Martin's Mine Trail falls (Smithgall Woods)

I just remembered that I did this trail with the TrailDames last year and that there was a falls on it.  Can't seem to find my pictures, will have to redo this one too!  Also, there is another trail that has a falls - so I'll be doing that one someday too. 

Since I don't have a photo of my own, here is anice one until I can get back there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homefromthewilderness/4282640160/

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.gastateparks.org/SmithgallWoods

Amicalola Falls

3/6/2010 This is #1 on my list of falls for this year, and it's #1 on the list of the Georgia "big three" waterfalls.  At 729 ft this is reputed to be the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River (I've seen "east of the Rockies" but I'm not sure that's true)

The trail up to this is paved, and then you reach a long series of steps to a bridge that crosses the creek and then another long series of steps that goes all the way to the top of the falls.  If you drive up the park road towards the lodge, there is a parking area that also has a trail that leads to the bridge, saving the walk up the paved trail.

This falls is on Amicalola Creek

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/amicalola.html

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls

Fall Creek Falls

3/14/2010 This falls is on the Fall Creek Trail, in the Wildcat Tract of Dawson Forest...near Dawsonville, GA (http://www.mountainstewards.org/) - this site has trail maps, photos, and other information about the area.

This trail was TOUGH.  It doesn't seem like it ought to be from the trail description, because if you start at the top of the mountain you are hiking a total elevation change of something like 1400 feet, most of it downhill.  I never thought going downhill would be so bad!  The day we hiked it, it was cold, wet and sleeting on top of the mountain - but it wasn't TOO bad and we were warmly dressed, so we decided to do it anyway.

There were lots of big, blown-down trees - there had been a bad ice storm up there in the previous week.  Lots of downed branches too, but as we descended the first big downhill it got warmer, and the trail was "cleaner" and easier to hike.

There are supposed to be 4 or 5 waterfalls along this trail, but we didn't actually see most of them...and only got good pictures of the Fall Creek Falls.  This one is about halfway through the hike and falls something like 75 feet and is just beautiful.  It's a little way off the main trail, maybe 1/4 mile - something like that...but as you are hiking the trail you get a good view of about the top 2/3 of the falls just before you make a turn to go steeply downhill to the side trail.

To see the falls along this trail - starting from the top of the mountain, you hike a very short portion of the Tobacco Pouch Trail to where the Fall Creek Trail goes off to the left. Then where the Fall Creek Trail ends, you can take the Wildcat Creek Trail to the campground. This means leaving a car at both ends. This is a 5 miles hike, and it includes a creek crossing that is really more of a small river!

Or you can hike the Fall Creek Trail to the junction with the Tobacco Pouch Trail to climb back up to the top at the trailhead. I haven't done this one, but I plan to try it some day.

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/fallscreekfalls.html

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.mountainstewards.org/

Note: there are a LOT of falls in this area, and the website has photos of 30 or more, but no directions on where they are!  I finally emailed the Mountain Stewards website and asked if they could give me directions to all the falls they show, but the answer was that most of them are on private property.

Table Rock Falls

1/2/2011 Went back to Little Mulberry Park AGAIN as my researches showed me I had been at Table Rock Falls all along.  The upper, sliding falls is just SO apparent that I had missed that the falls continues down over a sheer drop further down.  So I went back and got pictures of the WHOLE falls!

According to GMAPS this falls is on an unnamed branch that flows into Lake Upper Mulberry River Eleven

12/31/2010 Went back to Little Mulberry Park to try to find Table Rock Falls, but no luck.  Will have to keep searching.  I did hike the Ravine Loop Trail and since I was down along that creek anyway, I took a picture of the shoals that is at the end of one of the trails down into the ravine.

12/24/2010 This falls is in Little Mulberry Park in Gwinett county, on the "Ravine Overlook" trail.  As far as I can tell, it doesn't have a name.  There's a very short trail from the main trail to the overlook trail, the falls are to the left.  The trail end is fenced off and you can't get as good an angle as I'd like to get a picture.  Plus, when the trees are in leaf it's probably pretty hard to see.

 

Directions and Information: can be found at http://gwinnettparklife.com/parks/little-mulberry-park/

Sparks Branch Rd falls

12/18/2010 - while driving to get from one waterfall to another today, I passed a sign on GA 17/75 north of GA 180 that said "The Falls on Riverside" - a mountain subdivision (I couldn't find a website).  So, naturally, I was intrigued and drove in to look around.  I found the entrance, which is a narrow one way road that is a BEAR to drive.  Glad I don't live there.  And, naturally, the falls is at the FAR end.  In fact, the road goes over the creek JUST as it ends at another road.  It was quite a scramble down to where I could get a photo, and I don't even know if the falls have a name or what the name of the creek is.  The road beside it is "Sparks Branch Rd" - so presumably it's on Sparks Branch. 

