Stekoa Creek falls

I'm pretty sure these are actually the Stekoa Falls, but since I'm not sure I'll wait until I can confirm that. I was not able to get a very good view of the falls, as the parking area I found is high above them and there is no trail down the very steep sides of the valley to them. From the sound, there might even be 3 or 4 separate falls - but again I couldn't be sure. I did take a picture of the big falls I could see, but because I was above them, it's not very good. I also got a not very good photo of some long shoals above the falls.

It's hard to tell from the photos, but in the falls shot the water is flowing from right to left, and in the shoals photo the water is flowing straight towards the camera, and then bears to the left.

 

 

Directions and Information: From Clayton, GA or Tallulah Falls, GA

• east on Rickman Airfield Rd
• where road takes sharp left turn, there is a small parking area on the right, at a "No littering" sign
• you will hear the falls - which are straight ahead, and steeply down hill

Note: there is a faint trail to the right, but it's short and got rough, so I didn't go very far along it...especially as it appeared to possibly come out above the falls. I did not see any other signs of trails, the falls are in a deep, narrow valley - so it's probably not safe to try to get down to them anyway. If there's a way to walk up the creek to them, I couldn't find it...but further down the road it might be possible to find a way.

Stairstep Falls (in TN)

11/23/2011 - I recently bought "Waterfall Hikes of North Georgia" by Jim Parham and I realized I've been driving right past a lot of waterfalls, especially in the Cohuttas! So I went back to find a few of them. Found some extra ones along Old CCC Camp Road this time.  Found this one too.

According to GMAPS this falls is on Sheeds Creek

GPS: 34.99374° -84.62834°

 

Directions and Information: from Cisco, GA

• east on W Cow Pen Rd
• changes to Old Ga 2
• changes to Cable Rd
• continue across TN state line
• watch for pull-off on the right at the falls

Silver Run Falls (in NC)

8/6/2011 - This was part of our US 64 waterfall trek in NC.  Bull Pen Rd. finally ended at NC 107 and we turned south at this point. We didn't know precisely where we were, but I had a pretty good rough idea and I knew that if we went south far enough we'd end up in either South Carolina or Georgia. As we drove we saw a sign that said Silver Run Falls - so of course we stopped to check it out.

 

This falls is on Silver Run Creek

 

There's a small parking area on the east side of the road and the trail to the falls is short and easy, maybe a couple of hundred yards. The falls has a sizable pool at the base, but I couldn't tell if it was deep enough to swim in, but it's certainly deep enough to cool off.

GPS: 35°4'1"N 83°4'1"W (parking)

GPS: 35°3'57"N 83°3'55"W

 

 

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• north on US 441 to Franklin, NC
• east on US 64
• in Highlands, NC just continue east on several road
• at end of Bull Pen Rd, south on route 107

Note: there is a small parking area here, and the trail is short and fairly easy

Whitewater Falls (in NC)

This was part of our US 64 waterfall trek in NC.  We continued on down NC 107 and saw a sign that said Whitewater Falls, so OF COURSE we checked that one out too! This one is obviously a show piece. There's a large, paved parking area and real bathrooms. There's a $2 parking fee. The sign says the trail is .5 miles - but that must be the total length, out and back, because it was a short, easy, paved trail that goes a bit uphill, but not at all difficult.

 

These are on Whitewater River

 

The trail ends at a nice view spot, and there are steps down to the base of the falls and to the Foothills Trail, but we didn't do those. A website I had checked said it's 154 steps down.

GPS: 35°1'44"N 83°0'57"W (parking)

GPS: 35°2'0"N 83°0'59"W

 

 

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• north on US 441 to Franklin, NC
• east on US 64
• in Highlands, NC just continue east on several road
• at end of Bull Pen Rd, south on route 107
• after you enter SC you'll see the sign for Whitewater Falls, which is back in NC
• follow the signs to Whitewater Falls

Note: from Whitewater Falls there are several ways to get back to Georgia. Check the maps to find the one best for where you need to get to.

Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail (3 falls)

The main part of the trail is a boardwalk, but we couldn't do the whole loop because part of it had been taken out by a big downed tree. That wasn't a real hardship though as the 2 parts of the loop are pretty close together anyway, and most of the walk was intact, it was just one short section that was uncrossable. Today the boards were very slippery due to all the rain in the last day or two, so we had to go carefully.

The first falls is about half-way around the boardwalk that goes closest to the mountain, the other two are past the end of the boardwalk and a short hike up a trail. The trail wasn't too bad overall, but there was one short section that has washed out and is at a steep angle - and was very slippery due to the rain.

