Van photos

Indian Creek Falls *

6/6/15 - went back to Deep Creek Campground, near Bryson City, NC to hike it to see Indian Creek Falls.  When I was there previously I was still having trouble with my knees and couldn't hike that far...but this time it was easy and pleasant.

GPS: 35.472738, -83.427374

Directions and Information: from Deep Creek Campground, Great Smokey Mountains National Park

• drive or hike to the trailhead at the turnaround
• follow the Deep Creek Trail (obviously an old road) with the creek to your right
• just before the small bridge across Indian Creek, follow the Indian Creek Trail to the right
• watch for a small sign for the falls
• follow the narrow, switchbacked trail to the foot of the falls

Soque River falls

5/25/2015 - took advantage of the day off to find a falls I knew about but had not seen.  I did go out before to check it out, but you can't see it from the road.  This falls is on posted private property, but my sister and I got lucky and as we drove by the caretaker's husband was there and took us down to the base of the falls.

This falls is near Demorest.

Directions and Information: near Demorest, GA...on posted private property

Williams Mill Greenspace

5/22/2015 - had off half a day today, so I took a nice, short trip to the Williams Mill Greenspace in Hall County.  My sister had discovered there is a sizable waterfall there, so I had to see it!  She sure wasn't kidding.  I would think if there's a drought that this creek might go dry, but right now there is a good amount of water coming down over this huge rock face.

I found the best place to see the entire falls is right behind the caretakers house.  The back of the house overlooks the falls.  But you can keep going and get much closer than I did today.

GPS: 34.12934 -83.90525

Directions and Information: from I985 

• Exit 8 - Friendship Road, GA 347
• south on Friendship road to light at Hog Mountain Rd
• north (left) on Hog Mountain Rd
• south (right) on Blackjack Rd
• park is on the right
• follow the paved trail down to just past the house, right at .2 miles...falls is to the left

Rice Creek falls at Victoria Bryant State Park

4/10/2015 - spend the weekend at Victoria Bryant State Park with a group from Trail Dames.  Nice, easy weekend...beautiful weather.  Took a couple of short hikes and the first was to the falls to get a video.

9/8/2012 - went to the TrailDames hike leader retreat this weekend and during a short hike up Rice Creek we came to this waterfall.  Thank goodness I had my camera with me!
GPS: 34.29676° -83.15998°

http://www.gastateparks.org/VictoriaBryant

Directions and Information: from I85 North to Victoria Bryant State Park

• at Exit 160 - turn south onto Hwy 51
• at T junction with Hwy 145 - turn right
• at T junction with US 29/Hwy 8 - turn left
• park entrance is to the left
• falls is in Rice Creek - behind and below the nature center

FS 80 falls

3/28/2015 - on my way home from Long Creek Falls I went past this one too, so I stopped and got a video

4/10/2011 - After seeing the falls on Ward Creek, I went back to FS 80/Coopers Gap Rd to go home.  I saw several small branch falls that are probably dry when there's low rainfall, but there was also one that was bigger - so I included it in my count.  It doesn't look very big in the picture, but it goes quite a way up the mountain.

GPS: 34°38'49"N 84°5'21"W

Directions and Information: from Dahlonega, GA
north on US 19 bypass

• left on Camp Wahsega Rd
• at Camp Merrill - right on gravel road (FS 80/Coopers Gap Rd)
• falls is about 2 mi on the left

Long Creek Falls (6 falls)

3/28/2015 - went back to these falls with another member of Off the Grid.  This time I remembered my tripod...but I'm still not really happy with the videos.  I didn't even try to get one of them, because it's down a steep bank and I wasn't sure I could get back up.  And somehow or other I totally missed one!  Plus I couldn't really get a good one of Long Creek Falls itself because there were so many people there.  Have to try again, maybe on a weekday when there won't be so many people around.

