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!
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
GPS: falls 7 & 8 - 34°36'46"N 85°5'40"W
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.
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