Georgia Outdoor Safety Guide

Most bad days outdoors in Georgia start the same way: nobody knew where you went, the weather turned, or someone stepped onto a wet rock to get a better look at a waterfall. This guide pulls together what we have learned about staying safe on Georgia’s trails, rivers, lakes and beaches, from summer thunderstorms and black bears to life jacket rules and hunting season. Read it once before your next trip.

• EmergencyCall 911; cell service is spotty in the mountains and national forest
• Kids on boatsUnder 13 must wear a life jacket on a moving boat unless inside an enclosed cabin
• Venomous snakesSix species live in Georgia; give every snake room
• Hunting seasonWear blaze orange on WMAs and national forest land in fall and winter

• Before You Go
• Hiking
• Waterfalls
• Weather
• Wildlife
• Rivers & Beaches
• Boating & Fishing
• Hunting Season
• Leave No Trace

Before You Go

• Tell someone your plan: where you are going, which trail, who is with you and when you expect to be back. If you do not check in, they know where to send help.
• Do not count on your phone. Much of the north Georgia mountains and national forest has no signal. Download a trail map before you leave, and carry a paper map for longer hikes.
• Bring more water than you think you need, a snack, a headlamp, a basic first-aid kit and a rain layer, even on short hikes.
• Hike with a friend when you can. If you go alone, stay on popular trails and stick to your plan.
• Know your limits. Pick a trail that fits the slowest person in your group, and turn around early enough to finish before dark.

On the Trail

• Stay on the marked trail and do not cut switchbacks. Shortcuts cause erosion and are where people get lost.
• Watch the time. Daylight goes fast in the mountains in fall and winter, and it gets dark sooner in a deep valley than on a ridge.
• If you get lost, stop, stay put and call or signal for help. Searchers find people who stay in one place faster.
• Designated wilderness areas, like Cohutta and Blood Mountain, have no shelters, water fountains or restrooms, and only foot travel is allowed (horses only on certain trails). Plan to be fully self-sufficient.
• Ticks are common from spring through fall. Use repellent, wear long pants in tall grass and check yourself after every hike. Learn to spot poison ivy: leaves of three.

Ready to go? See the best hikes in north Georgia and the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail.

Waterfalls

• Stay on the trail and behind railings. The rock around waterfalls is wet, covered in algae and much slicker than it looks.
• Never climb on the rocks at the top of a waterfall or wade above the drop. Most serious waterfall accidents happen when people leave the trail for a better view or a photo.
• Water levels and currents change fast after rain. A calm pool can turn dangerous within an hour of a storm upstream.

Plan your visit with the best waterfalls in north Georgia and the Georgia waterfalls map.

Weather

• Summer thunderstorms build most afternoons from June through August. Start hikes early and get off ridges, summits and open water when you hear thunder.
• Heat is a real risk in Georgia summers, especially in the middle and south of the state. Drink water steadily, rest in the shade and plan hard hikes for the morning.
• Cold catches people off guard in the mountains, where winter nights drop below freezing and wet clothing can lead to hypothermia even in spring and fall. Pack a warm layer.

Wildlife

• Black bears live in the north Georgia mountains and parts of the coastal plain. Never feed them, store food and trash in your car or a bear-resistant container, and give any bear plenty of room.
• Snakes: Georgia has six venomous species: the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake and eastern coral snake. Watch where you put your hands and feet, and leave every snake alone. If bitten, stay calm and get to a hospital.
• Alligators live in south Georgia and coastal waters, including the Okefenokee. Keep your distance, keep pets on a leash away from the water, and never feed them.

Rivers, Swimming Holes and Beaches

• Rivers rise fast after rain and below dams. On the Chattahoochee below Buford Dam, water released from the dam can raise the river quickly, and the water is cold year-round. Check release schedules before you paddle or wade.
• At swimming holes, check the depth before you jump and stay off slick rocks. See our best swimming holes in Georgia.
• At the beach, watch for rip currents. If you are caught in one, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of it, then swim back in.

Boating and Fishing

• Every person on board needs a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits and is easy to reach. Most boats 16 feet and longer, other than canoes and kayaks, also need a throwable flotation device.
• Children under 13 must wear a life jacket on a moving boat, unless they are inside a fully enclosed cabin.
• Operating a boat under the influence carries penalties much like drunk driving. Have a sober operator.
• Know the fishing regulations, keep only the fish you can use, do not move fish or plants between waters, and dispose of fishing line properly so it does not tangle wildlife. Anglers 16 and older need a Georgia fishing license.
• Leave the place cleaner than you found it, and report pollution or violations to Georgia DNR.

Check current rules with Georgia DNR before you go, and see our Lake Lanier park rules and Georgia rivers guide.

Hiking During Hunting Season

• Deer and other hunting seasons run through much of the fall and winter on wildlife management areas and national forest land, which are also where many trails are.
• During hunting season, wear blaze orange on your head and upper body, keep dogs leashed and wearing orange, and stay on marked trails.
• Check season dates before you go with our Georgia hunting guide. On busy opening weekends, consider a state park instead, where hunting is not allowed.

Leave No Trace

• Plan ahead and prepare.
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
• Dispose of waste properly; pack out what you pack in.
• Leave what you find.
• Minimize campfire impacts and use established fire rings.
• Respect wildlife.
• Be considerate of other visitors.