3/22/2014 - took a small Meetup group to see these falls, and took off and forgot my tripod!  So I couldn't really get good videos.  Will have to go back.  I was able to hold the camera steady against a tree for Long Creek Falls, so at least i got that one.

2/23/2012 - took some TrailDames to see Long Creek Falls.  Got pictures of some of the other falls too.  FINALLY getting around to getting the photos updated!

Heck...on posting the new photos, it looks like I missed a couple that last time I was there.  Looks like I'll have to go back yet again and pay more attention.

5/28/2011 - went back to Long Creek Falls so my sister could see the falls, and to get pictures and GPS points.  Also got some pictures of other falls downstream of Long Creek Falls.  From the sound of it, there might be as many as 5 or 6 other falls, but you can't see some of them...and the ones you can see are pretty distant from the trail   Sometimes all you can see is just a glimpse of the moving water.  I got the best pictures I could of the ones that you can see, but of course the view is much better when you are there!

There is at least one other falls that has a side trail to it, but I had been down to it before and couldn't get a good shot, and this time I thought I could get the same falls from further down.  That turned out to be wrong and I didn't have time to climb back up and get what I could, so I'll have to go back again one day and get it!

The falls #2 is actually the bottom of a 3 part falls, but the bottom was the only part that would really photograph even close to well.

9/18/2010 This falls is just off the Appalachian Trail a few miles from the start at Springer Mountain, but there is a Forest Service road that is closer and the hike from there - at the Three Forks area - is about a mile.  Being a mountain trail it's on the steep side, but not too difficult. 

From the parking at this point, Mr. Anthony says "Follow the Appalachian trail 1 mile north to a short side trail to Long Creek Falls" but if you aren't good at directions, like me, it's not as clear as it could be!  You cross the road away from the bridge over the creek and start uphill there.  There's a sign that mentions the falls, but you don't see it until you're away from the road.  When you get near the falls, there's a sign for them.

I found another website that mentions several other falls on the way up and I did see the side trails they mentioned, and even tried one...but they are steep and not maintained and since I was alone, I didn't push my luck on them.  I want to try them again when I have some company.

GPS: 34°40'2"N 84°10'39"W
GPS: 34°40'1"N 84°10'35"W
GPS: 34°40'1"N 84°10'33"W
GPS: 34°40'1"N 84°10'27"W
GPS: 34°40'2"N 84°10'23"W

These 2 photos are both Long Creek Falls.  The first makes it look like the 2 sections are closer to each other than they are, so I included the 2nd just to show a better overall view.
GPS: 34°40'3"N 84°10'14"W

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

Directions and Information: from East Ellijay, GA

• go east on GA 52
• turn left on Roy Rd (drive carefully, there is a sharp curve on this road)
• turn right on Doublehead Gap Rd
• turn right on Noontootla Rd (this is after Doublehead Gap Rd paving ends) - this is FS 58
• Watch for sign indicating Appalachian Trail crosses road - this is the Three Forks area
• park and go down old logging road on opposite side of road from bridge across creek, there is a sign at the start that mention the falls - falls is marked by a sign about 1 mi up trail

Note: if you watch carefully as you hike, you'll see signs of several side trails down to creek.  At least 2 of these lead to falls

Hwy 193 falls (2 falls)

3/21/2015 - the first time I saw these falls I had a suspicion that the small one might not flow all the time.  Today, on my way home from Glen Falls I came by this spot...and it turns out I was right.  There was only a trickle of water on the bigger falls, even though we've had quite a bit of rain lately...and the small falls was dry.  So I'll leave the picture up, but I took it out of my count.

I'll also leave up the photos of the falls with more water, to show how pretty they can be when there is plenty of rain.

3/27/2011 - went on a hike with the TrailDames to the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail in the Crockford-Pigeon Mtn WMA.  On they way we drove around a curve on Hwy 193 and there were two really pretty falls right there by the road.  After the wildflower trail we drove to John's Mtn and hiked up the Keown Falls Trail.