The last 2 falls are very close together, and it was hard to get a good picture of the upper falls, because it is split by a big rock and was so wide it was hard to get it all in one picture. I did the best I could, but the emerging leaves do hide some of it. When you are there you can get a much "cleaner" view of it by getting a lot closer. These 2 falls are on Pocket Branch - though with all the rain we've had it was more of a creek than a branch!

According to GMAPS the creek for falls 1 is not shown, but the other 2 are on Pocket Branch

GPS: parking - 34°42'46"N 85°22'47"W
falls #1 - 34°42'37"N 85°22'41"W
falls 2 & 3 - 34°42'34"N 85°22'33"W

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

Directions and Information: from Lafayette, GA

• west on hwy 193
• left on Hog Jowl Rd
• left on Pocket Rd to parking at end

Note: there is a creek crossing that has to be forded just before the parking area, but even with all the rain we've had I crossed it with no trouble in my little station wagon. From the parking area you will see a gated forest road - which leads to the top of the falls at the head of the valley. The wildflower trail is past this and crosses the creek on a bridge and continues as a boardwalk. This is a protected area, so stay on the boardwalk until you get to the end...where steps lead down to the trail where it is OK to be off the boardwalk. The falls are upstream, a short hike

Keown Falls Trail (8 falls)

This falls can be reached by hiking up to it from the valley, or hiking down from the top of John's Mtn...or, of course, if you have at least 2 cars, you can combine them into one hike. This time we hiked up from the valley. There has been a lot of tree cutting and burning done on the steeper part of this trail - that looks like it may be pine beetle eradication, but it does give a nice view back over the valley.

The trail switchbacks up the mountain and near the top becomes rock steps, which are steep and angled badly in some places - so I had to go carefully. At the top of the steps there is a board viewing platform, but it is closed because it's in bad shape, so I didn't go all the way up. Below the platform the trail splits and part of it actually goes under Keown Falls and continues on the other side of the valley and back to the parking - making a nice loop of about 2 miles.

The creek is very nearly one long cascade down the mountain, but there were some breaks, so I counted each set between breaks as separate falls. The one numbered 7 is hard to see in the photo because the rocks are so light colored the water doesn't show up very well...but it's in the middle of the upper part of the picture. This falls is quite probably not there most of the time, and both of the falls at the head of the valley are so high up the mountain that they are very rain dependent and often are just a trickle or even dry. If you check at the parking in the valley they have a notice board that will tell you if the falls are running or not.

GMAPS does not show a name for this creek, but it flows into Johns Creek

GPS: falls 1 - 34°36'46"N 85°5'30"W
GPD: falls 2 - 34°36'43"N 85°5'33"W

10/2/2010 A hiking friend and I went to see this falls. I had been to this falls a few years ago, but had hiked up from the valley. This time we hiked down from the top of John's Mountain. It's a pleasant hike and the entire round trip, if you take the shorter but much steeper trail back to the top, is only a little over 3 miles. However, to our disappointment, the falls were bone dry. Not even damp! I found out later that in the valley parking area they keep a sign posted as to whether the falls are flowing or not, but I didn't know that on this day.

So no photos on this one. Will try again some other time - and I'll check in the valley to be sure the falls is flowing first!

GPS: falls 3 - 34°36'43"N 85°5'36"W

GPS: falls 4 - 34°36'44"N 85°5'37"W

GPS: falls 5 - 34°36'44"N 85°5'41"W

GPS: falls 6 - 34°36'46"N 85°5'38"W

The last photo is Keown Falls
GPS: falls 7 & 8 - 34°36'46"N 85°5'40"W

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

Directions and Information: from I75 near Resaca, GA

• west on Hwy 136 (at T-junction turn right to continue on hwy 136)
• left on Pocket Rd
• right at Keown Falls sign to parking at end of good gravel road

Note: check the signboard to see if the falls are running.

Denton Branch Falls (10 falls)

Denton Branch Falls is down a fairly rough dirt track, but I was able to do it in my little station wagon with a bit of care and going slowly. I parked at the end, at a well-used campsite and hiked the 1/4 mile to the falls. There is a sizable tree down just before the falls, and it's best to stay away from the root end, because there is a yellow-jacket nest there. I was able to cross over the branches end without too much difficulty and the yellow-jackets did not object. This tree has been cut up and moved aside and is no longer a problem.

