Looking for an unforgettable way to experience fall in North Georgia? When the forests begin changing from green to brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold, the mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and wooded valleys become an adventure all their own.
But why settle for seeing the fall colors through a car window when you can zip right through them?
From soaring through the Blue Ridge Mountain canopy to hiking beside waterfalls, crossing suspension bridges, exploring historic trails, or spending the night surrounded by the forest, our North Georgia adventure destinations give you a completely different way to experience one of the most beautiful seasons in the Southeast.
Choose from three incredible Georgia destinations:
- Amicalola Falls State Park — Blue Ridge Mountain views, one of Georgia’s most famous waterfalls, hiking, and zip lines soaring high above the valley
- Unicoi State Park & Lodge — lake views, mountain forests, zip lining, and all the fall fun of nearby Helen
- Historic Banning Mills — our flagship adventure resort, with world-record adventures, suspension bridges, unique lodging, hiking, horseback riding, SWINCAR tours, and more
And at our zip line locations, there’s one more perk you’ll appreciate when the leaves start showing off: pictures of your adventure are included FREE! You can enjoy the moment while we capture the proof that you actually flew through the fall canopy.
Amicalola Falls Zip Line Adventure: Soar Above the Fall Colors
Location: Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, GA
If your perfect North Georgia fall day involves mountain views, colorful forests, waterfalls, and a little adrenaline, Amicalola Falls is hard to beat.
Our zip line canopy tours take you beyond the overlooks and hiking trails and into areas of Amicalola Falls State Park you can’t experience from the ground. For the biggest views, take on Level 3 and meet “Ralph”—our famous 2,000-foot zip line soaring as high as 200 feet above the Amicalola Gorge Valley.
In fall, that means flying high above a landscape of changing leaves with sweeping views toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s leaf-peeping with a serious upgrade!
Zip Line Highlights
- 3 levels of zip line canopy tours
- Soar up to 200 feet above the valley
- Take on the 2,000-foot “Ralph” zip line on Level 3
- Experience views of the state park and surrounding mountains you can’t see from the hiking trails
- FREE adventure photos included with your tour
Make a Fall Getaway of It
There’s plenty more to explore once your feet are back on the ground. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge puts you in the heart of one of North Georgia’s most popular outdoor destinations.
- See the spectacular 729-foot Amicalola Falls
- Explore miles of hiking trails surrounded by fall color
- Visit the Appalachian Trail approach area, with the park just 8 miles from the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain
- Stay right inside the park with lodge rooms, cabins, glamping, tent camping, and RV sites
- Grab a meal and relax at the lodge without ever having to leave the mountain
Best for: Hikers, nature lovers, waterfall chasers, and anyone looking for big Blue Ridge Mountain views with a wild side.
Unicoi Zip Line Adventures: Zip Through Fall Color Just Minutes from Helen
Location: Unicoi State Park in Helen, GA. Surrounded by nature but just minutes from downtown Helen.
Fall and Helen, Georgia, already go hand in hand. But before you head downtown for Bavarian food, shopping, and Oktoberfest festivities, why not experience those famous North Georgia fall colors from inside the tree canopy?
Located at Unicoi State Park & Lodge, just a few miles from downtown Helen, our Unicoi course combines Blue Ridge Mountain forests with beautiful Lake Unicoi. Three progressively longer zip line levels let you choose your adventure, with Level 3 sending you soaring right over the lake.
Imagine looking down at the water while the surrounding mountains and forests are changing color around you. It’s a side of fall in Helen you simply can’t experience downtown!
Zip Line Highlights
- 3 levels of zip line canopy tours
- Soar over Lake Unicoi on Level 3
- Experience views of the lake and state park you can’t access from the ground
- Zip through the forest canopy as the leaves change around you
- FREE adventure photos included with your tour
Turn It Into the Ultimate Helen Fall Getaway
One of the best things about Unicoi is how easily you can combine outdoor adventure with a fall trip to Helen. Spend part of your day in the forest and the rest enjoying one of North Georgia’s most popular mountain towns.
- Explore hiking trails throughout Unicoi State Park
- Visit nearby Anna Ruby Falls
- Fish for trout along Smith Creek
- Head into downtown Helen for shops, restaurants, and Bavarian charm
- Experience Helen’s famous Oktoberfest during September and October
- Stay right inside the state park with lodge rooms, cabins, glamping, tent camping, and RV sites
And because the state park offers lodging, dining, and other park activities are all right at Unicoi, you can truly stay, play, and explore without choosing between a mountain getaway and a trip to Helen.
Best for: Families, couples, and friend groups who want to combine fall color, lake views, outdoor adventure, and all the fun of Helen in one getaway.
Pair Your Adventure with Helen’s Oktoberfest
Visiting Helen for Oktoberfest? Add a little outdoor adventure to the lederhosen, live music, and Bavarian food!
