My favorite type of hikes are ones that lead to waterfalls which is why I have wanted to go hiking to waterfalls in Georgia for some time now. This part of the country is loaded with waterfalls. Even though we spent 3 days hiking here, we barely scratched the surface on available waterfall hikes. Combine this with wineries and the charming Bavarian town of Helen, and I could have not asked for a better long weekend trip.
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Free Northern Georgia Itinerary
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Where We Stayed
After picking the trails we wanted to hike, I looked for a centrally located town for us to stay in. In the center of it all was a small town by the name of Helen. What a gold mine I found! This super cute Bavarian town is straight out of a fairytale. There were several hotel options in town that are walkable to the shops and restaurants on Main Street such as Country Inn and Suites by Radisson and Best Western Plus Riverpark Inn. We opted to stay at an Airbnb cabin in the woods just outside of town.
When to Go
When hiking to waterfalls in Georgia, you can visit any time of the year. We visited in the fall when the weather was cool, and the fall foliage was in full effect. The winters are chilly with occasional light snow with average highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Spring offers cool temperatures with blooming wildflowers and leaves popping back onto the trees. Summers are warm, sunny, and humid with average highs in the 80s. The summer warmth allows for various water activities such as tubing, kayaking, and rafting.
What are the Fees
Many of the trails in this itinerary are in state parks or national forests and require admission or parking fees. However, if you own an America the Beautiful park pass, which allows you into all national recreation areas for a year, you will not be required to pay the fees for any trail inside the Chattahoochee National Forest. Also, if you have a 4th grader in your household, you can get a family pass to the national parks that is good for a year. Find out more about that benefit here. I had purchased an America the Beautiful Pass earlier this year, and it saved us $20 on this trip.
Georgia also offers an annual state park pass for $50 and discounted rates for seniors, active military, and veterans. If you do not have a state park pass or national park pass, here is a list of the fees you can expect while hiking to waterfalls in Georgia:
- Ada-Hi Falls – $5/vehicle
- Amicalola Falls – $5/vehicle
- DeSoto Falls – $4/vehicle (or free with America the Beautiful Pass)
- Duke’s Creek Falls – $4/vehicle (or free with America the Beautiful Pass)
- Tallulah Gorge State Park – $5/vehicle
- Anna Ruby Falls – $3/person for ages 16 and up (or free with America the Beautiful Pass)
How to Get Here
Helen, Georgia is located approximately 2 hours north of the Atlanta airport. If you are flying here and renting a car, Atlanta is your best airport option. We arrived the night before our first full day of hiking to waterfalls in Georgia.
A Few Tips Before Hiking to Waterfalls in Georgia
- Print out directions before hiking to waterfalls in Georgia. Cell service is sparse, and you will have to rely on printed maps and directions for some of the hikes.
- Most of the businesses in Helen are closed on Wednesdays. It was unclear why. It may just have been an off-season issue, but it was a ghost town when we drove through just before 8:00 pm on a Wednesday.
- Masks are generally not required and not worn in Northern Georgia. Social distancing is also not enforced.
Day 1 Hiking to Waterfalls in Georgia
Minnehaha Falls
The Minnehaha Falls Trail is a short, easy 0.4-mile trek near Lake Rabun through Georgia woods to a towering waterfall. Even in the fall, the water was rushing down the falls and along the creek. Watch your step as to not be swept away. The water, like most of the Georgia waterfalls, cascades down rock plates from the hill above. The parking area for this waterfall is only large enough for a few cars, so be sure to get here early.
Angel Falls
Angel Falls is an easy, 1.75-mile hike near Minnehaha Falls that features two waterfalls. The first is Panther Falls, which is just upriver from a footbridge. After you cross the footbridge, the trail veers right along the creek and ends at Angel Falls. On this trail, you will cross creeks at 2 locations. Be careful not to slip into the water, or you will be hiking with wet shoes and sloshy socks. And yes, I do know this from personal experience.
Ada-Hi Falls
Ada-Hi Falls is a short, but steep trail located in Black Rock Mountain State Park near Clayton, Georgia. The hike was only 0.4 miles but packed a punch with its nearly vertical stairs. Be prepared to get your heart racing with this walk. This was the least impressive waterfall of the trip, but I would still recommend it based on its proximity to Clayton, Georgia. We stopped here for lunch at Fortify Kitchen and had the best fried chicken of my life. We spent a little time shopping around the boutiques in downtown Clayton.
Stonewall Creek Vineyards
On our way back to Helen, we stopped at Stonewall Creek Vineyards in Tiger, Georgia. We enjoyed a flight of wines and homemade wine brownies on the outdoor patio that overlooked the vineyard.
