Waterfalls of North Georgia

Anyone who enjoys nature will fall in love with our area waterfalls.  The mountains of North Georgia offer some of the most picturesque falls in the United States. Starting in the northeast corner of the state, 7 miles north of Clayton (Rabun County) are Ada-hi Falls, in rugged Black Rock Mountain State Park. These high mountain falls have a relative low flow except after a rain, when they come to life and have the highest in elevation of all Georgia waterfalls.

Just south of Black Rock Mountain State Park, are Georgia's most famous waterfalls - Tallulah Gorge.  This area has been attracting visitors for hundreds of years. Early in the 20th Century, Georgia Power dammed up the river and the falls and tourists dried up. Now the site of our state's newest park, the falls are once again flowing. In 1998 Georgia Power agreed to two different types of releases. Whitewater releases, 500 cubic feet per second of water on Saturday and 700 cfs on Sunday, occur on the first two weekends in April and the first three weekends in November. The aesthetic flows, 200 cfs, happen each weekend in September and during the first three weeks of Oct. the releases will be on Wednesdays and Fridays. Aesthetic flows will also be Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and then the whitewater flows begin Nov. 7 and 8. During the releases the seven waterfalls in the gorge attain their former beauty.

About three miles south of the gorge is the trailhead to the Panther Creek Falls. These broad, wide falls offer excellent viewing and a challenging hike.

Throughout the Chattahoochee National Forest many smaller waterfalls make a pleasant end to a hike. Alpine Helen boasts of a number of area waterfalls. Duke's Creek Falls offer a long cascade down a near vertical wall. Gold has been taken from this creek for almost 500 years. Rediscovered in 1828, this led to America's first Gold Rush in 1829. Nearby is one of the most unique falls in the world, Raven Cliffs. Water appears to come from a crack in a rock at an unbelievable volume.

The most popular falls in Georgia is Anna Ruby Falls, and is located just north of Helen.  This majestic waterfall is a rare double fall. Other falls in the area include Horse Trough Falls, in the Mark Trail Wilderness.  The first bridge across Georgia's Chattahoochee River is located at the beginning of the short trek to the falls.

Further east and south lies DeSoto Falls, named for Hernando deSoto, the Spanish Conquistador who visited the area in 1540. This hike features two separate falls, both easily accessible. The area was raked by a number of storms in the early 1990's, making the trail to a third falls impassible. When we last checked with the Forest Service, there was no intention to reopen the trail.

Our route now makes a beeline to Georgia's Amicalola Falls. Located in Dawson County, these falls were called "tumbling waters" by the Cherokee. Tallest of all waterfalls east of the Mississippi, Amicalola is at the end of the Southern Terminus Access Trail for the Appalachian Trail, a 2,100 mile hike along a backbone of mountains that span the eastern United States.

Our path continues west to Keown Falls, another example of high-mountain falls, frequently dry, especially at the end of the summer. Rangers in the area post a courtesy sign at the beginning of the path indicating present waterflow.

Cloudland Canyon offers a challenging hike to the bottom of Sutton Gulch and two spectacular falls that over millions of years have carved Georgia's best kept secret.