GMAPS does not show either of these branches

Hwy 193

These falls are quite close to the road, at the point of a fairly sharp curve, but it's obvious a lot of people must stop here because closest to the falls there is a sizable parking area.  There was actually a 3rd falls there today, but it was obvious it's a run-off falls and won't be there when the excess water from the recent rains has drained off.
GPS: 34°44'31"N 85°20'13"W

Directions and Information: from Lafayette, GA

• west on Hwy 193
• falls is at a sharp curve

Glen Falls

3/21/2015 - when I went to Lula Lakes a couple of weeks ago someone told me this falls was FINALLY flowing!  So I had to go see.  There wasn't a lot of water, and some I met said it had been more a couple of weeks ago...but at least there WAS water this time.  I also found that there a couple of slightly smaller falls below the main falls.  The main falls flows through a narrow crack in the rocks and there really isn't a good view of it from the trail..but just past the bridge, and a bit uphill there a set of rock steps that go up above the pool and probably give a much better view...but I was not up to doing that climb with no one else around, since my balance isn't very good.  So I did the best I could from the trail!

Because there is a clear separation between the 2 falls below Glen Falls, I counted them as 2 separate falls.

Mr. Anthony's website says this falls is in Walker County Ga, just barely over the border...but the GPS put's it well on the TN side.  And the Google maps does not show any water just over the border, but does show an unnamed creek just where the GPS puts the falls.

9/4/2010 - I had planned to do 3 falls up in the far NE corner of GA, but only had time to do 2 of them - this one and Lula Lakes Falls

Glen Falls is so near the GA/TN border that you actually get to it by going through Chattanooga to Lookout Mountain and then hike in to the falls.  There's no sign to tell you you've crossed into GA but the GPS location shows that you have.

The day I went there was not actually any water flowing.  It had been very dry and waterfalls that are high up on a mountain are very dependent on recent rain.  It's a pleasant enough hike, not too long - though there were several blow-downs to negotiate.  Even if there's no water, the rock formations are quite interesting enough to be worth the hike if you are in the area.

Until I get get back to get a picture with water, here's what it looks like with NO water!

Because I have not ever seen this with water flowing over, I'm including it here, but not counting it as a waterfall I've seen.
GPS:
Parking: 34.99217°N 85.34083°W
Lower Falls: 34.98774°N 85.34211°W
Glen Falls: 34.98744°N 85.34253°W

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

Directions and Information: from Dalton, Ga

• north on I-75 to Chattanooga
• wets on I-24
• south on exit 178/Lookout Mountain/Market Street
• left at Broad Street
• at split bear left onto Tennessee Ave (Cumming Highway is )on the right)
• right on Ochs Highway (Lookout Moutain)
• After Sanders Road comes in from the right (sign to Ruby Falls), there is a pull-off to the left in about 200 yards. This is the parking for the trail. 

Note: on Mr Anthony's site he has a picture of a sign mentioning Glen Falls Trail, but when I was there I didn't see any such sign

Lula Lakes Falls (4 falls)

Lula Lakes Falls are on the grounds of the Lula Lakes Land Trust (http://www.lulalake.org/).

5/7/2015 - spent the weekend at Cloudland Canyon on an Off the Grid event.  On Saturday we went to Lula Lakes.  The road is in MUCH better condition and has been paved.  Got 2 more small waterfalls on the road from the parking to the lakes.  There were actually 2 others, one along the road and one coming in from the side above the upper falls...but these both didn't look like they might be permanent falls, so I didn't get those.  The water volume was tremendous on the 2 big falls.  Quite a change from when I was there the first time!

9/4/2010 - You can't go just anytime you like, you have to check the website to find out when they will be open. The parking is about a mile from the first falls and is an easy hike. It's pretty close to level and you could even take a bike if that suits your fancy.  I wished I'd had mine!

