Best Waterfalls in Georgia – Tallulah Gorge State Park

Georgia may not be the first state you think of when it comes to waterfalls, but the North Georgia forests are full of them. With the southern end of the Appalachian mountains calling Georgia home, it is not only full of great hiking and nature walks but some pretty stunning scenery too. One of my favorite state parks in Georgia that I just discovered is Tallulah Gorge State Park.

Located 90 minutes north of Atlanta, Tallulah Gorge State Park is home to one of the deepest Gorge on the eastern seaboard, several beautiful waterfalls and some unbelievable fall colors. I visited on a rainy fall day and walked the loop trail to see the viewpoints over the gorge.

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This park is home to one of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks, or they can obtain a permit to hike to the gorge floor (100 per day, not available during water releases or during COVID 19).

Walking along the North Rim trail one will follow along a nicely maintained pathway made of recycled tires that takes you to several overlooks. From the overlooks you will see waterfalls rushing into the aqua blue waters of the gorge.

For those that can handle stairs and a lot of them you can continue down the rim trail towards the South rim trail which will take you to one of my favorite features, the suspension bridge. Which sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and waterfalls.

Tightrope walkers have twice crossed the gorge, and visitors can still see towers used by Karl Wallenda. Passing over the suspension bridge you can continue down the stairs to Hurricane Falls, which is also the entrance point for those lucky enough to score a gorge floor permit. After visiting hurricane falls, wander back up the stairs to the other side of the gorge to continue to viewpoints 8, 9 and 10 before looping back over the dam and returning to the visitors center on the paved footpath. 

For those looking for more adventure grab your mountain bikes and head out on the challenging 10 mile cycle on the Stoneplace Trail. Stop at the visitors center to grab a free permit to ride it. During deer hunting season (September 11–January 1) Stoneplace Trail permits will not be issued until after 10 a.m. and hikers/bikers are encouraged to wear reflective orange.

Tallulah Gorge State Park Information 

Hours: 8- 5pm 

Entrance Fee: $5 per car

Tips: Get there early to get a parking spot and avoid crowds.

Reservations, Accommodations & Facilities

• 2,739 Acres
• 63 Acre Lake
• 50 Tent, Trailer & RV Campsites
• 1 Pioneer Campground (Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)
• 3 Backcountry Adirondack Shelters
• 1 Picnic Shelter (Before making reservations, call park for capacity limits.)
• Visitor Center
• Sand Beach
• Suspension Bridge
• Gift Shop
• 2 Playgrounds

Gorge Floor Permit Information:

›Gorge Floor Permits limited to 100 per day and have not been available as of December 2020 due to COVID 19. Check the park website for details. 

For more Georgia Waterfalls you won’t want to miss Amicalola State Park to see the tallest waterfall in Georgia and the start of the Appalachian Trail. 

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