Are you a curious traveler with an eye for nature? If so, Georgia may be the perfect destination for you! Situated in the southeastern United States along the Atlantic Coast, Georgia is home to numerous and varied natural wonders that are sure to enchant you. From cascading waterfalls tucked away between ancient mountain peaks to sprawling swamplands teeming with wildlife, there’s something here for everyone who loves natural beauty. Keep reading if you want to learn more about these 7 natural wonders of Georgia.
Natural Wonders of Georgia
Radium Springs
Radium Springs is located in Albany, Georgia at 2501 Radium Spring Rd. There is no admission fee to get in. There are the springs and gardens.
Radium Springs is the largest natural spring in the state; thus one of the reasons it made it on the 7 natural wonders of Georgia list. The water there contains trace amounts of Radium, hence its name and the bright blue color.
In the 1920s, a casino was built there and Radium Springs was a well known resort and spa. It was a popular swimming hole and the water was known to have healthy benefits with its mineral rich water. The great Depression led to the closure of Radium Springs in 1939. It was reopened and closed several times throughout the years. The casino was severely damaged in 1994 by a flood and then again in 1998 and in 2003 was demolished.
There are still some remains of the original resort. The site as we see it now, was opened in 2010. Swimming is no longer allowed, but it is a great picturesque spot!
While we were there, a man playing his violin was in the park.
Providence Canyon
Providence Canyon is located in Lumpkin Georgia in Providence Canyon State Park. It is located at 8930 Canyon Road, Lumpkin, Georgia. There is a $5 parking fee per car to park in Providence Canyon State Park or you can purchase an annual pass to all Georgia State Parks.
Providence Canyon has been coined Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon. You know if it’s compared to the Grand Canyon, it must have made it on the list of 7 natural wonders of Georgia. It is quite impressive site to see; the canyon was caused by poor farming practices in the 1800s. Providence Canyon is a testament to the power of man’s influence on the land. Here you can see all the available trails to explore and bask in the natural beauty of the Canyon.
Fun Fact: There are a few old, dilapidated cars along the shite blazed trail. These rustic vehicles now serve as an “ecosystem” for the birds and other small animals that call Providence Canyon their home.
When finished hiking at Providence Canyon, if you enjoy rum, visit Richland Rum in Richland, Georgia. While not a natural wonder of Georgia, I am a firm believer, if you are close to an adventure, restaurant or other type of establishment, take the extra time to explore there as well. They produce single estate rums at Richland Rum. You can do tours or just enjoy a drink while getting off your feet after a long day of hiking in Providence Canyon.
Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain Park is located at 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, Georgia. Stone Mountain is known for the Memorial Carving. The carving is the largest high relief sculpture in the world, the Confederate Memorial Carving, depicts three Confederate figures of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.
The entire carved surface measures three-acres, larger than a football field and Mount Rushmore. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The deepest point of the carving is at Lee’s elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain’s surface.
You can view the Memorial Carving from the Laser Lawn.
You can also ride the summit sky ride to the top of the mountain or hike up it if you’re feeling energetic.
Fun Fact: You can watch a laser spectacular show in front of the Memorial Carving from the Laser Lawn.
Warm Springs
Warm Springs is located here; it is another one of the 7 natural wonders of Georgia. Visitors were drawn to Warm Springs to enjoy the naturally buoyant water that flowed year-round from the springs on the north side of Pine Mountain. At a steady 88 degrees, it was the warmest of all the springs, and had the strongest outflow into large ponds that were ideally suited for bathing and swimming.
President Franklin D Roosevelt first visited the town in October 1924. He was intrigued by the reports of the healing waters in the warm springs there. He was so captivated by the town, that he changed the name from Bullochville to Warm Springs. He purchased a lot of land and made expansive improvements to the resort and the pools. A few years later, he created the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation for polio patients and then built his Little White House near Warm Spring
Fun Fact: FDR frequently visited FDR State Park to have picnics and do a little grilling; There is a memorial where his grill was set up at Dowdell Knob in FDR State Park in Pine Mountain.
Tallulah Gorge
Tallulah Gorge is a spectacular canyon in the eastern U.S that is about two miles long and a spectacular 1,000 feet deep. Those who visit can hike around its rim and revel in breathtaking waterfalls below, hike down the stairs to see more views and to cross the suspension bridge or they could hike all the way down to the gorge floor (to hike the floor, you must obtain one of 100 permits per day, when available).
Visitors can view the historic towers once used by tightrope walker, Karl Wallenda. In 1970 Karl Wallenda, the famous tightrope walker, balanced himself atop a metal cable that was less than 2 inches in diameter and walked the 977 feet across the gorge in 18 minutes.
Tallulah Gorge is located in Tallulah Gorge State Park at 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Drive, Tallulah Falls, Georgia; there is a $5 parking fee per car or you can purchase an annual Georgia State Park pass.
Fun Fact: The movie “Deliverance” was filmed partly in the Gorge.
Be sure to check out the wineries nearby.
Okefenokee Swamp
Stephen C. Foster State Park is a primary entrance to the legendary Okefenokee Swamp—one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders and the largest wetland in the South. There are spanish moss-laced trees and cypress knees that rise upward from the glass-like surface of the water.
The abundance of wildlife and the swamp’s natural beauty draw in many adventure seekers and photographers. Alligators, turtles, raccoons, black bears, deer, ibis, herons, wood storks, red-cockaded woodpeckers and numerous other creatures make their homes in the 402,000-acre refuge. Stargazers and photographers appreciate the particularly dark skies.
Okefenokee Swamp is located in Stephen C. Foster State Park at 17515 Highway 177, Fargo, Georgia; there is a $5 parking fee per car or you can purchase an annual Georgia State Park pass.
Fun Fact: In 2016, Stephen C. Foster State Park was named the first International Dark Sky Park in Georgia.
Amicalola Falls
Amicalola Falls never disappoints. It is a beautiful set of falls in Dawsonville, Georgia. It is a magnificent 729-foot waterfall with 7 cascades; it the highest waterfall in Georgia and the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. To see the falls you have three choices, you can either hike up from the bottom and complete the challenge of hiking up 604 steps to the viewing platform, you can access the West Ridge trail to gain access right to the falls after a .3 mile easy hike, or you can park at the top and hike down to the viewing platform.
Amicalola Falls is located in the Amicalola Falls State Park at 418 Amicalola Falls Road, Dawsonville, Georgia; there is a $5 parking fee per car or you can purchase an annual Georgia State Park pass.
Fun Fact: Amicalola State Park is where you can hike the Appalachian Approach Trail to begin the infamous Appalachian Trail (AT) hike; millions of people hike the AT every year.
Be sure to check out the wineries nearby.
Georgia is a beautiful state with many hidden gems. From natural springs to canyons, there is much to explore in the Peach State. Be sure to add these 7 natural wonders of Georgia to your list of places to see. What are the natural wonders in YOUR state? Let us know in the comments below!
-S&E