GPS: 34°59'7"N 83°33'2"W
GPS: 34°59'7"N 83°33'0"W

GPS: 34°59'7"N 83°33'2"W
GPS: 34°59'8"N 83°32'57"W

GPS:
GPS:

This is Denton Branch Falls
GPS:34°59'8"N 83°32'55"W

GPS: 34°59'10"N 83°32'52"W
GPS: 34°59'10"N 83°32'50"W

GPS: 34°59'10"N 83°32'52"W
GPS: 34°59'11"N 83°32'45"W

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

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• west on US 76
• right on Persimmon Rd
• left on Tallulah River Rd/FS 70 (Mr Anthony says it's 3 miles, but it's actually 4 to FS 70)
• watch for Chapple Ln on right
• right at next road (Mr Anthony says Denton Branch Rd, my map program says Ginando Ln, but the day I was there no sign was visible)

Note: road is rough, drive carefully. There are several wide spots near the beginning if you don't want to drive down it. There is parking also at the end, at a well-used camping spot. Cross creek at this camping spot and follow trail uphill to falls. Just before you get to the falls, there was a sizeable tree down. Cross this tree through the branches, as there is a yellow jacket nest at the root end and the day I was there, some other visitors got stung. The big tree that was across the trail has been cut up and moved aisde, the trail is now clear.

Barnes Creek Falls

Barnes Creek Falls are in the Cohutta Wilderness area of NE GA. It's a long drive on some decent Forest Service gravel roads, but the falls are easy to get to as the parking area is right along the road - FS 68. There's also a nice, small picnic area at the base of the falls.
GPS: 34°49'32"N 84°34'55"W

 

 

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

Directions and Information: from Ellijay, Ga

• west on GA 52
• right on Gates Chapel Rd
• follow signs to Conasauga Lake on FS 90 (my map program says Conasauga Rd)
• falls and picnic area are on the right

Dicks Creek Falls (Chattooga River)

8/13/2011 - my sister and I went to see these falls. She hadn't seen them and I wanted to get some pictures. Had more time to check things out in the area than when I was first there. We found a falls and an old mill at the bridge where Sandy Ford Rd. makes a sharp left turn across a creek. We also found there is a small falls just above the main falls, that is visible from the trail - see blog entry for Sandy Ford falls.

Then we found a side trail, about 1/2 way down the main trail, that went pretty steeply downhill to the rocks at the base of the falls. The last little bit of the trail about about a 6 or 7 foot drop straight down, but it was easily negotiated by sliding, and coming back up was easier than you'd think because it was somewhat "stepped" and there were strong roots and small trees that could be used to pull yourself up.

If you go all the way to the river on the main trail, the only way from there to get a view of the falls is to go out on the rocks in the middle of the river.

7/2/2010 - down a long, and at times very narrow, gravel road. You park just before a creek ford and then hike about 1/3 mile towards the Chattooga River. Dicks Creek Falls drops directly into the river and it wasn't until I got there that I realized that to get the best photos of it you have to get IN the river! So I don't yet have any good pictures. Will have to go back prepared to do some wading!

The first photo is the small falls upstream of Dicks Creek Falls. It is visible from the trail just before you start down beside the main falls. The other is Dicks Creek Falls, taken from the rocks along the river.

GPS: 34°52'5"N 83°14'47"W
GPS: 34°52'6"N 83°14'45"W

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/dickscreek-chattooga.html

 

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• east on Rickman St
• at 5 way junction, bear right onto Warwoman Rd
• (if you miss Rickman St, Warwoman Rd is the next road to the right)
• right on Sandy Ford Rd (watch carefully, Sandy Ford Rd makes a sharp turn to the left a short way in
• stop at wet crossing and park (parking is limited, may have to back up and park on the road)
• follow trail downstream
• will cross Bartram Trail, but keep going past that
• trail goes downhill along falls

Note: it's difficult to get a good view of the falls from anywhere along the trail. There is a short side trail that comes out on top of the falls. And about 1/2 way down the trail there is short and fairly steep trail, that comes out on the rocks at the base of the falls. This is the best view of the falls, without actually getting in the river.

Ada-Hi Falls

Ada-Hi Falls is in Black Rock Mountain State Park above (literally) Mountain City. In the park ranger station they have a beautiful photo of the falls with a lot of water flowing over, but they told me it no longer looks like that because the creek re-routed itself. Now the falls, especially in dry times, is little more than a trickle. The hike down is steep, and near the falls is on many steps. I wouldn't suggest making the trip just to see this falls, but Rabun County is just STUFFED with waterfalls and many possibilities exist for seeing multiple falls in the same trip.