On the day I was there the road down the hill to the parking area was in VERY bad shape, very deep ruts right down the middle. With a little care to be sure I was straddling the ruts, I was able to make it, along with maybe 100 other people! Once you are down in the valley the road is much better. And again, going out (it's a different road from coming in) the road was bad, but not as bad as the road in.

There was no fee the day I was there, but they were asking for donations for the land trust.

There are some fantastic rock formations that you can see along the creek as you hike to the falls. There are several hiking trails there also. The falls were just a trickle that day due to the lack of rain, but at least there was SOME water flowing over!

The first 2 falls are pretty small and right along the road from the parking to the lakes.  They're a bit hard to see due to the shadows.

GPS: 
Falls #1 : 34.93741°N 85.37315°W
Falls #2: 34.93263°N 85.37158°
Upper Falls: 34.93041°N 85.37564°W
Lower Falls: 34.92756°N 85.37798°W

These 2 falls are on Rock Creek

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

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.lulalake.org/ - for directions click on the link at the top for "the trust" then on the "find us" link on the right

Ruff's Mill Cascade

11/30/2014 - on my way back from Hightower Falls I stopped at Ruff's Mill to get a video of the cascade here, and found to my dismay that this is actually private property and not really open to the public.  And really, after getting a good look at it...it's not really a falls wither.  More of a shoal.  So I'm going to leave it up, but remove it from my count.

11/10/2012 - saw a reference to this falls on the net, so I set out to find it.  Turned out to be easy.  The entrance to the old mill is at the Ruffs Mill-Concord Covered Bridge, near Smyrna, GA.  The falls is small, and down a steep creek bank.  It looks like it is possible to get closer to it, but since I got there late and was alone, I decided to just get the best picture I could from above.

According to GMAPS this falls is on Nickajack Creek

Hightower Falls

11/30/14 - a couple of weeks ago I contacted the owner of Hightower Falls and she very kindly gave me permission to see and film the waterfall on her property.  This is an "event" property and if you are interested you can get more information at the URL below.

It was hard to get good photos.  I got there right about 1 pm and the sun was shining straight into my eyes just off to one side of the falls.  Probably afternoon would be a better time, as the sun would then be behind you.

This falls is on Euharlee Creek, but the current owner has told me that "Hightower" was the family name of previous owners.

More information: www.hightowerfalls.com

Spoonauger Falls - SC (2 falls)

9/7/2014 - got up fairly early (for a Sunday!) and drove just across the Chatooga River to do the short hike to Spoonauger Falls on Spoonauger Creek.  The trail is described as easy to moderate, which is about right.  It starts out very easy, nearly level...but when you cross Spoonauger Creek, the bank down to the creek is low and easy, but the opposite bank is higher and nearly straight up.  You have to step carefully on roots and rocks sticking out of the bank.  Then you turn uphill on the trail to the base of the falls.  There is a metal verticle sign that says "Spnauger Falls"

At the first switchback there is a short trail to a small falls.  Then the trail switchbacks 3 or 4 times to Spoonauger Falls.  The trail is steep, but not too difficult and right before the end there is a seep that had the trail mushy and wet, but there were rocks to step on.

I don't know how this falls got its name, but in case you're wondering...a "spoon auger" (aka: spoon drill) looks like this:


(from: http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/chairmakersspoonbitset.aspx)

They can actually have several shapes, including a pointed oval shaped (more like an eating spoon, but a lot sharper!) but I couldn't find a good picture of one of those.

GPS: 34.97502°N 83.11118°W (lower falls)

Spoonauger Falls

GPS: 34.97476°N 83.11019°W

Directions and Information: from Clayton, Ga

• east on Warwoman Road
• south on GA 28
• north on Burrells Ford Rd (this gravel road is easy to miss, if you get to the river you've missed it)
• continue until road crosses Chattooga River
• park at sign on left for the Chattooga River Trail

Anna Ruby Falls (3 falls)

9/5/2014 - my knees are doing a lot better with the physical therapy I'm doing, and the weather is not QUITE as hot as it's been...so I took advantage of being off and went to Anna Ruby Falls.  Along the way, I also got a roadside falls on Smith Creek that I had known about but not had a chance to get before.

