Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
The most sublime natural wonders are the waterfalls in Georgia. From towering cascades to hidden falls, they have more to offer than a photo. They are the immersive ways to experience the outdoors, where geology, biodiversity and recreation blend. So whether you’re going deep into the forest, pulling over off a scenic byway or cooling off in a hidden plunge pool, Georgia’s waterfalls are as diverse as they are gorgeous. Some falls require a serious trek, while others are a short hike from the trailhead, each offering a moment of awe.
10 Must-Visit Waterfalls In Georgia
The following are ten of the best, most scenic waterfalls in Georgia, along with everything you need to know to explore them fully and responsibly.
1. Amicalola Falls
Photo: Thomson20192 / Wikimedia Commons
Amicalola Falls is a natural wonder, spilling over ancient, exposed rock formed hundreds of millions of years ago. Unlike single-drop waterfalls, its segmented terraces create a long, stair-step descent. On the rugged cliffside, water cascades down, carving microhabitats supported by thick brush, including mosses and ferns, as well as wildflowers that bend towards the wet rock. The spray from the falls contributes to this microclimate, giving a dense, nearly rainforest-like texture to the lower trails.
Location: Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, GA
Best Time To Visit: March to May, October to November
Nearby Attractions: Appalachian Trail Approach, Burt’s Farm, Dahlonega Historic District
2. Anna Ruby Falls
Photo: ChattOconeeNF / Wikimedia Commons
Anna Ruby Falls is a beautiful confluence waterfall created at the meeting point of two creeks, Curtis Creek and York Creek, that flow down from Tray Mountain. Curtis plunges 153 feet in a slim veiled tumble, and York runs alongside in a shorter 50-foot cascade. The two separate falls send a roaring, immersive soundscape that engulfs anyone who approaches the viewing platform. Amid the paved stretch, interpretive signs explain local ecology, including two sights to see in this damp. The gorge is home to the elusive black bear and the endangered green salamander, both native to the area.
Location: Near Helen, inside Unicoi State Park
Best Time To Visit: April to June, October
Nearby Attractions: Alpine Helen, Unicoi Lake, Smithgall Woods State Park
3. Tallulah Falls, Tallulah Gorge
Photo: pseabolt / Wikimedia Commons
Tallulah Falls is a succession of six cascades plunging through a 1,000-foot-deep canyon cut into ancient metamorphic rock. Each fall, Tempesta, Hurricane, and Oceana offer a unique personality, from vertical falls to loud rapids. The gorge itself forms a natural amphitheatre of sound and wind that intensifies the roar of the water as it tumbles down. Rare plant species, such as the persistent trillium and monkey-faced orchid, hang off the ledges of the gorge’s cliffs. The allowed hikers can go down a ladder-like trail to the bottom of the gorge, where giant boulders and natural swimming holes await, but that’s for the experienced and well-prepared.
Location: Tallulah Gorge State Park, Tallulah Falls, GA
Best Time To Visit: April to May; October to early November
Nearby Attractions: Tallulah Gorge Suspension Bridge, Tallulah Point Overlook, Scenic Highway
4. Minnehaha Falls
Photo: Mikael Häggström, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons
Minnehaha Falls is famous for its wide, multi-tiered flow that spills like a white lace curtain across stairs of rock. The water widens out and drops downward, making for an unusually photogenic cascade. The short trail leading in is shaded by a canopy of hardwoods and mountain laurel, with the faint scent of damp earth and pine needles beneath your feet. Because the waterfall is situated in a quiet corner by Lake Rabun, it rarely attracts large crowds and has a peaceful, tucked-away feel. Visitors tend to linger at the base for sketching, reading or setting up a tripod.
Location: Lake Rabun area, near Clayton, GA
Best Time To Visit: April to June
Nearby Attractions: Lake Rabun, Rabun Beach Campground, Angel Falls Trail
5. Dukes Creek Falls
Photo: Joey Kyber / Wikimedia Commons
Dukes Creek Falls starts as a trickle but astonishes with a 150-foot hurtle over a jagged rock face of hemlock and rhododendron. What’s special about this site is the range of vistas presented by the switchback trail. At one curve, you catch a glimpse of the upper falls through the trees and at another, a full view of the entire cascade framed by rocky outcrops. Photographers with zoom lenses or drones (where allowed) can enjoy the panoramic views from the wooden observation decks at the end of the trail. The trail circles beside the creek, with spurs that lead to small rapids and mossy boulders for sitting or wading.