This falls is on Taylor Creek

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/Ada-Hi-falls.html

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• north on US 23/US 441 to Mountain City
• left on Erwin St at Black Rock Mountain State Park sign
• follow signs to campground
• park at campground office, before the gate
• trail is across road, at sign

Patterson Creek Falls (4 falls)

See also: the entries for Patterson Creek falls (Valley Springs Lodges) and Patterson Gap Rd falls and Kilby Mill Falls...these are all along Patterson Gap Road and when the road is in good shape (not always a given) it's a pleasant drive through the mountains

Patterson Creek Falls is just off the same road that leads to Valley Springs Lodges (see below) and there is a marked trail, but it's not in great shape. I went down as far as I felt safe doing, but came to an area I was leery of doing by myself so I stopped at that point and went back. There are many small falls and cascades on this creek, not all of them good for photos though. I got as many as I could, but was quite disappointed to see that for the last one the picture didn't turn out nearly as nice as the other ones. Don't know why. I'll have to go back and try again.

GPS: 34°58'46"N 83°26'45"W (start of trail)

Directions and Information: from Dillard, GA

• go west on Betty's Creek Rd
• turn left on Patterson Gap Road
• will go up steepish hill, just over the crest look for small eroded area on the left
• park here and follow trail down hill and to the left

Note: when I was here the trail was marked by wooden diamonds painted green & nailed to trees

High Shoals Falls (Walden Creek)

High Shoals Falls on Walden Creek is small but pretty. Following Mr. Anthony's directions, it's a little over a mile hike from the nearest road, on a Forest Service road that is blocked at the end where you start the hike. If the road hadn't been blocked I could have driven almost up to the falls...except there was a big blow down blocking the road maybe 1/4 mile in. Otherwise it was a nice, easy enough hike.

This one was a little weird though. The whole time I was hiking I heard no voices, no motors, nothing but normal forest sounds. Yet, when I got to the falls there were 2 big family size tents there..with outdoor kitchen set up, coolers sitting around, etc. I stayed a little while to rest and take pictures. And the whole time I was hiking back out, again I heard nothing but forest sounds. I have NO idea where all those people went!

One thing though, the road you hike in on continues past the turn for the falls and I'm thinking it's possible to drive in from the other end...if I can just figure out where that is, and that the campers had driven out somewhere and that's why I didn't hear anything.

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

Directions and Information: from Dahlonega, GA

• north on GA 60/US19
• left on Camp Wahsega Rd
• right on Black Mountain Rd
• left on Jack Walker Rd
• left on Carlton Gooch Rd
• at .2 mi - look for closed Forest Service road & park here

Note: trail to falls is 1.2 miles down this closed road, on the left. My memory is that you go down a longish hill, cross the creek and then turn left to go to the falls. The trail was a bit washed out and rough to start with, but not difficult. Opens up to a more or less flat area big enough for a couple of family size tents. There is a wooden swing in front of the falls.

Black Falls (2 falls)

11/12/23 - took some Traildames to see the falls on the grounds of the Ranger Camp. I found from "Waterfall Hikes of North Georgia" by Jim Parham that there is another falls below Black Falls, on the Etowah River. The directions are the same, but you have to follow the river downstream, along an old road, and when you get near the bottom of the hill - look back upstream and you'll see a long cascade through the trees. It was difficult to get a good picture, but the cascade starts near the top of the photo, where it's very bright and runs more or less straight down the photo.

This falls is on the grounds of the Camp Frank D Merrill Ranger training camp and is behind a locked gate. This area is also a rappelling training area and I suppose that's why it's kept locked - to keep idiots from falling off the cliff. Certainly the road to the other falls (West fork of Montgomery Creek) on this same property has always been open when I've been by there, but there's no cliff there.

At the bottom of the photo you can see a narrow footbridge with a rope strung across the creek as a hand-hold. I didn't try to cross, as my balance on narrow bridges is not good, but on Mr Anthony's site the photos are from the other side of the creek.

 

These falls are on the Etowah River

 

GPS: 34.62315°N 84.10575°W

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

Directions and Information: from Dahlonega, Ga

• north on US 19 bypass
• right on Camp Wahsega Rd
• at Camp Merrill - stop at kiosk at camp gate for directions
• falls are at SSG R Portello Rd
• go past road & gate to small parking area
• go back to locked gate - you can get around it on the left side
• falls are at the bottom of the road and to the right

Note: because the gate to this falls is kept locked, stop at the Camp Merrill gate for directions. You have to park at the top of the road and walk down.

