Snake Creek falls (Banning Mill) (6 falls)

6/25/2011 - went over to the other side of Atlanta to find some waterfalls at Banning Mill.  Banning Mill is an historical site that was once a busy mill area, but which is now in ruins.  The owners of the property have left the ruins intact, but have turned into an outdoors adventure area.  They have zip lines EVERYWHERE, a pool, hiking trails, horseback riding, and who knows what else!  If you'd like to know more, their website is: http://www.historicbanningmills.com/

I had found a website that said they have "lots" of small waterfalls.  I found 5, but it was SO hot that I didn't get to explore everywhere.  Will have to go back when it's cooler.  They charge $4 to use their hiking trails, which I didn't think was excessive, given how much there is to explore there. 

Check in and pay at the office, and be sure to check back in before you leave.

All the falls I got were on Snake Creek, except the last one - which is on a side creek, very close to Snake Creek, and there is a bridge over this same side creek from which you get a nice, close view of the falls.
GPS: 33°31'56"N 84°55'23"W

GPS: 33°31'55"N 84°55'22"W

GPS: 33°31'55"N 84°55'20"W
GPS: 33°31'56"N 84°55'20"W

 

GPS: 33°31'57"N 84°55'18"W

Directions and Information: from Carrollton, GA

• south on Alt US 27/GA 16
• left on Antioch Rd
• left on Banning Rd
• right on Horseshoe Rd
• office is at end of road

Note: On my map program is shows that Banning Rd. does all the way to US 27, but it doesn't - it's closed.  You have to turn on Antioch Rd. to get there.  The rail down to creek starts past outdoor theater at stairs down into the valley.  They can give you a map at the office.

FS 698-Corbin Creek Rd

6/18/2011 - took a long drive up FS 698-Corbin Creek Rd, and then down Tray Mtn Rd to Hwy 75/17.  This was mostly a ridgeline drive, so not very many creeks, let alone waterfalls.  I did hear one, right where I have a potential one marked on my map - but I couldn't see it.  Will have to go back in the fall, might get a glimpse when the leaves are off the trees.  I did get one nice sliding falls, which is actually much taller than the photo I got, but I had to get so close, and I was shooting right into the sun, that I could only get the bottom of it.  I'll have to try again, maybe later in the day, or when it's cloudy.

According to GMAPS this falls is on Kendall Branch

GPS: 34°50'46"N 83°41'23"W

Directions and Information: from Helen GA

• north on Hwy 75/17 over Unicoi Gap
• right on Corbin Creek Rd - FS 698

Note: after you turn off of Hwy 75/17 the gravel road branches immediately.  FS 698 is marked with a sign and goes sharply back to the right.

Tray Mtn Rd & Indian Grave Gap Rd (7 falls)

6/18/2011 - did a long drive across the Tray Mtn area on FS 698-Corbin Creek Rd and then down Tray Mtn Rd again.  Got a picture of the sliding falls.

Creek names (or no names) shown below are from GMAPS

4/9/2011 - drove a long, roundabout route today to find new falls.  Still using my "windows open" technique.  Drove Tray Mtn Rd, Indian Grave Gap Rd, and Hwy 180.  Tray Mtn Rd and Indian Grave Gap Rd turned out to be pretty high up on the mountain and pretty much dry for most of their length, but I did find a few roadside falls.

On Tray Mtn Rd I found one falls I could just barely see (no picture), but it counts!   Then a very short way upstream of that is a nice, sliding falls that is the same stream.  At 2.0 miles from the beginning of the road at Hwy 17/75 north of Helen, it sounds like there's quite a big falls, but the rhododendrens are so thick you can't even glimpse the water.

Mileages are from the beginning of Tray Mtn Rd, via Indian Grave Gap Rd to the end of that road.  I forgot to reset my odometer for Hwy 180, so no mileages for that road.
GPS: 34°44'37"N 83°44'2"W  2.3 mi (unnamed branch)

Indian Grave Gap Rd branches off of Tray Mtn Rd and goes through to Hwy 17/75 north of Unicoi Gap.  This is the same road you take to get to the High Shoals Scenic Area, where there are also falls.  On this road I found 2 roadside falls, and from the sound of it - at the 2nd one - the stream continues down the mountain as a long series of cascades, but you can't really see them.

Both of these are on quite small streams, and most likely will be dry in an extended period with no rain.

