Atlanta TrailsbyTrailful Outdoor Co
Top Georgia trails & how-to

Georgia backpacking: our favorite trails over seven miles

Rack up some distance and sleep under the stars on our top twelve backpacking adventures in Georgia, all perfect for an overnight adventure.

Georgia’s remarkable terrain is diverse, and our state is home to many miles of great backpacking and hiking trails. From remote barrier islands and grassy marshes to high, domed mountain summits and deep-carved canyons, Georgia offers a nearly endless bucket list worthy of a great hike. And with long-range trails like the epic-length Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail winding through our state, Georgia offers a ton of fantastic opportunities for a great long-distance hike. Add in our mild climate that makes for perfect camping weather in all but our hottest months, and you’ve got the makings of a great backpacking adventure.

While we’re fans of great Georgia day hikes to picnic-worthy waterfalls and view-packed urban hiking trails in metro Atlanta, we also love to go deep. Deep into remote stretches of Georgia wilderness, far from cell phone signals and traffic noise. Deep into the wilds of sun-drenched, sandy islands where wild horses roam free. Deep into waterfall-filled valleys, and deep, following Georgia’s most scenic Appalachian Trail segments to view-packed mountain summits and rhododendron-filled stream valleys.

Georgia backpacking: rack up some distance and sleep under the stars on our top twelve backpacking adventures, all perfect for an overnight adventure. #hiking #camping #backpacking #atlanta #georgia #travel #outdoors #adventure

Our favorite backpacking trips in Georgia

With Georgia’s vast long-distance trail networks, it’s definitely hard to choose just a handful of favorites. Check out our full list of Georgia hikes over six miles for more long-distance trail adventures. And where ever your adventures take you, please remember to leave no trace to help preserve Georgia’s beautiful wilderness areas.


 
Leave No Trace: Atlanta Trails, Asheville Trails and Trailful are official Leave No Trace partners

Please Remember

Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out.

Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Please always practice good trail etiquette. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions.

Eric Champlin is a creative director and photographer who loves to explore southeast. He's the co-owner of Trailful Outdoor Co, a locally-owned hiking outfitter shop in Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. His mission? To inspire others to get fit outdoors and explore the South’s incredible scenic beauty.