Georgia Waterfalls

Located in Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County, Ada-Hi Falls are the highest elevation falls in the state. Meaning “forest” in the Cherokee language, Ada-Hi Falls are surrounded by dense thickets of rhododendron and patches of wildflowers and can be viewed from an observation deck at the end of a short yet steep hike. Boasting rarely more than a trickle of water in the dry summer months, Ada-Hi Falls are at their best in the winter after heavy rains, when the water tumbles over layers of rock down a steep descent. The falls are reached by a delightful walk through a moist, north-slope Appalachian cove, which features lichen-covered stones, mature hardwoods, thickets of ferns and wildflowers, and a dense forest of rhododendrons.

Black Rock Mountain State Park: 3085 Black Rock Mountain Pkwy, Mountain City, GA 30562, Phone: 706-746-2141

Amicalola Falls is Georgia's tallest waterfall and cascades more than 720 feet through a shady forest. Meaning “tumbling waters” in the Cherokee language, Amicalola Falls is set within Amicalola Falls State Park in the Dawsonville-Dahlonega area of Georgia and boasts seven cascades, which can be viewed on from several hiking trails around the park, including the relatively easy 2.1-mile Amicalola Falls Trail. Surrounded by the magnificent Northeast Georgia Mountains, Amicalola Falls State Park also offers a variety of accommodations, from camping to hotel-style mountain-top lodges, such as Georgia's only backcountry lodge, the Len Foote Hike Inn, which is reachable by a 5-mile hike.

Amicalola Falls State Park: 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Road, Dawsonville, GA 30534, Phone: 706-265-8888

Romantic Waterfalls

Located in the Tallulah Ranger District, Ammons Creek Falls is a 100-foot waterfall that cascades through the Chattahoochee National Forest in Rabun County. The waterfall can be viewed from a wooden observation deck at the end of a 1.75-mile loop hiking trail that also provides access to the nearby 120-foot Holcomb Creek Falls. The hiking trail is easily accessed from two points, the first of which can be found at the intersection of Hale Ridge and Overflow Roads, while the second is further up Overflow Road just past a bridge. The trailhead located near the bridge offers a gentler slope and easier access to the falls for those wanting a relaxing stroll.

Tallulah Ranger District, Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia

Situated near Unicoi State Park in the Anna Ruby Falls Scenic Area, Anna Ruby Falls are twin waterfalls that are formed by the Curtis and York creeks, which join at the base of the falls to become Smith Creek, which flows into Unicoi Lake. Curtis and York creeks begin high up on Georgia's sixth-highest peak, Tray Mountain, and flow down to drop 153 feet and 50 feet, respectively. Named after Anna Ruby Nichols, Anna Ruby Falls is accessible via a half-mile paved trail known as the Anna Ruby Falls Trail, which is a National Recreation Trail and charges a small admittance fee. Anna Ruby Falls is one of four famous waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the other three of which are Dukes Creek Falls, DeSoto Falls, and Raven Cliff Falls.

Unicoi State Park: 1788 Highway 356, Helen, GA 30545, Phone: 706-878-2201

Waterfalls for Families

Located in Rabun County near Lake Rabun and Lake Seed, Bad Branch Falls is a beautiful waterfall that cascades down a slanted rock formation in a unique fashion. Bad Branch Falls can be reached by driving 6 miles down Lake Rabun Road and then another 3 miles down a curvy, winding, unpaved road. The Lower and Upper Crow Creek Falls are situated along this winding road, and these are the indicators that you are getting close to the viewpoint for Bad Branch Falls. A small creek will indicate the location of Bad Branch Falls, which can be accessed by a trail leading slightly uphill from the road.

Rabun County, Georgia

Becky Branch Falls is a 20-foot waterfall situated on the Bartram Trail, which is a designated National Scenic Trail in the Warwoman Dell Valley in Clayton. Located within the boundaries of the Chattooga River Ranger District in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Becky Branch Falls can be reached by two distinct trails, namely the 0.6-mile loop trail Becky Branch Trail and the Bartram Trail, which run under a bridge just past the first parking lot and through Warwoman Dell. The Becky Branch Trail is a dead climb to the falls, but the Bartram Trail features several switchbacks that make for a more comfortable climb. The Bartram Trail continues to Martin Creek Falls, which is also worth a visit.

Warwoman Dell Valley, Clayton County, Georgia

Waterfalls for Hikers

The second tallest waterfall in Georgia, Caledonia Cascade, also known as Cascade Falls, is a 600-foot waterfall near the town of Tallulah Falls in Rabun County. The tiered waterfall is set on a small stream that features three drops, the longest of which is 262 feet and drops majestically into Tallulah Gorge near its start. The best views of the Caledonia Cascade are from the hiking trail, which makes its way around the rim of Tallulah Gorge, which also offers breathtaking vistas of the surrounding landscapes. Formed by the Tallulah River and set within Tallulah Gorge State Park, the Tallulah Gorge is a breathtaking area of natural beauty with dense forest and woodlands teeming with fauna and flora.

Tallulah Falls, Rabun County, Georgia

Cherokee Falls is a 60-foot waterfall located in northwest Georgia’s Cloudland Canyon State Park, which was named following a contest. Home to part of Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon State Park straddles a pair of deep gorges and boasts breathtaking canyonland scenery. Set within Daniel Creek Gorge, Cherokee Falls are at their best after heavy rainfall in the area, which usually sees almost 80 inches a year. Cherokee Falls are reached via the famous Waterfalls Trail in Cloudland Canyon State Park, which descends the steep walls of Daniel Creek Gorge via stairs to the falls, which cascade in the beautiful, steep-walled canyon.

Cloudland Canyon State Park: 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd, Rising Fawn, GA 30738, Phone: 706-657-4050

Falls For Photographers

Vying with the Caledonia Cascade for being the second-tallest waterfall in Georgia, 600-foot Cochrans Falls is a spectacular cascading waterfall in Dawson County, northwest of Dawsonville. One of the most secluded waterfalls in the state, the little-known waterfall can be reached by following a jeep track from Blackhawk Road along Cochrans Creek into the Cochrans Creek Valley, and then a rugged and steep goat path to Cochran’s Falls. The most significant drop of the falls is near the top and can be reached by ascending a treacherous trail that climbs the right side of the falls, whereby extreme caution needs to be taken.

Dawsonville, Cochran Creek Valley, Dawson County, Georgia

Located along Frogtown Creek in the famous Chattahoochee National Forest, DeSoto Falls is another one of Georgia’s beautiful waterfalls and is named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who traveled through the region in the 16th century. Set within the Blairsville-Cleveland area of Georgia, DeSoto Falls can be reached by a relatively comfortable 2.2-mile DeSoto Falls Trail, which leads past a shady creek to the lower and upper cascades of the falls. Located at an elevation of 3,560 feet in the Rocky Mountains, the DeSoto Falls are made up of three sections, namely the Upper, Middle, and Lower DeSoto Falls, with the upper dropping 200 feet, the middle dropping 90 feet, and the lower dropping 35 feet into the stream bed below. DeSoto Falls is one of four famous waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the others being Anna Ruby Falls, Dukes Creek Falls, and Raven Cliff Falls.

Chattahoochee National Forest, Blairsville-Cleveland, Georgia