PLEASE STAY OFF THE RAPPELING CLIFF & other equipment!

Potato Creek Falls

12/23/2012 - took a long drive down to west of Thomaston to find this falls that I saw mentioned on a kayaking paddlers page.  Not really a big falls.  Just a small one at the top of the complex, but this is on the Fall Line - same as High Falls.  High Falls is awe enspiring because it's a steeper fall and a greater volume of water, but I found this one awe inspiring in it's own way.  It's hard to tell from the photos, but the three after the small waterfall that is at the tops, are just a thin sheen of water over an immense expanse of rock.  The pictures don't really do it justice!

The GPS point was taken from above the deck that is visible in the lower right corner of the first photo.

GPS: 32.87739°N 84.37582°W

Directions and information: from Thomaston, GA
west on GA Hwy 36
about 3.25 mi. fr. Thomaston
stop on west side of first big bridge,

Note: you can't actually see the falls from the bridge, just the brink where the water goes over.  The best view is down a private driveway, just past where the drive turns away from the creek.  I suggest parking up by the bridge, and walk down the drive to see the falls.  I did see a deck down close to the creek, but couldn't see steps or a pathway to it, so I didn't try.  I didn't see any "Posted" signs, but please be respectful and remember that this IS private land. 

Cloudland Canyon falls (13 falls)

9/29/2012 - spent the weekend at Cloudland Canyon.  Wanted to do the hike from the bottom of the canyon back up towards the top.  The parking area was easy to find, the Visitor Center has very good instructions on how to get there.  As I hiked up the trail I realized I was walking along a DRY watercourse and I thought "Oh NO!  Don't tell me I've come here and there's no water in the creek!" - but I had to keep reminding myself that I could clearly hear water going over the big falls at the top of the canyon, when I walked along the rim trail!

And sure enough, I got past the dry course and found the creek coming out of the canyon.  There weren't any big falls for as far as I got, but there were several smaller ones.  There are some HUGE rocks in the creek, reminded me of parts of the Upper Tallulah River, which also has some huge rocks in the water.

The trail "rollercoasters" it's way up the canyon.  It starts with a long, easy, flat hike...then there's a fairly long uphill, then a shorter downhill, then another like set and then another.  I didn't get as far up as I'd hoped I would.  When I faced a 4th rollercoaster hill I had to give up and go back to the van.

12/5/2010 I've been wanting to do these for a long time, but since I had been to 2 falls in the same area this year (Glen Falls and Keown Falls) that were dry, I waited until we had a good rain...then I called the park office to be SURE the water was flowing!  Then my sister and I drove up to see them.

This is a tough hike if you're not in good shape.  It's not all that long, but it's something like 600 steps down - and, of course, 600 back up.  I'm not in the best shape myself, but taking it slow and easy, we did the whole trail to the falls and back in 2 hours - not too bad.  There are lots of benches where you can rest if you need to.  Falls #1 & #2 are on side trails as you go down.  The others are along the creek above & below the bridge that crosses the creek.  The one I've labeled #4 is actually under the bridge, so the best place to see it is from the platform lower down after you cross the bridge.

This park has 2 showpiece falls (pictures #1 & #2) but there are several others that are much smaller, but still pretty, and maybe even more than we saw that day - but we just didn't have time to do the other trail at the bottom of the valley that went further down the creek.  Some other day maybe.  Mr. Anthony only has the 2 showpiece falls on his site.

The last photo is not of a falls that can be seen in the valley.  It's visible from an overlook near the parking area and cascades down the wall of the gorge.

These falls are all on Sutton Gulch Creek

NOTE: the park had a contest to name to 2 biggest falls and they are now:
Cherokee Falls for #1
Hemlock Falls for #2 (kind of a shame they chose this one, that makes 4 falls in GA named Hemlock Falls!)

 

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/cloudlandfalls1.html

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/cloudlandfalls2.html

 

Cloudland Canyon - lower creek:

(because of the location of some of these falls, and the weather conditions (in and out of clouds) it was hard to get good, clear pictures of some of these falls)

GPS:34.84932°N 85.47819°W
GPS: 34.84843°N 85.47807°W
 

 

GPS: 34.84607°N 85.47787°W

GPS: 34.84485°N 85.47888°W

 

GPS: 34.84459°N 85.47886°W

GPS: 34.84401°N 85.47872°W

 

GPS: 34.84221°N 85.47847°W

  



Directions and information: can be found at the Cloudland Canyon website: http://www.gastateparks.org/CloudlandCanyon