 

Directions and Information: from Helen, GA

• go north on GA 17/75 - over Unicoi Gap, and past GA 180 on the left
• left on Riverside Rd
• left on Sparks Branch Rd (street signs variously say Tipton Heights or Sparks Branch Rd)
• as you climb the hill, watch on left for narrow, paved road that says "One Way" - continue past this road and watch for another narrow, paved road that says "Do Not Enter" - this is the other end of the same road

Note: the branch flows under that narrow paved road, just at the end and the falls should be visible to the left from Sparks Branch Rd - deep down in the valley.  To get down to the falls, go on the narrow road over the creek, then work your way, carefully, down to base of the falls.

Raven Cliffs falls (8 falls)

10/30/2010 Did the hike to Raven Cliffs, along Dodd's Creek with the Traildames but I didn't make it all the way in.  I've actually done this hike several times over the last 20 years and it's always beautiful.  At one time there was a spot on the trail that was very narrow and overhung a falls in the creek, but that has been repaired and the trail is pretty nice.  It's not a "superhighway" trail, but it's still nice.

There are many falls and cascades on this trail, culminating in the one at the top of the valley that is in a narrow slot in the rocks...but I've never actually seen that one.  It's a long hike - at least 5 miles round trip - and the last bit is steeper and I'm always too tired to make the climb to see the last falls.  Next time I go, though, I'm going to make a real effort to see it!

I don't know how Mr. Anthony got some of the shots he did.  He either travels with a climbing crew (!) or is a lot better at scrambling up and down steep drops to the creek than I am!  Last time I went, I got a lot of pictures...but I'm not sure that these are in the right order.

 

 

 

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/ravencliftfalls.html

 

Directions and Information: from Cleveland, GA

• go north on US 129 towards Blairsville
• turn right on Alt GA 75
• turn left on GA 348, Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway
• go past turn to Dukes Creek Falls
• turn left into Raven Cliffs parking area, parking is across foot brige before the creek
• parking is free

Note: the trail is a short distance back down the road, before the bridge.  This trail is variously listed as 2.5 and 3.3 miles one way.  Near the end the trail goes more steeply uphill. 

This is a VERY popular trail and if you are looking for solitude and quiet, don't go on a weekend, especially if the weather is nice!

Talley Mill Creek falls (2 falls)

11/20/2010 - went back to Talley Mill Creek to be sure I had been at the correct place the first time.  I was.  Mr. Anthony says you have to bushwhack to the falls, and that they are right under the road.  So when I got to the storage shed at the end of the road, I did exactly that...just kept going.  Had to be careful in a few places, but I DID find the correct falls and get some good pictures.  I'm not sure why Mr. Anthony did not see the lower ones for his site.  It was perfectly visible from the old road in.

9/23/2010 - set out to find the this falls.  I found the old road down to them pretty easily, considering that I had left the directions I printed out at home!  The road is not maintained, but it's easy to see that someone still drives down it, as there were fresh tire tracks at the camping spot at the end of the road, and there is a storage shed there as well. 

Before you get to the end of the road, there is a nice falls visible in the creek, but to get a good view of it you have to bushwhack down the hill and more or less get in the creek.  But it's not too bad.  I got some nice photos and headed home, only to find - when I got home - that I had pictures of a waterfall, but not the same one as on Mr. Anthony's site!

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/talleymillcreek.html

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• go east on Rickman St
• at 5 way junction, bear right onto Warwoman Rd
• at end, turn left on GA 28
• after passing through Satola, Ga - road to falls will be on the left, but they are not marked
• it's easier to keep driving until you cross over Talley Mill Creek - which is marked by a sign
• then turn around and drive slowly back south and watch for a small area on the right that is just big enough to park in
• the old road to the creek starts here - may 1/4 mile?

Note: on the hike in, before you cross the tiny branch, look down at the creek and you will see the lower falls.  With care, you can get down to the creek and through the creekside bushes to get a good view of this falls.  For the upper falls, continue to end of road. Go past storage shed, keeping shed to your right.  From this point on, you have to bushwhack your way along the hill until you can find a point to get back down to the creek.  Go upstream until you reach the falls.

Montgomery Creek-west fork falls

9/19 & 20/2010 It took me 2 tries to find this falls on the west fork of Montgomery Creek.  The first day, being intermittently incapable of telling my left from my right, I took the wrong trail out of the parking area.  So I went back the next day...took the CORRECT trail and found it, but not after having something of an adventure in the process.

This falls is on the grounds of a US Army Ranger training camp, and just as I was about to get to the falls I found myself confronted with about 100 (NO exaggeration!) young Army rangers laid out on the trail!  I stopped short and asked the Ranger who approached me "Am I not supposed to be here?" but he said "No, it's OK" and proceeded to lead me through all of them.

As I was getting ready to take my pictures, they all stood up and left, going right past me...and I'm here to tell you, there was not an unhandsome one in the bunch!  I got my photos and left.

