- Fall Branch Falls
This was an easy trail to the falls, following some switchbacks. There are glamping domes on one side of the falls that kind of take away from the natural beauty. The trail is only 0.9 miles out and back. There is a parking lot at the trailhead.
2. Toccoa Swinging Bridge waterfall
It is a tough drive to the trailhead. There is a dirt/rocky unpaved forest road that you have to slowly travel down for three miles. I only saw SUVs and trucks at the trailhead. While I was firmly gripping my steering wheel at 10 and 2, praying I don’t pop a tire on a rock, Max had his head out the window and quite enjoyed the drive in. We even saw a deer! There were plenty of wild rhododendrons on the trail in early June. The swinging bridge can be a bit wobbly, but Max did fine taking it slow. The waterfall at the end of the bridge is quite small, but still pleasant. You can continue on to other trails or turn back. The trail is only 0.8 miles out and back.
3. Sea Creek Falls
I had to stop at Cooper’s Creek store nearby to use their free wifi to pull the trailhead up on Apple Maps. When you get to the dirt road, the parking lot is straight ahead. It is not a very obvious parking lot, so I kept to the right and crossed the creek with my car and kept going. I do not recommend this, as the road that followed was sketchy and washed out. When you see the creek crossing on your right, you know you have reached the “parking lot”! Parts of the trail were flooded and muddy, but it was easy to walk along the edge in hiking boots. The waterfall is a short 0.25 mile into the trail.
4. Long Creek Falls
To get to the trailhead, you have to drive down a 5.4 mile long dirt road with lots of potholes. It took me about 30 minutes to get to the trailhead once on the dirt road. The trail is easy and only 1.9 miles out and back.
5. Helton Creek Falls
I wouldn’t call this a hike, more like a short path to the falls. You will drive down a 1.3 mile dirt road to get to the trailhead. There are a handful of parking spaces at the trailhead. They were all taken when I got there so I parked along the side of the road. There is nowhere to turn around to head back down the road, so I had to make an eight point turn in the road. You will need to cross two creeks with your car on the dirt road in. The first creek crossing is very easy and the water is very shallow. The second creek crossing has a large drop down into the creek, as if part of the road eroded into the creek. It was much more sketchy and I would be hesitant to attempt it in a low vehicle, though I did see sedans and mini vans in the parking lot so they must have made it! There is access here to both the lower falls and the upper falls.
6. Lake Trahlyta Loop and waterfall
This is a flat, easy one mile loop around the lake, with a short path to the falls jetting off the loop. I parked at the visitor center and paid $5 for the day. I then began the trail beside the lake across from the visitor center. The waterfall trail is halfway around the lake, opposite the visitor center.
7. Toccoa Falls
This waterfall is located on the Toccoa Falls College campus. You have to enter the welcome center building and pay $2 to see the waterfall. You will then walk through the gift shop and out the back door, where there is a short path to Toccoa Falls.
8. Henderson Falls Park
Only four minutes from Toccoa Falls College is Henderson Falls Park. This waterfall is a little underwhelming, but Max did enjoy walking around the park.
9. Amicalola Falls
There is a $5 entry fee to get in Amicalola Falls State Park. I actually do not recommend this trail unless you have a small dog that you can carry, or your dog is wearing those little paw shoes they sell. I did not realize until it was too late that this trail requires a walk up 175 GRATED stairs. It was very uncomfortable for Max. He made it through by going very slowly, but I would never have him do something like this again. I still feel guilty about it. If you have a large dog and really want to see the falls, there is a paved 0.5 mile out and back trail from a parking lot you can take. It is called West Ridge Falls Access Trail.
