- The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau says the county has 12 wine-tasting rooms and eight wineries. Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau: Wineries
Vineyard and lodge stays
Vineyard stay
Tumlin House & Vineyard
Nineteenth-century house with a small vineyard on Choice Avenue, a few blocks from downtown Dahlonega, rented for group stays and events.
A walk to the square: 0.2 km in a straight linesleeps up to 14 people
Details from Tumlin House & Vineyard: Home, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Lodge or resort
Lily Creek Lodge
Lodge with themed guest rooms, lofts and suites on Auraria Road southwest of Dahlonega, with gardens and a seasonal pool.
about 8 min by car to the square
Details from Lily Creek Lodge: Our Rooms, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Vineyard stay
Cavender Creek Vineyard & Winery lodging
Working vineyard and winery on Cavender Creek Road with three rental houses on the property and a barn used for weddings and parties.
about 13 min by car to the squarethree rentals: Winemaker's Cottage, Petit House and Shepherd's Cabin
Details from Cavender Creek Vineyard & Winery: Lodging, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Lodge or resort
The Mountain Top Lodge
Small hotel and restaurant on a hilltop off Mountain Top Lodge Road outside Dahlonega, with rooms in the main lodge, the Hillside Lodge and separate cabins.
about 14 min by car to the squareMain lodge: 9 rooms; Hillside Lodge: four suites; plus cabins
Details from The Mountain Top Lodge: Guest Rooms & Suites, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Lodge or resort
Dahlonega Resort and Vineyard
Resort on a 72-acre property off Blueberry Hill near Dahlonega with inn rooms, villa rooms, cabins and A-frames, plus a restaurant, spa and its own 'Twisted' wine label.
about 18 min by car to the square11 bed-and-breakfast-style rooms, three Villa rooms plus the Villa Suite, 8 cabin units, and A-frames
- No: dogs welcome source
Details from Dahlonega Resort and Vineyard: Lodging, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Vineyard stay
Montaluce Winery Villa Rentals
Four privately owned villas for rent at Montaluce Winery & Restaurant on Hightower Church Road northwest of Dahlonega, overlooking the winery's vineyards.
about 21 min by car to the squarefour privately-owned Tuscan style villas
Details from Montaluce Winery & Restaurant: Villa Rentals, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Lodge or resort
Forrest Hills Resort
Family-owned resort on a 140-acre wooded property west of Dahlonega, open since 1977, with cabins, hotel rooms and suites, group lodges, dining and wedding venues.
about 25 min by car to the squareCabins, hotel rooms and suites, and group lodges on a 140-acre property
Details from Forrest Hills Resort: Stay, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Lodge or resort · Dawson County
Len Foote Hike Inn
Backcountry inn in Dawson County reached only by a five-mile hiking trail from Amicalola Falls State Park, with dinner and breakfast served at set times; Springer Mountain is 4.4 miles away.
about 48 min by car to the square
- Children welcome source
- No: dogs welcome source
Details from The Hike Inn: FAQ, checked October 19, 2026. We do not take bookings or show prices.
Planning a wine weekend
The Visitors Bureau says the Arts and Wine Festival is held on the third weekend in May; the 2027 date is not posted yet. Check the weekends that book up before you pick dates.
- The Visitors Bureau says the Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival is held annually on the third weekend in May. Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau: Festivals & Annual Events
Questions
When does fall color peak near Dahlonega?
Peak color in north-central Georgia usually arrives in late October to early November. The Georgia Forestry Commission's Oct. 14, 2026 report forecast that window again. Higher elevations turn first; foothill towns like Dahlonega can still have vivid color into early November. Weekday trips help, because park parking sometimes fills to capacity on fall weekends.
Source: Georgia Forestry Commission: Leaf Watch Report, Oct. 14, 2026
Are dogs allowed on trails near Dahlonega?
In Georgia State Parks, pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet and with their owner at all times. Pets are not allowed in park buildings, lodges, yurts, swimming areas or beaches. At the Forest Service's DeSoto Falls Recreation Area, dogs must be leashed at all times as well.
Source: Georgia State Parks: Park Rules
Can I bring my dog to the Gold Museum?
Leashed pets are allowed on the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site grounds and trails, but not inside its buildings. The museum sits in the middle of the Public Square, so plan for someone to stay outside with the dog, or visit the exhibits in turns.
Source: Georgia State Parks: Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site
What are the Dahlonega Gold Museum hours and admission?
The Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site, at 1 Public Square, is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, $7 for ages 6-17 and $3.50 for children 6 and under.
Source: Georgia State Parks: Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site
Is the Gold Museum wheelchair accessible?
Partly. Historic-preservation rules prevent adding an elevator to the 1836 courthouse that houses the Dahlonega Gold Museum, so some second-floor exhibits are not wheelchair accessible. Visitors needing an accessible room or step-free access should ask lodging hosts specific questions too, since many older inns and cabins have stairs.
Source: Georgia State Parks: Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site
How tall is Amicalola Falls?
Amicalola Falls is a 729-foot waterfall, which the park calls the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, near Dawsonville, has a lodge, cabins and a restaurant. The 8.5-mile Appalachian Trail approach trail to Springer Mountain starts behind the park visitor center.
Where does the Appalachian Trail start?
The Appalachian Trail's southern end is on Springer Mountain in Fannin County, northwest of Dahlonega. Hikers reach it on an 8.5-mile approach trail from Amicalola Falls State Park, or by a 0.9-mile walk from the Forest Service Road 42 parking area. The terminus moved there from Mount Oglethorpe in 1958.
When do Appalachian Trail thru-hikers start in Georgia?
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says northbound is the most popular way to thru-hike, and the trail is most crowded from mid-February to mid-April. Most thru-hikers take five to seven months to cover more than 2,190 miles. Lodging near Amicalola Falls and Dahlonega sees hiker demand in late winter and early spring.
Can I camp at DeSoto Falls?
Yes. The Forest Service's DeSoto Falls campground, off US 129, is open all year. Reservations are required through Recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777, up to six months ahead, and cannot be made on site. There is a 14-day stay limit and two vehicles per site. Day visitors buy a day-use pass at the area.
How many wineries are in Dahlonega?
The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau says the county has 12 wine-tasting rooms and eight wineries. The Bureau also lists a Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival held on the third weekend in May. If you plan to taste at several wineries, line up a driver or a tour, since vineyards sit on rural roads.
How big is the Chattahoochee National Forest?
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest covers nearly 867,000 acres across 26 Georgia counties, with about 850 miles of recreation trails and dozens of campgrounds. It includes 79 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Much of the land north and west of Dahlonega is national forest, which is why trailheads are a short drive from town.
Source: USDA Forest Service: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organizers have the final word: Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Center