Location: Near Helen, GA, in the Chattahoochee National Forest
Best Time To Visit: March to May; September to November
Nearby Attractions: Helen’s Bavarian village, Smithgall Woods, Raven Cliff Falls Trail
6. DeSoto Falls
Photo: Lee Adlaf / Wikimedia Commons
DeSoto Falls are the two separate cascades served up in a high-elevation valley and each framed by deep forest and stone ledges. The Upper Falls is a slender, elegant vertical drop, popular with photographers for its graceful silhouette. The Lower Falls, wider and more accessible, cascades into a dark, reflective pool framed by mossy boulders and ferns. Following Frogtown Creek, this gently sloped trail is perfect for families or anyone seeking a leisurely pace.
Location: Near Cleveland, GA, in the Chattahoochee National Forest
Best Time To Visit: April to June; late October
Nearby Attractions: Vogel State Park, Brasstown Bald, Blairsville town center
7. Raven Cliff Falls
Photo: Jeff Gunn / Wikimedia Commons
Raven Cliff Falls may just be one of the more unusual waterfalls in Georgia, not for its height but for its dramatic geology. The last cascade tunnels through a crack in a giant granite clump and splits the rock in half and then cascades down a spiny slope decked with vegetation. This 5-mile round-trip trail tracks Dodd Creek, winding through shady woods studded with mushrooms and wild violets, with evidence of deer crossings here and there. Smaller waterfalls and rapids along the way provide plenty of photo opportunities and rest spots. Near the middle of the falls, the trail demands hikers scramble over roots and rocks, adding a thrill.
Location: Near Helen, GA, within the Raven Cliffs Wilderness Area
Best Time To Visit: May to October
Nearby Attractions: Dukes Creek Falls, Mount Yonah, local wineries
8. Panther Creek Falls
Photo: cascadevideoproductions / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Panther Creek Falls is a hidden gem, with a 50-foot wide cascade and a 20-foot drop at the end, cascading into a long emerald-green pool that’s perfect for swimming and lounging in the warmer months. Accessed by a challenging 7-mile round-trip trail, the waterfall is a prize after a strenuous hike along a precipitous dirt trail with unprotected drop-offs and a suspension bridge. It’s home to river otters, crayfish and a canopy of sweetgum, birch and tulip poplar trees. Campers typically hang hammocks along the banks of the creek, where fire rings speckle the flat, fawn-coloured terrain.
Location: Near Clarkesville, GA
Best Time To Visit: April to June; July to September
Nearby Attractions: Toccoa Falls, Clarkesville Historic District, Soque River
9. Hemlock Falls
Photo: Andy Coan / Wikimedia Commons
Hemlock Falls is a small but peaceful waterfall located in a secluded glen, pouring over a 15- to 20-foot plunge into a shallow, sandy-bottomed basin. The trail, which is 1 mile to the falls, runs alongside a stream bordered by rhododendron thickets and mossy banks, with various footbridges and lovely spots to rest. The base of the waterfall is a popular spot for families with young children, who can wade or play in the mild current in safety. Boulders on and around the pool make ideal picnic perches or shady reading locations.
Location: Moccasin Creek State Park, near Lake Burton
Best Time To Visit: April to October
Nearby Attractions: Lake Burton Fish Hatchery, Wildcat Creek, Moccasin Creek State Park
10. Helton Creek Falls
Photo: Jsfouche / Wikimedia Commons
At Helton Creek Falls, two main drops fall down the rock face. The first is a narrow slide and the second, a wide, thunderous tumble into a still pool shared by ferns and moss-covered rock. Just a short hike from the trailhead, the route requires descending a set of wooden stairs and crossing rustic footbridges along the way. Visitors commonly wade in the lower pool or perch on the large flat rocks that line the edge. In the spring, trillium and violets bloom at the trail’s edge, and in the fall, the whole area is awash in gold and crimson.
Location: Near Blairsville, GA
Best Time To Visit: May to September; late October
Nearby Attractions: Vogel State Park, Blood Mountain hiking trail, Blairsville Farmers Market
Waterfalls in Georgia do so much more than provide a pretty backdrop. They’re vibrant, living ecosystems and portals into some of the most stunning terrain the state has to offer. Whether you’re attracted to cascading tiers, dramatic plunges or placid pools, each waterfall on this list provides a different experience based on natural beauty. A blend of strenuous hikes and paved-over paths welcomes trekkers of all skill levels. Plan your trip with TripXL and let the waterfalls of Georgia lead you away from the crowds to the heart of the mountains.
Cover Photo: Genadi Yakovlev / Wikimedia Commons
