–40 cubic feet per second. During aesthetic releases, the flow is 200 cubic feet per second. During whitewater releases, the flow is 500 cubic feet per second on Saturday and 700 cubic feet per second on Sunday. Plenty of kayakers regularly come out for the whitewater releases.

Water release days are planned for March, April, May and November this year.

The beauty of the park helped set it apart, too.

Tallulah Gorge State Park Here are some more photos from Tallulah Gorge State Park. (Georgia Department of Natural Resources)

“In a year when more people than ever are traveling and moving to the South, we wanted to put a spotlight on small towns in this year’s South’s Best Awards,” said Sid Evans, Editor in Chief of Southern Living. “These are the hidden gems our readers picked for their character, charm, and unmistakable Southernness.”

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