You’ve heard of Tallulah and Toccoa in the North Georgia mountains, and the famed High Falls in the south, near Macon. Georgia’s landscape is diverse and breathtakingly scenic, so it comes as no surprise that a plentiful list of waterfalls are nestled throughout the state. Maybe you’ve explored these lesser mentioned beauties, or perhaps not–either way, these masterpieces, along with their surrounding trails and landscape, are bound to astound.
Minnehaha Falls
While Tallulah Falls snaps up most of the attention in the area, this little slice of the park is a gem. With cascades that seemingly go on forever, Minnehaha is dramatic, and easily accessed. Rhododendron and other beautiful native plants accent the path which leads from crystal clear Rabun Lake.
Vickery Creek Falls
Bring your camera, because the old mill, covered bridge and man-made falls make for major photo inspiration. A five-mile trail meanders through the grounds of the historic Roswell Mill and is an enriching hiking experience. Another big perk is the close proximity to Atlanta—bring a picnic and make it a full day excursion of hiking, swimming and exploring. While most awesome waterfalls are in the mountains, it’s nice that there’s a little oasis near the city.
Angel Falls
One of Rabun county’s most beautiful trails, Angel Falls Trail, houses two water features, Panther falls about a half mile in, and the main event, Angel Falls. It’s a peaceful spot that’s simple to get to, so one doesn’t have to travel far to reach a true escape. Water pours off the rock at an angle, giving a slightly different visual perspective—it is completely stunning.
Blue Hole Falls
There are many amazing waterfalls surround Helen, but the High Shoals Falls Trail is special because it features two along a two and a half mile hike. High Shoals Falls is well known and is the highlight destination along the route. But little Blue Hole Falls, with its short, simple drop, spills into a vibrant blue pool, and is reminiscent of something out of a fairytale. You can try your best not to impulsively dive in.
Keown Falls
Some simple climbing is involved on this mountain hike, bringing it in as a moderate rated trail. The best time to go is during the spring when rainwater has brought Keown to its full potential—summer heat often dries out the waterfall, which can make for a disappointing end to the journey. Just do your research before you go. Hikers can walk behind the trickling water, via a small cave-like depression in the rock, which is as awesome as it sounds.
Dicks Creek Falls
With camping spots nearby and plenty of places to jump or slide into the water, Dicks Creek Falls is like one giant, gorgeous playground. Multiple streams funnel through rocks, while visitors like to just chill at the bottom of the rapids. Who needs man-made water parks?
Duke Creek Falls
In the parking lot at the Duke Creek trailhead, you’ll get to see another North Georgia natural icon, Yonah Mountain, in the distance. You should definitely take on the mountain trails on Yonah on a different day—it’s a fantastic but exerting walk. The kid-friendly trail follows a stream up to the 150 foot Duke Creek Falls. An even easier paved path leads to an observation deck with a more elevated view, making the water feature available to those navigating with wheelchairs or strollers.
Becky Branch Falls
Warwoman Dell Trail and Bartram Trail together form a short loop through the forest near Clayton. In addition to the beautiful vegetation, some historical points are along the way. Hikers will see two other falls in addition to Becky Branch, so it‘s an eventful excursion. Not as massive as other falls, the smaller, steady streams of water beautifully tumble down multiple levels of the mountain rock.
Holcomb Creek Falls
Clayton’s Holcomb Creek Trail is a fairly short loop with not one, but two waterfalls. Holcomb Creek Falls are the main attraction, but the other is a bonus, with a nice observation deck as well. On days when streams are extra full, you can feel mist coming from the bottom of the falls.
Helton Creek Falls
Great rewards await you at Helton Creek Falls, and not much effort is needed to conquer the simple trail. At the base of the falls is a small swimming hole surrounded by smooth rocks, which some like to use as slides.
Raven Cliff Falls
This one is a bit more challenging to reach, as the Raven Cliff Falls Trail has some rugged obstacles like jagged drop-offs and rocky walkways. None-the-less, the 90 foot, multi-tiered falls are worth it. Nestled into a mountain crevice, ultimately plunging into a pristine pool, Raven Cliff is connected to the Dodd Creek near Helen, which you’ll get to see a lot of along the walk. This waterfall is one of the more unique sites in Georgia—it almost seems hidden in its own little nook. Definitely Insta-worthy.
