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

Shadow Creek Falls

11/23/2011 - Shadow Creek Falls

These falls are in the Cohutta Wilderness.  The trail is easy, but the drive in is long for a less than one mile hike.  I'd suggest combining it with other falls in the area.  Somehow I missed posting this after I did this trip!
GPS: 34.86796° -84.52010°

According to GPMAPS this is actually on South Fork Jacks River...not sure how it came to be named Shadow Creek Falls

Directions and Information: From Blue Ridge, Ga

• north on W 1st St/Blue Ridge Dr
• west on Old GA 2
• south on GA 2
• before the Jacks River Fields campground, park where road crosses creek
• South Fork Trail goes north from this point

Pigpen Falls & Licklog Falls (in SC) (4 falls)

Pigpen Falls & Licklog Falls & small falls along trail

9/22/2012 - went back to see if I could get better photos of these falls.  It takes a special kind of nut to drive 200 miles to do a 1 mile hike!  It was hard to get a better photo of Pigpen Falls, as a small tree has become bent over right at the best spot to take a photo without having to get in the plunge pool.  I did get a better one of Licklog Falls, and I even got a small falls that is on the trail in to Pigpen Falls. 

I also took as good a shot as I could of the upper falls of Pigpen Falls.  I tried to find a way to get closer, but just couldn't manage it.  So it's hard to see in the photo, and unfortunately the angle makes it look flatter than it is, but when you are there it's clear there IS an upper falls!

According to GMAPS these falls are on Pigpen Branch

2/12/2011 - These falls are found along a trail in the Chattooga River Trail system.  This was the hike that inspired me to start searching out waterfalls, so I decided to add them.  The picture of Licklog Falls isn't as good as I could wish, the angle was from above and the camera had a lot of trouble with how bright the water was.  This is another one that will go on my redo list!
GPS: 34.92810°N 83.12504°W3

 

GPS: 34.92848°N 83.12905°W

 

 

GPS: 34.92984°N 83.13098°W

 

 Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA

• east on Warwoman Rd - to end
• right on GA hwy 28 - becomes Highlands Hwy in SC
• left on Village Creek Rd
• hard left on Nicholson Ford Rd (my map also says CH 50)
• after fording small creek - parking is on the right
• there is also parking further down the road, at the end

Note: hike more or less north on the trail, past 2nd parking area, keep an eye out for an sharp left turn...this goes down to Pigpen Falls.  Licklog Falls is further down this trail, after crossing the bridge across the creek - as the trail starts down hill.  If you park at the end of the road, the trail is straight ahead, through the parking area...don't take the trail that goes up some log steps - that goes back to the first parking area.