As the days become longer and the weather warmer, Georgia’s forests become alive with an array of beautiful spring blooms including trout lily, wild azaleas, foam flower, trillim, violets and many other brilliant wildflowers. Now, is the perfect time to enjoy nature’s finest color display and get the heart pumping all at the same time. 

Georgia’s 45 state parks, 3 state historic parks and 15 historic sites provide outdoor enthusiasts more than 54 hiking trails to choose from for every skill level.  Families with small children may enjoy a less daunting stroll on some of the scenic paved nature trails, while more experienced hikers can try out their skills on the backcountry trails of Amicalola Fall, Black Rock Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, F.D. Roosevelt, Fort Mountain, Providence Canyon, Unicoi and Vogel. 

And, for those up to a challenge, the new Canyon Climber’s Club rewards hikers who complete the rigorous trails at four state parks including Amicalola Falls, Cloudland Canyon, Tallulah Gorge and Providence Canyon with the ultimate bragging rights t-shirt that says “I did it.” To join, hikers can stop by one of the four participating state park offices and purchase a $10 membership card or call (770) 389-7401.  

While nearly every state park in Georgia features miles of beautiful trails and scenic landscape, below are some of the most popular guided wildflower hikes, which feature park naturalists and wildflower experts, as well as hiking safety tips from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. For details on all of Georgia’s state park trails and recreational offerings, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org  or call 1-800-864-7275.