Helen’s Oktoberfest celebrations run through September and October, making Unicoi an easy addition to your trip. Spend the morning zip lining through the fall canopy at Unicoi State Park, then head just a few miles down the road to downtown Helen for the festivities.
Better yet, make a weekend of it. Stay at Unicoi State Park & Lodge, enjoy the park and zip line course during the day, then experience Helen’s restaurants, shops, and Oktoberfest celebrations nearby.
It’s a pretty great North Georgia fall combination: mountains, fall color, zip lines, and Oktoberfest—all in one trip.
Historic Banning Mills Adventure Resort: Make the Whole Getaway an Adventure
Location: Snake Creek Gorge in Whitesburg, GA. Just 45 minutes from Atlanta but feels like a world away!
If one fall adventure isn’t enough, Historic Banning Mills is where you can do a little bit of everything.
Our flagship location is tucked into more than 300 acres of forests and the rugged Snake Creek Gorge, where fall color surrounds historic ruins, rushing water, suspension bridges, hiking trails, and some seriously big adventures.
And when we say big, we mean Guinness World Record big.
Historic Banning Mills is home to the Longest Continuous Zip Line Canopy Tour and the Tallest Free-Standing Climbing Wall. Choose from multiple levels of zip line tours and work your way deeper into the forest, crossing suspension bridges and soaring above the gorge as you go.
Fall Adventure Highlights
- Explore the Guinness World Record Longest Continuous Zip Line Canopy Tour
- Take on the Guinness World Record Tallest Free-Standing Climbing Wall
- Cross spectacular suspension bridges—including some stretching more than 500 and 700 feet
- Explore 15+ miles of hiking trails through more than 300 acres
- Ride through the forest on a unique Eco-Spider SWINCAR tour
- Saddle up for a horseback trail ride
- Explore Snake Creek by kayak (tours run through October or longer as weather permits)
- Introduce younger adventurers to heights on the Crazy Squirrel Aerial Adventure Course
- Take home FREE adventure photos from your zip line tour
Sleep in the Fall Canopy
Why drive home when you can spend the night surrounded by it all?
Stay in one of our unique Tree House Rooms, settle into a cozy Pine Log Cabin, or choose from our other lodge and cabin accommodations. Wake up surrounded by the forest, enjoy breakfast included with your stay, and head right back outside for another adventure.
Add a four-course gourmet dinner and you can turn a day of adventure into a complete fall getaway without ever leaving the property.
Step Into Georgia History
Fall is also one of our favorite times to explore the quieter side of Banning Mills.
The property is part of the Banning Mills–Snake Creek Industrial Archaeological District, where the remains of historic mills, dams, raceways, and a former mill village tell the story of nearly 125 years of industry along Snake Creek.
Many of these historic sites can be discovered along our hiking trails, giving you a chance to walk through the fall forest while exploring a side of Georgia history you might never expect to find hidden among the trees.
Best for: Anyone who wants to pack a fall getaway with adventure, unique lodging, hiking, history, great food, and plenty of time outdoors—all in one destination.
When Do Fall Colors Peak in North Georgia?
Trying to time your adventure for peak fall color? Elevation and location make a difference, which means North Georgia’s fall show doesn’t happen everywhere at once.
Historically, the higher elevations around Amicalola Falls and Unicoi State Parks tend to reach their best color from late October into mid-November. Farther south at Historic Banning Mills, fall color often develops a little later, with some of our most vibrant foliage appearing from early to mid-November and sometimes lasting into late November.
Of course, Mother Nature doesn’t follow a reservation calendar! Temperature, rainfall, elevation, and other weather conditions can shift peak color earlier or later each year.
For a current estimate before your trip, check the Georgia Fall Foliage Map and keep an eye on local conditions as your visit gets closer.
And remember: you don’t have to hit the exact peak to have a spectacular fall adventure. The weeks leading up to peak bring a beautiful mix of green, yellow, orange, and red, while the later season opens up longer views through the forest as the leaves begin to fall.
Whether you’re soaring above the Blue Ridge Mountains or zipping through the colorful forests of Snake Creek Gorge, there’s really only one bad way to see North Georgia’s fall color: Through a windshield.
Bonus Fall Road Trip: Take the Adventure Across the Alabama Line
Location: Lake Guntersville State Park, Guntersville, AL. The place for stunning lake views!
Want to take your fall adventure a little farther? Head across the state line to Lake Guntersville State Park in Northeast Alabama, where rolling Appalachian hills meet the sparkling waters of Alabama’s largest lake.
Our Screaming Eagle zip line course gives you a perspective you simply can’t get from a scenic overlook. You’ll soar through the forest and high above the landscape, with expansive views across the lake and surrounding hills.
And when those hills begin changing color? That’s a pretty incredible backdrop for a zip line.