Evening in Helen
After making it back to Helen, we stopped at Hofer’s bakery for German pretzels, danish, and strudel. We ate dinner at Brickhouse Burgers, Pizza & Pasta and had a drink at Two Tire Tavern before heading back to our cabin in the woods for the night.
Day 2 Hiking to Waterfalls in Georgia
Amicalola Falls State Park
Day 2 started with another long drive to Amicalola Falls State Park, home to Georgia’s tallest waterfall. To see the falls, we drove to the parking lot located about halfway up the falls and walked a short 0.3 miles to a bridge that crosses the waterfall. We, then, drove to the top of the falls for magnificent views from atop the mountain. Next, we drove to the Reflection Pool where the base of the Amicalola Falls empties. We opted to drive to the scenic views. However, you can hike the Amicalola Falls Loop Trail, 2.1 miles, which begins under a stone arch commemorating the Appalachian Trail.
DeSoto Falls
DeSoto Falls Trail is a 2.2-mile hike located in the Chattahoochee National Forest and features two beautiful waterfalls: Upper and Lower DeSoto Falls. From the parking area, the trail is a little tricky to find, especially in the fall when the entire ground is covered in fallen leaves. Follow the path to the picnic area and turn right. When you get to the road, turn left and walk along the road until you see a footbridge. Cross the bridge, and then the trail splits. Turn right for the Upper Falls and left for the Lower Falls. But make sure you hike to both waterfalls as they are both gorgeous and different from each other.
Before starting the Duke’s Creek Falls trail, we stopped in Helen for lunch at Paul’s Margarita Deck located on the Chattahoochee River.
Duke’s Creek Falls
Until this point of the trip, Duke’s Creek Falls was the most crowded of all the hikes. I had to circle the parking lot twice before finding an available spot. After getting the car parked, we walked the 2-mile trail to multiple waterfalls located along Duke’s Creek. The trail ends at a couple of viewing platforms where two of the waterfalls can be seen.
Evening in Helen
After our 4.5 miles of hiking, we rewarded ourselves with a trip to Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen for delicious chocolate treats and yummy peanut brittle. Next, we tried a flight of wine at Helen Wine Company, which was my least favorite winery we visited. For dinner, we ate traditional German cuisine at the Old Bavarian Inn and ended the night with a drink at King Ludwig Biergarten.
Day 3 Hiking to Waterfalls in Georgia
Tallulah Gorge State Park
While in Tallulah Gorge State Park, hike the Hurricane Falls Loop Trail for the best of the north rim, south rim, and down to the viewing platform of Hurricane Falls. The loop is 2.2 miles and mostly easy. The only strenuous part of the hike is from the viewing platform up to the south rim which consists of 561 steps. You will cross a bouncy, but sturdy suspension bridge on the Hurricane Falls Loop Trail. So if this does not appeal to you, you can access the viewing platform from the South Rim side without having to cross the bridge.
Anna Ruby Falls
The crowds at Anna Ruby Falls made Duke’s Creek look empty, but it was easy to see why these falls were so popular. Heavy waterfalls from two locations, side by side, empty into one creek at the viewing platform. The hike is 0.8 miles total and is quite steep the entire walk to the waterfalls. While this trail is stroller friendly, people were struggling pushing strollers because of the extreme incline.
Afternoon and Evening in Helen
We spent the rest of the day eating, drinking, and shopping in and around Helen. After finishing the Anna Ruby hike, we ate lunch at Cowboys & Angels. We then walked around Main Street souvenir shopping. I was disappointed in how touristy the shops were. The only souvenirs I ended up going home with was chocolate. After shopping, we headed to Habersham Winery, just south of downtown Helen, for wine tasting. Then, we continued tasting wine at their sister winery, Creekstone Winery. From here, we headed back to downtown Helen for drinks and snacks at The Troll Tavern, located on the Chattahoochee River.
Other Notable Hikes:
If you are staying longer or prefer to hike more miles per day than we did, here are some other notable hikes you should consider during your time hiking in Northern Georgia. Also, a great resource for trail information is atlantatrails.com.
- Hemlock Falls (1.9 miles)
- Raven Cliff Falls (5.8 miles)
- Bartrum Trail to Rabun Bald (3 miles)
- High Shoals Falls (2.9 miles)
- Brasstown Bald Peak (1.4 miles)
- Cloudland Canyon State Park – This park is a little too far from the other hikes for a day trip. However, there are several hikes at this park and would be worth spending a couple days in this area.
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