Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge | |
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Location | Dawson County, Georgia, USA |
Nearest city | Dawsonville, Georgia |
Coordinates | 34°33′58″N 84°14′31″W / 34.566°N 84.242°W |
Area | 829 acres (3.35 km2; 1.30 sq mi) |
Governing body | Georgia State Park |
Website | Official website |
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is an 829-acre (3.35 km2) Georgia state park located between Ellijay and Dahlonega in Dawsonville, Georgia. The park's name is derived from a Cherokee language word meaning "tumbling waters".[1] The park is home to Amicalola Falls, a 729-foot (222 m) waterfall that is the highest in Georgia.[2] However, an analysis conducted by the World Waterfall Data base suggests that the main part of the falls is 429 ft (131 m) in height, followed by a prolonged gently sloping run in which the flow drops another 279 ft (85 m).[3] It is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. An 8-mile (13 km) trail that winds past Amicalola Falls and leads to Springer Mountain, famous as the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, begins in the park. Amicalola Falls State Park also offers many hiking trails, a guest lodge, restaurant, cabins, a shelter for long-distance Appalachian Trail hikers, a campground, and access to the eco-friendly Len Foote Hike Inn.