Zip Line Highlights
- 2 levels of zip line canopy tours
- Take on Level 2 for three super zips ranging from approximately 1,000 to 2,100 feet
- Soar across long, open zip lines with spectacular views of Lake Guntersville
- Experience perspectives of the state park and lake you can’t see from the ground
- FREE adventure photos included with your tour
Make It a Fall Weekend at the Lake
The adventure doesn’t have to end when you step out of your harness. Because we’re located inside Lake Guntersville State Park, you can stay, eat, and explore without leaving the park.
Which Location Is Right for You?
Best location for families
This is a tough one! Here are some family friendly suggestions:
Banning Mills offers aerial adventure for kids ages 4 and up on our Crazy Squirrel Aerial Course. Children as young at 8 can enjoy the Level 1 zip line course. Families can enjoy staying in an iconic Tree House and taking advantage of free amenities like the seasonal pool and free putt-putt courses.
Children as young as 8 can enjoy Level 1 courses at Amicalola, Unicoi, and Lake Guntersville. Outside of our adventures, young children would likely enjoy the watersports offered at Unicoi and Lake Guntersville State Parks.
Best Hiking Opportunities
This depends on what you want to see and each hiker’s abilites.
Amicalola Falls offers the opportunity to hike to the falls and the head of the Appalachian Trail. These hikes can be strenuous but offer great views.
Unicoi State Park has trails around Lake Unicoi or nearby Anna Ruby Falls, ranging from a 1/3-mile nature trail to the six-mile roundtrip Unicoi/Helen Trail,
Banning Mills offers over 10 miles of trails winding through Snake Creek Gorge, along Snake Creek and over some amazing suspension bridges! You can explore historic ruins of 1800s era mills and dams and even walk along raceways that once supplied the mills with immense waterpower.
Lake Guntersville has many trails to choose from and the park has become a focal point of Eagle Awareness in the state with multiple nesting sites.
Most Intense Zip Lines
This one is easy – Banning Mills of course! We hold the Guinness World Record for the Longest Continuous Zip Line Canopy Course with over 100 zip lines that stretch over 11 miles if set end to end. We offer 5 Zip Line Canopy Tour Options, 2 All-Day Tour options, and a Two-Day Tour! Cross the 600-foot-long Sky Trek suspension bridge, towering over 100 feet above the creek, for unmatched aerial views. Zip back across the creek on the 1,000-foot-long Predator zip line, then ascend our 100-foot-tall tower to launch down Screaming Eagle — a breathtaking 2,500-foot-long zip line reaching speeds of 70-75 mph. Not to be outdone is the Amazing Flight of the Falcon zip line where riders fly like superman for 3,400 ft, parallel to Snake Creek Gorge!
Honorable mentions:
Level 3 at Amicalola Falls features a zip line that soars 200 high and 2,000 feel long with endless views of the North Georgia Mountains.
Level 2 at Lake Guntersville features 3 super zips that range from 1,000 to 2,100 feet and a thrilling take off from a 60-foot tower.
Zip Line Adventures for Every Season
No matter when you visit, each Screaming Eagle location offers a unique view of nature’s beauty—and an unforgettable way to experience it.
Fall
Fall is our most popular season for a reason. Rich reds, oranges, and golds sweep across the mountains and forested valleys. From mid-October to mid-November, the canopy becomes a kaleidoscope of color—best experienced from above the trees.
Winter
Don’t overlook winter! With the leaves gone, you’ll see further than ever before—across valleys, ridgelines, and winding rivers. Winter is one of the best times to appreciate the true shape of the land, with wide-open views and fewer crowds.
Spring
Spring brings an explosion of color and life back to the forest. Look for blooming Piedmont Azaleas, Mountain Laurel, and a chorus of birdsong as you fly through the warming air. It’s a vibrant, refreshing time to reconnect with nature.
Summer
The forest canopy comes alive in summer, offering welcome shade from the Southern sun. Cool breezes rush past your face as you zip from tree to tree—and every landing platform gives you a chance to pause and take in the view.
Don’t Forget—FREE Photos Are Included!
Every zip line tour at our parks includes free photos, taken by our amazing guides on your adventure. We believe you should be able to live the moment and keep it, too—without having to pay extra or carry a camera.
You’ll leave with unforgettable memories and the pictures to prove it. Here is a gallery of photos taken on tour!
Stay, Play, and Zip in the Mountains
No matter which park you choose, you’ll be surrounded by natural beauty, thrilling adventures, and the opportunity to stay right where you play. Lodging, dining, and unforgettable views are part of every experience.
So what are you waiting for?
Adventure is calling—and the tree canopy is the best seat in the house.
Believe it or not, these aren’t our only locations! We have 2 more in Alabama–DeSoto and Wind Creek State Parks, and 2 in Kentucky– The Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter!