8/22/2010 - Anna Ruby Falls is one of the "big 3" showpiece waterfalls of North Georgia - along with Amicalola Falls and Dukes Creek Falls.  Like Dukes Creek Falls it is a double falls at the confluence of two creeks.  And, again like Dukes Creek Falls, there is one big, spectacular waterfall and another lovely, but smaller one.

These falls are at the convergence of Curtis Creek and York Creek, which together form Smith 
Creek

Falls on Smith Creek
GPS: 34.75306°N 83.71166°W

Anna Ruby Falls

GPS: 34.76348°N 83.71217°W

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/annaruby3.html

Directions and Information: can be found at http://www.unicoistatepark.org/anna-ruby-falls.html

Note: the falls are accessed from inside Unicoi State Park, but are not part of the park.  There is a fee, and if you have a State Park pass it will not be any good.

Mooney Falls - NC

8/30/2014 - since Mooney Falls is close to the trail to Big Laurel Falls, I drove up to this one too.  It is distantly visible from the road and a little further up the road, there is a trail to the base, which I ws told is steep.  I was too tired to try it, so I just got what I could from the road.

The book I used for directions says there is a sign for Mooney Falls, but I did not see it.

GPS: 35.02802°N 83.49816°W (roadside view)
GPS: 35.02892°N 83.49769°W (trailhead)

Directions and Information: from Franklin, NC

• west on US 64
• south on W.Old Murphy Rd
• at Wallace Gap, south on FS 67 (sign for Standing Indian Campground)
• at the fork at entrance to the campground, continue to the left on the FS road
• drive past the trailhead for Big Laurel Falls, for about 3/4 mile

Big Laurel Falls - NC

8/30/2014 - took a drive up southwest of Franklin, NC to the area above Standing Indian Campground.  Hiked the trail to Big Laurel Falls.  The book I was using rated this as easy, but I would call it more like moderate.  It starts out easy, but once it starts up the mountain it goes steadily uphill in "bumps" - longish uphills, then short down-hills, then uphill-downhill again.  Maybe 3 or 4 such "bumps."  My GPS made it 1/2 mile from the trailhead sign to the falls...but it felt like 2 miles!

GPS: 35.01823°N 83.50652°W

Directions and Information: from Franklin, NC

• west on US 64
• south on W.Old Murphy Rd
• at Wallace Gap, south on FS 67 (sign for Standing Indian Campground)
• at the fork at entrance to the campground, continue to the left on the FS road
• park at trailhead for Big Laurel Falls - there is a good big sign at the start

Mossy Creek falls

8/22/2014 - got bored sitting around the house after work and after looking around on the map, I found a state area labled "Mossy Creek State Park" - but when I checked the state parks website, there was no such park.  So I took a drive out to see it.  Turns out it's not a state park, but a small state owned area that is a put-in for canoes and kayaks where Mossy Creek flows into the Chattahoochee River in White County.

I did see several trail heads, but as far as I can tell they all are short and lead either to the creek or the river.  I followed one that went out from the top of the parking area and found a small falls.

GPS: 34.49639°N 83.67393°W

Directions and Information: from Gainesville, GA

• north on I985/GA 365
• west on GA 52
• north on Skitts Mountain Rd
• south in Skitts Mountain Dr
• bear left on Home Place Rd (sign might say Rattler Dr, the map shows both names)
• follow to parking area at the end of the gravel road

Raven Cliffs WMA - unknown creek falls

8/17/2014 - after my sister and I got the videos above Dukes Creek Falls, on Davis Creek, we continued driving up the Forest Service road.  Found this waterfall right beside the road.  It was pretty tall, but not much flow...still, it's a falls!

