Vogel State Park

Vogel sits in a mountain cove at about 2,500 feet, and it's a fall favorite: Georgia State Parks says it's particularly popular when the Blue Ridge turns red, yellow and gold. The park was established in 1931 as Georgia's second-oldest state park, and the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of its structures in the 1930s; the CCC museum is open seasonally. Drivers coming up from the south pass through Neel Gap on the way north.

The land was donated to the state in 1927 by August H. Vogel and Fred Vogel Jr. of the Pfister & Vogel Leather Company, according to Wikipedia. The leather company had harvested tanbark in North Georgia, and gave the land away after synthetic tanning ended that business.

Bear Hair Gap is the one most visitors choose, a loop of about 4 miles that the park calls popular. For a drive instead of a hike, Georgia State Parks recommends Wolf Pen Gap Road (GA-180) for fall scenery. See our fall color guide for peak timing.

The park has 34 cottages, 90 tent, trailer and RV campsites, 18 walk-in sites and a pioneer campground. Reservations go through Georgia State Parks at 800-864-7275, and fall weekends fill up early. Parking isn't included with a reservation, but overnight guests pay the ParkPass fee only once per stay. There's also a general store, a playground and accessible miniature golf.

With Trahlyta Falls closed, Helton Creek Falls is the easy waterfall fix nearby. From Blairsville, take US 19/129 south 11 miles and turn left on Helton Creek Road just past the Vogel entrance, then go 2.2 miles to a small pullout. The trail is an easy 0.2 mile, free, and has abrupt changes in grade, so stay on the trail and observation deck.