Hidden Falls-Rabun (4 falls)

Hidden Falls - Rabun county

2/11/2011 - as often as I have been in the area of Clayton, GA I've been seeing a road named Hidden Falls Road.  Curiosity finally got the better of me, and I drove down it to see if there really is a falls in there.  This is a mountain development and the roads in there are more like narrow driveways.  Must be tough if cars meet going in opposite directions! 

I found a road, Big Shoals Rd (I think), that went steeply down the hill, and there was a sign at the top that said there were 4 waterfall lots for sale - so down I went!  The deeper into the valley I went, the worse the road got.  Right before lot #11, it was really bad.  I could hear falls though, so I drove as far down the driveway for lot #11 as I could.  It isn't a developed lot (yet), and the driveway just stopped abruptly, but right beside it was a small branch and 2 levels of sliding waterfalls.  The driveway was, at one time, graded and graveled all the way to the main creek, but was badly eroded and I had to pick my way down very carefully on foot.
UPDATE: I've been checking the maps on Google Earth and the "main creek" is Stekoa Creek

When I got to the bigger creek, I could see the top of a falls, but no safe way to get down below it.  The valley is very deep, and the sides are steep.  So I just got the best pictures I could, and then carefully made my way back to the car.  The driveway and road are so narrow that I had to do a "10 point star" to get my car turned around to drive out.  And then I had to power my way up about 30 feet of the road, as it was very broken up and my tires had trouble getting traction.

As I was driving out, I saw another long, sliding falls that is not visible on the way in.  This falls is probably on the same branch as the other 2, but I couldn't be sure of that.  Anyway, I got 4 falls altogether!

Directions and Information - as far as I can tell, there is no public access to these falls.  I found them by using the driveway of a private lot that was not yet developed.  But the main road into the development can be accessed from the north side of US 441 as you approach Clayton, GA

Sawmill Creek falls (4 falls)

2/12/2011 - Sawmill Creek - big falls, small falls, and a couple of others

Went back up to Covecrest.  I found out from their site that there was another, big, falls that I totally missed because I didn't go far enough down their trail!  It's a shame they can't put in some kind of trail, or boardwalk, or something that stays close to the creek, as this creek is very much like the one at Kingwood Golf - it's just one long set of falls and shoals all the way down the hill.  Some of the falls are hard to see, and a couple can only be heard.  I got pictures of the big falls, a new one of the small falls, and another good sized one above the big falls.  And I even got a photo of a rainbow at the base of the big falls.

The one above the big falls doesn't photograph very well, due to all the rhododendron, but it's more apparent when you are actually there, as the moving water catches your eye.  Between this one and the big falls, there is another small one, but I couldn't get a good photo of that one either.   I would say that from what I could see and hear, there might be as many as 7 or 8 falls along this creek.

I did speak to someone at the office and found out the creek name is Sawmill Creek, and that as far as they know none of the falls is named.  They only refer to "the small falls" and "the big falls"

2/5/2011 - headed up towards Clayton, GA to find some new waterfalls.  Didn't get to as many as I'd planned, but there's always tomorrow!  I did get Sawmill Creek Falls and a big falls complex on Stekoa Creek.

Sawmill Creek Falls - these falls are on the grounds of the Covecrest Christian Renewal Center/Lifeteen Camp http://www.lifeteencamps.com/covecrest.asp.  I did check at the office to be sure it was OK for me to be there, but there was no one there at the time.  The small falls are very pretty, and there are others downstream of these - but those are hard to see.  The small falls spills over a long shelf of rock, that sits at an angle to the flow of the water - so the water slides along the top of the shelf and then spills over in several places. 

There are also at least 2 smaller falls further downstream.  One of them I could hear, but couldn't see and one I was able to see, but there was so much rhododendron and trees that I didn't get a very good picture.  Possibly there are even more further down as the main trail takes a downhill track not too far from the falls, but I didn't have time to explore that far, plus with all the rain we've had it was very slippery and I didn't want to take a chance on falling when I was alone.  This is on my "redo" list!