Mr. Anthony's directions say "Take the left fork. You should probably park here because the road becomes very narrow from this point on" and he is NOT kidding.  The road after that fork is VERY narrow and very twisting.  I know it's wide enough for a pick-up truck (though probably JUST) because there was one in the parking area on my first try, but if you choose to drive it - trust me - you will PRAY you don't meet anyone coming out the other way!

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/montgomery-creek.html

Directions and Information: from Dahlonega, GA

• north on US 19 bypass
• left on Camp Glisson Rd
• right on Camp Wahsega Rd
• at Camp Merrill - left on gravel road
• right on SSG Charles B. Cooper Rd
• ford Etowah River
• take left fork - or you can park here and hike the rest of the way
• at end of narrow road in, there is a small parking area on the left
• go past parking area and onto old road/trail
• at about .4 miles will cross small branch and trail begins to climb
• falls be heard soon after this point and are on the left

Note: Camp Wahsega Rd is blocked, at the end, alternately right & left by traffic dividers - to protect the entrance to the camp.  Just go around them and then left on the gravel road.  Remember, this falls is on the grounds of Camp Merrill and the road in is gated.  If it's closed, you will need to go back to the camp to see if they will give you permission to enter to see the falls.  At the parking area I went the wrong way the first time I tried and ended up on entirely the wrong trail.  If you end up on a narrow, eroded, steep trail - you're on the wrong one!  The correct trail is an obvious old logging road.

Desoto Falls (2 falls)

8/15/2010 These are actually three separate falls on Blood Mountain, but you can only get to 2 of them. The trail to the 3rd has been closed for years - the sign says the trail is washed out. The other two falls are labeled "upper" and "lower" but the upper one is HIGHER than the lower one! I can only presume they are "upper" and "lower" due to one being upstream of the creek in the valley, and the other being downstream.  I suggest doing the lower falls first, as it is a steep, switch-backed trail up to the viewing platform. Then do the longer, but easier hike to the upper falls viewing platform.

Supposedly at some early time (don't remember the exact period) a piece of Spanish armor was found near one of these falls - which is how they came to be named for Desoto.

 

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/desotofalls.html

Directions and Information: from Cleveland, GA

• north on US 129-past junction with US 19
• left to Desoto Falls - at sign

Note: there is a parking fee here.  Follow trail past rest room building and bear right.  Will come out on campground road.  Turn left onto road, and follow around curve to bridge across creek.  Lower falls is to the left across the bridge, upper falls to the right.

Holcomb Creek Falls & Ammons Creek Falls (3 falls)

7/10/2010 -Hiked the Holcomb Creek Trail to see the 3 falls.  The trail starts at a T-junction of 2 Forest Service roads and goes steeply downhill to Holcomb Creek Falls.  You pass the falls on a bridge across the creek on the way to Ammons Creek Falls.  From the viewing platform for Ammons Creek Falls you backtrack on the trail to a junction where the trail turns uphill.  I almost missed this junction as the day I did this there was a big tree down across the trail right at the junction.  I missed seeing it on the way in, but coming out I saw it as I was climbing over the tree.

From the junction the trail goes pretty steeply, more or less straight up, along Holcomb Creek.  From the sound of it there might actually be several other falls, but if there are you can't see them due to dense rhododendron, mountain laurel, and/or azaleas along the creek bank.  Near the top, about 1/4 mile from the road there is a short side trail to a very pretty, unnamed falls.

When you reach the road, you then have a 1/2 mile hike downhill back to the parking area at the trailhead.

 

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/holcombcreekfalls.html

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/ammonscreekfalls.html

 

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• east on Rickman St
• at 5 way junction, bear right on Warwoman Rd
• left on FS 7 (my map program says Hale Ridge Rd)
• follow to end, at T-junction with FS 86, park here
• Holcomb Creek Trail goes downhill here - there is a sign

Note: trail crosses Holcomb Creek on a bridge, at the falls, and continues to viewing platform at Ammons Creek Falls.  To see unnamed falls, backtrack towards Holcomb Creek Falls and a short way from Ammons Creek Falls there is a trail that goes uphill.  The day I was there, a large tree had come down right at this trail junction and I almost missed seeing it.  Trail is rough in a few places, so be careful.

Tiger Creek Falls (2 falls)

5/31/2010 -These falls are on the grounds of the Tiger Creek Falls Inn, on US 441 north of Tallulah Falls, GA.  The proprietor was very nice and showed me where to view the falls.  The upper falls can be seen from a deck behind the lower rooms of the inn, and the lower falls can be seen from a deck down a long flight of steps just after the start of the driveway.

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/tigercreekfalls.html

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.tigercreekfallsinn.com/

Bear Creek & Little Bear Creek Falls (3 falls)

12/11/2010 - went out to the Cochran Mills Nature Center to get pictures of their waterfalls.  I have actually been here several times, just didn't have any good photos.  There's at least one other falls on Bear Creek, but even though the site looks like there might be a natural drop there, it's all walled in as part of a broken dam for the mill...so I didn't include it.   

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.cochranmillnaturecenter.org/index.html