12 of the Best Trails & Hikes in Big Canoe, North Georgia
Just one hour north of Atlanta in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Big Canoe offers a tucked-away mountain retreat that's surprisingly convenient from the city. Outdoor recreation reigns in this four-season destination, from fishing and boating to golf and mountain biking.
One of the best ways to enjoy North Georgia's incredible scenery, though, is to explore the many Big Canoe trails. You'll find over 20 miles of trails within the community, including hikes to waterfalls, covered bridges, historic log cabins, Native American stone mounds, and wildflower-studded meadows—and that doesn't even include the countless trails just beyond Big Canoe's boundaries!
Here, we share the best hikes in Big Canoe, from easy to challenging.
Big Canoe Trails in Nature Valley Park and Playfield Park
Disharoon Lake Trail
Easy; 0.5-mile one-way
This easy trail leads you on a leisurely stroll around Disharoon Lake, starting from the fitness center and swim club. You'll see locals on this trail year-round, offering a nice workout and lovely scenery with minimal effort.
Check out Big Canoe's popular swimming beach and rock slide in the summer months, and continue on to the Lower Falls or Wildflower trails if you want a slightly more challenging hike.
Wildflower Trail
Easy; 0.7 miles one-way
The Wildflower Trail is short and sweet. It follows a creek bed and, as the trail name suggests, an abundance of colorful wildflowers—as well as ferns—line the shaded path. Green blazes mark the way, but note that it intersects in some spots with the white-blazed Lower Falls Trail.
Nature Valley Lower Falls Trail
Moderate; 1.5 miles one-way
Many locals consider this one of the best hikes in Big Canoe. Meandering alongside Disharoon Creek, crossing several bridges and Native American mounds, and ending at multi-cascade Lower Disharoon Falls, it's easy to see why.
Continue half a mile past the falls to Upper Disharoon Falls, or create a loop by starting on the Wildflower Trail, then returning on the Lower Falls Trail after the bridge over Disharoon Creek (the end of Lake Trail).
Nature Valley Upper Falls Trail
Moderate; 0.5-mile one-way
Start from Lower Falls and follow the trail to tumbling, two-tiered Upper Disharoon Falls. Much like on the Lower Falls Trail, you'll walk along the creek bank, but now, you'll also be treated to views of a number of smaller, unnamed waterfalls.
The Upper Falls viewpoint is the star of this relatively easy trail, a pine-shaded wooden bridge over Disharoon Creek.
Nature Valley Cabin Loop Trail
Moderate; 0.5-mile loop
This one's for folks who are more into history than waterfalls—or as a short, pleasant addition to a more challenging hike. Park in the lot on Yellow Root Drive and follow the yellow blazes, tackling a few switchbacks through mossy forest bursting with mountain laurel. Cross the creek, pass an old waterwheel, and you'll come to the historic log cabin just 0.2 miles in. Enjoy a picnic at the cabin's outside tables.
Nancy Womack Trail
Difficult; 1.4 miles one-way
Serious trekkers looking for a challenging hike will find everything they want (and likely, more) on the NWT. Named for the late Nancy Womack, an avid hiker and backpacker and former Big Canoe resident, the trail climbs over 1,200 feet in less than 1.5 miles, much of it over rocky, rugged terrain.
You'll pass Nancy Womack Falls and cross the stream numerous times, switchbacking up to the base of Mount Oglethorpe, the original starting point of the Appalachian Trail.
Choctaw and Meditation Park Trails
Choctaw Trail
Easy; 1.3-mile loop
Circling the Choctaw Village neighborhood and within walking distance of Big Canoe's Clubhouse, this easy trail is the perfect way to start or end the day. Walk alongside Disharoon Creek in old-growth forest, and keep your eyes open for deer and other woodland critters.
Meditation Park Trails Loop
Easy to moderate; 2-mile loop
As its name implies, Meditation Park offers serene, reflective hikes. All four trails here are short enough to combine into one loop hike, but you can also tackle one trail at a time. Start on the John Williams Trail (0.4 miles) or the Botanical Garden Nature Trail (0.3 miles), which both have parking at the trailheads.
From either end, connect to the 0.4-mile Blackwell Creek Trail and 0.4-mile Covered Bridge Trail to form a loop.
Hikes in Indian Rocks Park
Indian Mounds Trail and Indian Mounds Loop
Easy; 0.8-mile loop
Take the Indian Mounds Trail and detour to Indian Mounds Loop for a history lesson on the Native Americans that once called Big Canoe home. Interpretive signs along the trail offer some insight into the mysterious stone mounds, as well as medicinal herbs and remedies. You can also continue on the Lake Petit Trail for a short water adventure.
Lake Petit Trail
Easy; 0.3 miles one-way
Leading directly to the community's biggest lake, it comes as no surprise that many consider this one of the best hikes in Big Canoe. Despite being so short, the blue-blazed trail has wooden steps, creek crossings, and a bench at its terminus, overlooking one of Lake Petit's glassy coves.
Wildcat Park Loop
Easy; 0.5 to 4.2-mile loop
Unique among other Big Canoe trails, the paths in Wildcat Park are paved, making them ideal for trail running, families with strollers, or outdoor enthusiasts with limited mobility. The Blue Loop (1.2 miles) and Red Loop (1.9 miles) are the most popular, forming a figure-eight loop and passing a fenced dog park, sculpture garden, and remnants of a moonshine still.
Amicalola Falls
Moderate; 2.2-mile loop
If you want to venture beyond Big Canoe, Georgia's tallest waterfall is a short 20-minute drive. Inside Amicalola Falls State Park, the 730-foot waterfall is truly a sight to behold in all seasons. Hike the cascade from bottom to top and back via a series of wooden staircases—about 600 steps!
Your Mountain Home Away From Home
After a day on the trails, there’s nothing better than retreating to a dreamy mountain cabin. Mountain Home Rentals of Georgia by Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals makes that possible, offering a carefully curated collection of homes nestled into Big Canoe’s forested hills and lakefront coves.
Whether you’re looking for a treehouse-like cabin with a hot tub, quintessentially Southern screened porches, or a luxe lodge for the whole family, their team knows Big Canoe inside and out—and they’ll help you find the perfect home.
When you stay with Mountain Home Rentals of Georgia by Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals, you get more than just a house key. You get full access to the Big Canoe lifestyle, with championship golf, paddling glassy lakes, spa days, and winding scenic drives that remind you why you came to the mountains in the first place.
