You don't have to drive to the North Georgia mountains to see beautiful fall color. Some of the best leaf watching in the state is less than an hour from Columbus, and peak season here usually arrives in early November, weeks after the mountains. Pack a lunch, grab the family and try one of these three day trips.

**When to go**

West Georgia's fall color typically peaks in **early November**, later than the mountains, which peak in mid-to-late October. Georgia State Parks posts weekly color updates at **gastateparks.org/LeafWatch**, so check it before you head out.

**1. F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain** 🚗 About 40 minutes north of Columbus

Georgia's largest state park, at more than 9,000 acres, covers Pine Mountain with hardwood forests that blaze red, orange and gold in the fall. Georgia State Parks says the park "often peaks during early November."

• *Don't miss:**
• **Dowdell Knob:** President Franklin D. Roosevelt's favorite picnic spot, an overlook at 1,395 feet with sweeping views of the valley. You can drive right up to it, and there's a statue of FDR at his picnic spot.
• **The Pine Mountain Trail:** 23 miles of trail through hardwood and pine forest. For a shorter hike, try the **4.3-mile Dowdell Knob Loop**, or the popular **6.7-mile Wolf Den Loop**, a favorite for fall color.

**Cost:** $10 parking per vehicle (or a $70 Georgia State Parks annual pass, half price for Georgia seniors 62+ and 25% off for veterans and active military).

**Make a day of it:** Nearby Warm Springs is home to Roosevelt's Little White House and a small downtown with shops and restaurants.

**2. Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain** 🚗 About 45 minutes north of Columbus

If you'd rather stroll than hike, Callaway Gardens offers miles of paved paths and roads through woodlands, around lakes and past flower gardens, all ablaze with fall color. Bike the paved trail, drive the scenic roads, or walk the lakeside paths.

• *Cost:** Regular-season admission is about $25 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children (kids under 3 are free). Check callawaygardens.com for current prices and online deals.
• *Hours:** Attractions are generally open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

**Make a day of it:** Pair Callaway with FDR State Park. They're only minutes apart, so you can spend the morning hiking and the afternoon strolling the gardens.

**3. Providence Canyon State Park, Lumpkin** 🚗 About an hour south of Columbus

Known as **"Georgia's Little Grand Canyon,"** Providence Canyon is one of the most unusual sights in the state: gullies up to 150 feet deep in shades of pink, orange, red and purple. In the fall, the colorful canyon walls and the changing trees together make for spectacular photos.

• *Hiking:**
• **Canyon Loop Trail (2.5 miles):** easy to moderate, about 2 hours. It takes you along the rim and down into nine of the canyons.
• **Backcountry Trail (7 miles):** rugged and difficult. Plan on at least 6 hours.

• *Tips:** Wear water-resistant shoes. The canyon floors often have a thin layer of water and mud. Stay behind the fences and off the fragile canyon edges.
• *Hours:** 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in fall and winter. Visitor center 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• *Cost:** $10 parking per vehicle (or the annual pass).

**Make a weekend of it:** Georgia State Parks suggests renting a cabin at nearby **Florence Marina State Park** on Lake Walter F. George and hiking the canyon for "the best leaf watching."

**Closer to home**

Short on time? The **Chattahoochee RiverWalk** offers miles of free trail right here in Columbus, with fall color along the river.

**Share your photos!** Took a great fall picture? Email it to [email protected] with your name and where you took it, and we may feature it in a reader photo gallery.