Taking a break from life's reality - and escaping for a few days in a refreshing and relaxing space is essential. And let's face it – Georgia's mountains are some of those places. The state has some of the most picturesque mountains worth every tourist’s time and vacation dollars. The most scenic mountains in this fine state come with uniqueness, availability of accommodation, and the kind of refreshment one may need after a long period of work. Georgia’s mountains have the best hiking trails and offer perfect destinations for adventure and spending quality time with family and friends. These are 8 of Georgia’s most scenic mountains (& best hiking trails).

Related: 10 Highest Mountains (& Their Climbing Success Rate)

8 Brasstown Bald Mountain

Standing at 4784 ft above sea level, Brasstown Bald Mountain is Georgia’s highest peak and is located just a short distance from Hiawassee, Helen, and Blairsville. This mountain offers a beautiful adventure experience to travelers going hiking. There are picnic spots with incredible views, three trailheads, and an observation deck that guarantees breathtaking views of the surrounding.

Brasstown Bald Trail is a 2.3-kilometer out-and-back route, located near Young Harris, Georgia. It takes about 45 minutes to complete this trail, and travelers consider it moderately challenging to hike. This trail is very popular, and other visitors come birding and trail running – other than hiking to the summit.

  • Best time to visit: March through October.

7 Blue Ridge Mountain

Stretching from the Northern part of Virginia to Georgia's northern side, this mountain range is one of Georgia’s most scenic mountains to explore. Whether one spends a day hiking, horseback riding in its lush forest, or spending some time with friends and family, stunning Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountain will leave travelers in love with its scenic attractions and friendly locals! It doesn't matter at what time of the year one visits, this region will always be amazing – thanks to enjoyable festivals and spectacular attractions. When travelers visit and explore this place, an unforgettable tour experience is guaranteed.

In this area, the most impressive route is the Long Branch Loop Trail, a 3.7-kilometer trail taking about 1 hour to complete. Many travelers visiting this region engage in other activities, including mountain biking and trail running – apart from hiking.

  • Best time to explore: March through October.

6 Stone Mountain

Located at the center of Stone Mountain National Park, which covers an area of 3000 acres, Stone Mountain is one of Georgia’s most visited places and features the world’s largest high relief sculpture, taking travelers back to the Civil War. Standing over 800 ft above sea level, Stone Mountain is fun to hike to the summit. Travelers can find a sense of peace and wildness when exploring its lush forests, regions of open rock, and its peak – which guarantees fantastic views of the surrounding.

The Stone Mountain Walk-Up Trail near the mountain is a very popular hiking route extending 3.5 kilometers and takes approximately one hour and 7 minutes to reach the summit. It is not that hard to hike, but rocks get slippery in wet seasons.

  • Admission Fee: $8 per vehicle. There are no other charges for climbing the mountain on foot.
  • Camping: Travelers can always camp within the park, with prices starting at $23 to $38 per night.
  • When to Climb the mountain: Explorable at any time of the year. Travelers may experience trouble climbing the mountain in winter because ice coats in steep areas of the trail.

5 Sawnee Mountain

Standing at 1967 ft above the sea level, Sawnee Mountain is higher than Georgia’s Stone Mountain by almost 300 ft, but Georgia’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald is almost twice taller than Sawnee. Located just a few miles north of Cumming, Sawnee is Forsyth County's highest point and is a perfect place to have fun - thanks to the many playgrounds, picnic spots, gardens, and hiking trails. Travelers of all ages can always have fun in this mind-blowing. Hiking, rock climbing, birding, trail running, and rappelling are some adventure activities visitors can enjoy here.

The Indian Seats Trail, a 5.1-kilometer route located near Cumming is considered a moderately challenging way, and it takes about 1 and ½ hours to reach the summit. This trail offers incredible views of the mountains located north of Georgia. One shouldn’t explore this mountain without witnessing sunsets from the summit – simply breathtaking.

4 Springer Mountain

Being one of the most visited hiking destinations in Georgia, Springer Mountain is a must-explore spot for adventure lovers. The mountain promises beautiful summit views from the many trailheads on the spectacular hiking and backpacking trails. The rocky slopes are fun to explore as travelers can view the bordering Blue Ridge Mountain range.

The Appalachian Trail offers an amazing hiking and climbing experience to the mountain summit. Exploring the beautiful valleys, and picturesque waterfalls, and catching some of the most incredible views of the surrounding is an experience to remember.

3 Eagle’s Rest Park

The Eagle’s Rest Park gives visitors a chance to appreciate the beauty of nature. The spectacular Oglethorpe Mountain Trail guarantees magnificent views and gives travelers an incredible opportunity of enjoying nature's serenity. Along the 1.7-mile route, there is a lot to see and do, including climbing, hiking, and trail running. The wooden viewing decks offer a one-of-a-kind Mountain View, over 3,000 ft in elevation.

2 Pine Mountain

Pine mountain is the spot in southwest Georgia to experience vegetation not growing near one another. The Pine Mountain range features picturesque waterfalls and springs, stunning vistas, and rock outcroppings. The destination is unique, and travelers won’t have to struggle to find where to relax – thanks to plenty of accommodations in the area.

The best hiking trail here is the Pine Mountain Trail, constructed by Pine Mountain Trail Association. Extending almost 40 miles, this trail is one of Georgia State Park System's jewels and guarantees an unforgettable hiking experience.

Related: Switzerland Mountain Coaster Offers The Best Alps Views

1 Bell Mountain

Located in Hiawassee near Lake Chatuge, Bell Mountain is another scenic mountain in North Georgia, involving not much of a hike, but incredible views are guaranteed. Climbing this mountain is great with the only drawback being the graffiti on the rocks, which are literally everywhere. Travelers can only notice a few spots with no paintings. There was once a tradition whereby people who explored the Bel Mountain left a mark behind. There has always been discussion on graffiti – some people believe it destroys nature's beauty while others love the ability to leave their mark behind.

The 360-degree incredible views of the mountain's viewing decks make this spot unique and fun to explore. Travelers can sit on the viewing platform and have an amazing view of Chatuge Lake. Watching birds fly over the lake is another fun experience no traveler would want to miss. Even with that, the spectacular views make this mountain worth a visit and take away the attention from the graffiti.