GPS: 34°47'56"N 83°43'7"W  7.2 mi (unnamed branch)

GPS: 34°48'14"N 83°43'14"W  7.6 mi (unnamed branch)

Once I got back to Hwy 17/75 I went north a short way and drove west on Hwy 180.  Found several falls right by the road, but again some of them might be dry during an extended period with no rain...especially #2 & #3.  Falls #1 is on private property, but is right beside the road.

GPS: 34°50'2"N 83°44'27"W (unnamed branch, flows into Soapstone Creek)

GPS: 34°50'11"N 83°46'2"W (unnamed branch)

Falls 3 is very close to, and just before, the entrance to Enota Mountain Retreat  (http://www.enota.com/), on the other side of the road.

Falls 4 can be heard from the road, but not seen.  There is a large, open area on the left and at the top (western edge) you can bushwhack a short way down to the stream and come out beside the falls.  The day I was there, there was a long, smallish log pointing towards the stream and I was able to follow this to the falls.

GPS:  34°50'15"N 83°46'7"W (Soapstone Creek)

GPS: 34°51'1"N 83°46'48"W (Soapstone Creek)

Directions and Information: from Helen, GA

• north on Hwy 17/75
• about 3/4 mi north of Alt 75 (on the left), Tray Mountain Rd is on the right
• at 6 mi, Indian Grave Gap Rd goes to the left
• shortly before you get to Hwy 17/75 there is a creek ford
• at Hwy 17/75 turn right (north)
• at Hwy 180 turn left (west)

Note: near the end of Hwy 180 at US 19/129 is Wolfstake Rd and Choestoe Falls is off this road.  At US 19/129 you can turn back south to go over Blood Mtn via Neels Gap, and you will pass Vogel State Park - where there is a falls below the lake.

High Shoals Falls & Blue Hole Falls (2 falls)

6/5/2011 - went back to the High Shoals Trail with the TrailDaimes, but I only got pictures of High Shoals Falls.  My camera batteries died and ALL of my spares were too low to power up the camera!  But I did get GPS points.  There are several other falls along that same creek, so I'll have to go back again to get them!

These falls are on High Shoals Creek

5/29/2010 -I describe this as a "roller-coaster" trip.  Driving north on GA 17/75 out of Helen, Ga you drive UP to Unicoi Gap, then DOWN the other side to the Forest Service Road, then UP that road to the top of the ridge, then you hike back DOWN to  the bottom!

I had difficulty finding this one at first.  They day I hiked it there was no sign for the Forest Service road - going north on GA 17/75.  So I turned around to go back, and there WAS a sign on the south side.  Shortly after the beginning of the gravel road, you have to ford a creek...but the ford is well designed and I was able to cross it easily in my little station wagon.  Then you drive up a winding, twisting road to park at the top of the ridge and the beginning of the High Shoals Trail.

Just after I crossed the creek ford, a small black animal ran across the road and it wasn't until after he passed that I realized it was a BEAR CUB!  First time I've ever seen such a young bear in the wild.

The trail down to the waterfalls starts out fairly steep, then levels out for a bit, then goes downhill again.  Both of the waterfalls are on short side-trails.  High Shoals Falls is first, then Blue Hole Falls.  The trail to Blue Hole Falls is steep and a bit rough.  The one to High Shoals Falls is much shorter and easier.  I found out later that there are supposed to be 5 waterfalls along this trail, but I didn't know that on the day I did it...have to go back again and try to find them.

As I was hiking out, I stopped to speak to some other hikers that were hiking in and I told them about the bear cub.  They were, literally, just saying they hadn't seen him when at THAT moment, up jumped a bear cub out of the brush and took off down the hill!  Had to be the same bear cub, how likely is it there would be 2 in the same area?  Anyway, we all left as quickly as we could manage as we did not know where his mother was!
GPS: 34°49'17"N 83°43'21"W
GPS: 34°49'20"N 83°43'19"W

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

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

Directions and Information: from Helen, GA

• north on GA 17/GA 75 - past Unicoi Gap
• at bottom of mountain, right into High Shoals Scenic area (see note below)
• parking area is on left, after sharp left turn and steep hill

Note: Mr Anthony says to turn at the sign, but the day I did this there was no sign on the northbound side of GA 17/GA 75.  If you get to GA 180 on left, you've gone too far.  Turn around and go back, there was a sign on the southbound side.