We got in about 4 miles and then I got too tired to continue, so we came back.  The road wasn't too bad, but it always takes a lot of concentration to drive a 2 wheel drive car on most Forest Service roads.

GPS: 34.70051°N 83.79787°W

Directions and Information: from Cleveland, Ga

• north on US 129
• right on Alt GA 75
• left on GA 348 (Richard B Russell Scenic Highway)
• left into Raven Cliffs parking area
• continue past parking on gravel road
• at turn around, go around then take road to left over small mound

Davis Creek falls (2 falls)

8/17/2014 - didn't feel like sitting around the house, so my sister and I took a drive up above Dukes Creek Falls to get videos of these 2 falls on Davis Creek,

These falls are above Dukes Creek Falls

To get to these you drive past the parking area for Raven Cliffs and at 1/2 mile park in the small area on the left, for the middle falls on Davis Creek. Hike the short trail downhill from this point, more or less straight through a small camping area and then further down. This actually brings you out on top of the main falls of Dukes Creek Falls. There's a big area there, so it's not dangerous as long as you stay well away from the brink of the falls. Upstream at this point is the middle falls on Davis Creek.

GPS: 34.70292°N 83.79250°W

GPS: 34.70573°N 83.79810°W

To get to the upper falls on Davis Creek, you drive an additional 1/2 mile past the parking for the middle falls, cross the creek on a good ford and then stop and park. Hike a short distance through the camping area going upstream and around a turn is the upper falls on Davis Creek.

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

Directions and Information: from Cleveland, Ga

• north on US 129
• right on Alt GA 75
• left on GA 348 (Richard B Russell Scenic Highway)
• left into Raven Cliffs parking area
• continue past parking on gravel road
• for middle falls: at 1/2 mile, park in small wide area on left
• follow trail downhill, through camping spot to top of falls
• for upper falls: continue an additional 1/2 mile
• cross creek & park
• follow creek upstream through well-used camping area to falls

Note: there is no fee to park. Middle falls are above the biggest of the Dukes Creek Falls, so be careful around the brink of that falls.

Hemlock Falls (Moccasin Creek) (9 falls)

8/16/2014 - I've been getting physical therapy for my knees and it's working really well.  So I decided to do a fairly easy hike and get some better videos of the falls on Moccasin Creek.  I didn't get all the way to Hemlock Falls, got too tired.  After taking a nice leisurely hike I decided some of the falls I've had here aren't really big enough to count.  So I've lowered the total to 9 falls.

Looks like I'll need to go back again!  The videos I got don't match up with the still photos I have.

11/25/2013 - since I'm off all this Thanksgiving weekend, I've been getting as many waterfall videos as I can.  I can't quite match the videos I got with the still photos, guess I'll have to go back and do a better job!

The trail to Hemlock Falls starts at the end of a rough gravel road opposite Moccasin Creek State Park. The trail is just over a mile long and is an easy, uphill hike. At one point you cross the creek on a recently improved bridge. This is one of my favorites and I've been here several times in the last couple of years.

This falls is actually a side branch that is on the other side of the creek from the trail

This falls is immediately below the bridge across Moccasin Creek

The 4 following falls are one right after the other after you've climbed up from the bridge.

This is Hemlock Falls

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

   

unnamed falls on Moccasin Creek- this falls is upstream of Hemlock Falls. Hike above Hemlock Falls and immediately cross the creek, then hike uphill until you hit an unimproved trail. Most of this trail appears to be an old logging road, but it's not maintained and there a lot of blow-downs to negotiate. At one point there's a tangle of smaller blow-downs and it's tricky to get around them. Once you are at the falls - maybe a bit more than 1/2 mile - you will hear them, and there is a short, steep side trail down to the base.

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

Directions and Information: from Clarkesville, GA

• north on GA Hwy 197
• just before Moccasin Creek State Park, left on Andersonville Rd
• part at end of Andersonville Lane on left
• trail is a continuation of the old road, past the rock with the trail named carved in it