When I lived in northeast Georgia, one of the places that became very special to me, especially on Sunday evenings was Black Mountain State Park. There’s a small lake at the base of the mountain that is so clear and undisturbed.

We can walk around it with the dogs in about 20 minutes. It has everything you want a northeast Georgia lake to have—wildlife, fish, and trails that tunnel in and out of rhododendron.

And there are pathways that are enchanting and make you feel warm and cozy inside.

Lots of gentle summer wild flowers line the pathway.

At the top of the mountain, I usually like to talk with the ranger. It never fails that when I ask about the weather, he or she will go into a long and interesting explanation about how the mountain has its own climate, which is driven by the mountain range surrounding it. Most of the rock outcrops found throughout the park are made of biotite gneiss, a metamorphic rock that underlies a large portion of the Georgia Blue Ridge. There are at least three mountain peaks within the park that are over 3,000 feet. Small hills compared to the mountains west of here but it doesn’t matter. This is still a very sweet and peaceful area and a place that is perfect to visit on a lazy summer afternoon.

Always so beautiful, especially with the approaching sunset.

This is Turtle Rock Pier, where you can fish and also launch a canoe or kayak.

Pin It