Smithgall Woods State Park

» Visitor Center Notice:
› All visitors must register at the Visitor Center.

» Hiking Notice:
› View Hunting Schedule
› The Laurel Ridge Trail is a safety zone and is open for hiking at all times, even during scheduled hunts.

» Fishing Notice:
› Trout fishing is only allowed on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, October – May, and requires a reservation. No fishing access for Day Use Visitors June - September. Overnight cottage guests may fish any day during their stay throughout the year.

Come fish in crystal clear trout streams of the Dukes Creek Watershed, or hike through wildflower covered trails on the Blue Ridge Escarpment at Smithgall Woods State Park, a masterpiece of nature, reclaimed and rejuvenated from land transformed by hydraulic gold mining in the nineteenth century, and the enduring legacy of its donor Charles Smithgall.

Smithgall Woods is an angler’s paradise. One of north Georgia’s premier trout streams, Dukes Creek, runs through this spectacular mountain property and is a favorite for catch and release fishing. To ensure a quality experience, the number of anglers is limited and fishing is offered only on certain days. As a result, anglers should call ahead for reservations. Five miles of trails and 18 miles of roads allow hikers and bicyclists to explore hardwoods, streams and wildlife.

Smithgall Woods is also an elegant mountain retreat, perfect for romantic getaways, small weddings or outings with friends. Six beautifully decorated cottages — Creekside Cottage, Smithgall Cottage, Dover Cottage, Parkside Cottage, Garden Cottage and Laurel Cottage — provide 17 bedrooms with telephones and television. Some cottages have porches along the stream, while others have private hot tubs. A 1 mile trail leads from the cottages to Dukes Creek Falls.

Smithgall Woods was acquired by the state in 1994 as a gift-purchase from Charles A. Smithgall, Jr., a noted conservationist and businessman.

BearWise Safety Information

Reservations, Accommodations & Facilities

5,844 Acres
6 Cottages
Pioneer Campground (Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.) — call park to reserve, youth & conservation groups only
5 Picnic Shelters (Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)
Visitor Center
Discovery Room Museum
Gift Shop

Things To Do & See

Archery — reservations required
Biking
Birdwatching
Chronolog
Trout Fishing — seasonal, reservations required, catch & release only
Hiking — 28 miles of trails
Hunting
Picnicking
Weddings — park approval required
Geocaching at Georgia State Parks
All-Terrain Georgia Action Trackchair

Programs

Educational and Interpretive Programs

Guided tours are on the first Saturday of every month, guided hikes are on the second Saturday of every month. Check our events page for more details.