Dahlonega

Waterfall hikes (including nearby Amicalola Falls State Park), backpacking, birding, fishing, stargazing, winery and orchard visits, gold panning, scenic drives, and paddling the Chestatee River are some of the top things to do in this Blue Ridge Mountain town. Dahlonega’s charming downtown square is a bustling, brick-lined meeting spot with restaurants, shops, art galleries, green spaces, and historical buildings.

Dahlonega’s history of gold mining can still be experienced at Dahlonega Gold Museum, on an underground mine tour at Consolidated Gold Mining Company, and by gold panning at Crisson Gold Mine. North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari is the place to see kangaroos, monkeys, zebras, and many more exotic animals, and Chestatee Wildlife Preserve is home to sloths, lions, lemurs, bears, wolves, emus, and other animals, most of which have been rescued from poor situations. Getting into the outdoors is another way for families to spend time in this region, including camping, hiking, horseback riding, ATV-ing, and more in Chattahoochee National Forest, as well as tubing and fishing on the Chestatee and Etowah rivers.

Besides the hiking trails and other outdoor activities in the surrounding Chattahoochee National Forest, several parks in the area offer peaceful walking trails and picnic spots, including the City of Dahlonega Park, Connor Park, and Yahoola Creek Park. Visit the Dahlonega Butterfly Farm’s tropical greenhouse, and unwind amid the blooms at Red Oak Lavender Farm. Visit a winery tasting room to soak up flavors and stunning mountain views; the Wine Trail is an excellent way to sample “The Heart of Georgia Wine Country.” See a Broadway show at the Menagerie Theatre and Event Center, sample goods at the downtown farmers market, and take in the shops, restaurants, and winery tasting rooms that fill the postcard-pretty downtown square. 

• Dahlonega Chocolate Crawl (March)
• Bear on the Square Mountain Festival (April)
• Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival (May)
• Gold Rush Days Festival (October)
• Old Fashioned Christmas (December)

Nearly all options are on the table for Dahlonega hotels and places to stay, including bed and breakfasts, cabins and vacation rentals, resorts and lodges, campgrounds and RV parks, and even tree houses! As for Dahlonega restaurants, more than 60 establishments that range from fine dining to ice-cream shops are on offer in and around town.

Spring and summer are the best times of year to soak up the beauty of the area’s gardens and parks. The waterfalls, creeks, and rivers are really flowing this time of year, perfect for paddling, waterside hikes, and picnics. Fall really sings, color-wise, and is ideal for scenic drives where you can soak up the changing leaves of the surrounding forestland. Dahlonega is particularly charming around the holidays, with festive decor and events like Old Fashioned Christmas.

Temperatures are mild enough year-round that there are always opportunities to explore the outdoors. Winter brings only a couple inches of snow total. Learn more about Dahlonega weather.

An hour’s drive north of Atlanta, Dahlonega is found in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is less than 1 hour from Dahlonega.