Choose Your Own Georgia Adventure
Thrills await all around the state. Just decide how high you want to take your heart rate.
When you're looking for adventure, do you want something extreme that sends your heart rate into the stratosphere, something light that just gives you a fun story to tell, or something moderately in between the two? Do you prefer to soar high above it all, splash into the deep, or stay solidly on dry land?
Here's a list of adventurous trips in Georgia to match any travel style from adrenaline-pumping skydiving to low-key shelling on the beach. Keep scrolling to find your favorite, or use the links below to jump right to your next adventure.
Jump to:
- Up, Up and Away (Air adventures)
- Take the Plunge (Water thrills)
- Down to Earth (Land excursions)
Up, Up and Away
From gondola riding to skydiving, choose your airborne adventure.
Adventure level: Light
Ride the gondola at Stone Mountain Park
Glide to the top of the world’s largest slab of granite on Stone Mountain Park's Summit Skyride, a high-speed (but still extremely comfy) Swiss cable car. From your perch 825 feet above ground, you’ll spot sights up to 60 miles away, including the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlanta skyline. Want another bird’s-eye view of the city? Give SkyView Atlanta, downtown's 20-story Ferris wheel, a whirl.
Adventure level: Moderate
Zip line at Historic Banning Mills
Whitesburg’s thick woods in west Georgia are some of the most beautiful in the state, but you’ll only manage to see glimpses of them flashing by while zooming through the beeches and birches at 65 miles per hour. And it’s not just a matter of speed: With 10 miles of cable, the Screaming Eagle course at Banning Mills holds the Guinness World Record for the longest zip-line canopy tour on the planet.
Nacoochee Adventures in Helen is another great option for spectacular mountain views coupled with a dose of area history. Add a ride on the giant swing for even more aerial thrills!
Adventure level: Extreme
Skydive in Monroe
Acrophobia is the fear of heights, and Skydive Monroe provides the ultimate way to face that terror head-on. Brave souls make the leap from a small plane at 14,000 feet above the town located near Athens, and the jump is not for the faint of heart. But there’s really little to fear; you’re only freefalling for 60 seconds. For the remainder of the five-minute drop, you’re peacefully parachuting with your instructor and, no doubt, contemplating your next plunge.
Take the Plunge
From fishing to whitewater-rafting, dive into water-based thrills.
Adventure level: Light
Fish Georgia's lakes and rivers
Pack your rod and tackle box and head to Clarks Hill Lake, located on Georgia’s “Freshwater Coast” in Lincolnton on the state's eastern border, where you’ll find nearly 71,000 acres of water filled with stripers, bluegill, and catfish. Not hooked yet? Drop a line in southwest Georgia at Lake Seminole, known for its largemouth bass fishing. Northwest of Atlanta, test the waters of Lake Allatoona, where crappie are plentiful. And if you have a taste for trout, Vogel State Park’s Lake Trahlyta and the Tallulah River in Clayton hold a special allure.
Related: Where to Go Fishing in Georgia
Adventure level: Moderate
Paddle the Altamaha River Water Trail
While kayaking or canoeing parts of the 138-mile stretch known as Georgia’s “Little Amazon” in the southeastern part of the state, you’ll pass tidal swamps, glide through marshes and old-growth forests, and spy plenty of wildlife, including bald eagles, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and swallow-tailed kites. Even a short journey on the isolated, free-flowing Altamaha River will make clear why the Nature Conservancy designated the river one of the “75 Last Great Places on Earth.”
Related: The River Nobody Knows: Discovering Georgia's Altamaha River
Adventure level: Extreme
Whitewater Raft the Ocoee River
Let the rapids splash, swirl, and sweep you down the river with Rolling Thunder River Company, located right by the border of Georgia and Tennessee in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Here, you can experience the thrill of Olympian-level rapids — after all, the Ocoee is where the 1996 Olympic whitewater slalom events were held. The action-packed Class III and IV rapids, the most continuous river rapids in the U.S., offer a serious adrenaline rush.
Related: Incredible Places to Go Whitewater Rafting in Georgia
Down to Earth
From shelling to mountain-biking, explore the natural terrain.
Adventure level: Light
Hunt for shells on Jekyll Island
Scoping out these natural souvenirs is the best kind of treasure hunt. As you walk along the shore on Jekyll Island, waves crashing at your toes, look carefully for a knobbed whelk, the state shell of Georgia, or a white sand dollar hidden among the more common but just as stunning coquina shells. The reward is worth the effort. Search to your heart’s content at nearby beaches, including South Dunes Beach Park and Glory Beach.
Related: Guide to Jekyll Island
Adventure level: Moderate
Hike the Appalachian Trail’s Springer Mountain
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the world’s longest hiking-only footpath, stretches nearly 2,200 miles from Maine to Georgia’s Springer Mountain. This southern terminus is one of the state’s most popular hiking destinations, accessible by a number of routes and renowned for views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. The short, nearly two-mile stretch leading to Springer Mountain sounds easy enough, but the rocky, quick ascent adds a challenge.
Related: Tips for Hiking the Appalachian Trail in Georgia
Adventure level: Extreme
Bike the Blankets Creek Mountain Bike Trails
Hold onto your handlebars as you whiz along these mountain biking trails in Canton. The Dwelling Loop, South Loop, and Van Michael Trail certainly offer some challenging terrain (think rock crossings, a log ride carved out of a fallen tree, and plenty of elevation changes), but the Quehl Holler, an expert-level downhill path, offers an extra exhilarating descent—so much so that you may even catch some air. Those up to the challenge should wear a full-face helmet.
Related: Great Places to Bike in Georgia