 

Directions and Information: from Clayton, GA or Tallulah Falls, Ga

• From US 441, west on Tiger Connector (some maps may say 441 Connector)
• in Tiger, cross old US 441 and road changes to Bridge Creek Rd
• left into Covecrest Christian Renewal Center
• at lodge/office - left on Falls Rd
• where Falls Rd makes a sharp right turn and ends
• park at sign for Buckeye Trail

Note: you will hear the falls from the parking spot.  A short way down the trail there are several indistinct side trails, the best is the second one below the falls - but be careful, it comes out right at a wooden cross on a more distinct trail, and I nearly put my eye out on the crossbar!  There is a bench here.  The main trail appears to also come out at the falls, but I don't know how far along the trail from the uphill portion to the falls it is, and I didn't have time to try to find out.  The property was not posted that I could see. 

Lost House Branch Falls

1/30/2011 - went out to get the falls on Lost House Creek, but I couldn't make it.  The creek is in a very narrow valley and there's no trail.  It was just a bit rougher than I felt safe doing alone.  So I got a picture of a small falls that is visible from the road.  Will have to go back when I can get someone to go along.

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

Directions and Information: from Cleveland, GA

• north on US 129
• right on Alt GA 75 - to end
• left on GA 17/75 - exactly 3.5 miles
• park in wide spot on west side of highway
• cross highway towards gutted stone house
• creek can be heard on the right

Note: the gutted stone house is private property.  There is a locked cable across the driveway, but the property is not posted that I can see.  As you pass the house, on the right is a set of good, but mossy, steps down to the creek and a bridge.  The bridge is in good shape, and there's a well used camping spot with a stone barbecue there.

High Shoals Falls (Paulding County)

1/22/2011 - My sister and I drove over to Paulding County to get the High Shoals Falls.  I haven't been able to find out the name of the creek, but I did see at least one website that states the pool at the base of the falls was (or is?) used as a baptism site for the nearby church.  The falls is easy to get to and the trail to it is very short.  We noticed that a brand new picnic table had recently been put in close to the falls.

According to GPMAPS this falls is on an unnamed creek that flows into Raccoon Creek

Directions and Information: from Dallas, GA

• north on GA 61
• left on High Shoals Rd
• watch for Baptist Church on right
• very soon after church, there is a cemetary on the left with a chain link fence
• park inside fence
• take gravel path beside cemetary downhill
• cross small branch
• waterfall is ahead and to the right

Note: sign at parking states the park is open from 8am to 5pm

Dukes Creek Falls (5 falls)

2/19/2011 - added some photos I forgot I had.  They show holes in the rocks at the base of the falls that are created, during high water flow, by small rocks, or even small boulders, getting caught on the rock and the water whirling them around until a hole is worn into the base rock.  You can even see some that are still under water in one of the photos.  In times past, black powder musket balls were made out of small stones using this same process.

7/18/2010 Dukes Creek Falls is a spectacular cascade of about 200 feet down the side of the mountain, and another smaller falls. The hike down to the bottom of the falls is about 1 mile of switch-backed trail. It is not too difficult. I first did this hike over 30 years ago and at that time it was tough, but the trail has been completely redone to make the switchbacks further apart and the grades more gradual.  There are several smaller falls that can be seen on Dodds Creek as you hike down.

There is a distant view of the main falls from a platform that is wheelchair accessible not too from from the parking area.

Dukes Creek Falls are actually on Davis Creek and Dodds Creek, which join together below the falls to create Dukes Creek. The main falls are on Davis Creek, and a much smaller one on Dodds Creek. There are several nice viewing platforms and boardwalks between them at the base.
 

 

There are several smaller falls and cascades on Dodds Creek as you hike down to the bottom of the valley.  It's difficult to get good pictures of some of them, but I managed to get these two.

 

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 Dukes Creek Falls parking at sign

 

Note: there is a fee to park here