6 North Georgia waterfall stops for a road trip, with each fee and walk as the park or Forest Service page states it. Amicalola Falls is described by its lodge operator as a 729-foot waterfall and the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River.
We give no drive times between stops because no page we read states them. Every fact below was read on the cited official page and checked ; anything we could not read is listed under What We Could Not Confirm instead of guessed.
| What to know | Source |
|---|---|
| Amicalola Falls is described by its lodge operator as a 729-foot waterfall and the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. | amicalolafallslodge.com |
| Georgia State Parks lists a $10 Daily ParkPass (per vehicle, valid the date of purchase) and a $70 Annual ParkPass (12 months). | gastateparks.org |
| Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area (USDA Forest Service) is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week, with no admission after 4:00 pm; adults 16 and older pay $6, children 15 and under are free. | fs.usda.gov |
| Toccoa Falls is a 186-foot free-falling waterfall privately owned by the University of Toccoa Falls but open to the public for a $2 fee paid at the Gift Shop at Gate Cottage. | utf.edu |
| Helton Creek Falls (Forest Service) is free, an easy 0.2 mile hike, with no restrooms and no potable water. | fs.usda.gov |
The Six Waterfall Stops
| Name | Town | What it is | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amicalola Falls State Park | Dawsonville | Home of a 729-foot waterfall; the lodge offers a guided hike of 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center to the falls. The park is managed and operated by North Georgia Mountains Authority and Coral Hospitality. | Cost: Park page does not state a parking fee; for reference the state ParkPass is $10 daily per vehicle Access: Park accessibility page exists at gastateparks.org/Accessibility; details not read |
| Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area (Official site) | Helen | Twin waterfalls plunging more than 150 feet (tallest) on the paved trail from the visitor information center. | Cost: Adults 16 and older $6 per person; children 15 and under free; America the Beautiful Interagency Pass accepted; fees apply to commercial groups of 10 or more Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week; no admission after 4:00 pm Season: Open year-round; closed the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Access: Wheelchair accessible from parking lot to visitor center; Lion’s Eye Trail is a 0.01-mile paved trail with interpretive signs in regular text and braille. Waterfall trail length not given on the page. Kids: Children 15 and under free |
| Tallulah Gorge State Park (Official site) | Tallulah Falls | A gorge with about 20 miles of trails, rim trails to several overlooks and two suspension bridges, one swaying about 80 feet above the rocky bottom of the gorge. | Cost: Parking fee required; annual passes available (state ParkPass: $10 daily, $70 annual). Gorge floor permits are free, issued at the Interpretive Center the day of the visit, 100 per day, safety briefings 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Hours: Park open 8 a.m. to dark; office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Season: Water releases close the gorge to hiking and climbing: aesthetic releases (200 CFS, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.) on select dates October 21 through November 22; whitewater releases (500-700 CFS, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) on November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 Access: Gorge floor trail is very strenuous with about 1,000 stairs and is not recommended for children 8 and under; site accessibility page exists; flip-flops and Crocs not allowed on the gorge floor Dogs: Not allowed on the gorge floor, the Sliding Rock trail or the Hurricane Falls staircase to the suspension bridge; leashed pets welcome on rim trails Parking: Fee required; parking not included with a reservation Kids: Gorge floor trail not recommended for children 8 and under |
| Toccoa Falls (University of Toccoa Falls campus) | Toccoa | A 186-foot free-falling waterfall reached by a 100-yard graveled path; the falls are privately owned by the university but open to the public. | Cost: $2 entrance fee paid inside the Gift Shop at Gate Cottage Hours: Monday-Friday 10AM-4PM; Saturday-Sunday 12PM-4PM; events at the waterfall may affect public visiting hours; hours subject to change at any time Access: 100-yard graveled path |
| Cloudland Canyon State Park (Official site) | Rising Fawn | A state park with a strenuous Waterfalls Trail, a short Overlook Trail and a moderate West Rim Loop Trail among 64 miles of trails. | Cost: Parking fee required; annual passes available (state ParkPass: $10 daily, $70 annual) Hours: Park 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; office 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Interpretive Center Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., weekdays seasonally as staffing allows Access: Waterfalls Trail described as strenuous, length not given; All-Terrain Georgia Action Trackchair and site accessibility page listed Parking: Fee required; entrance road work with one-lane traffic and flaggers during the day; temporary visitor center at the Group Lodge |
| Helton Creek Falls | Blairsville | An easy 0.2 mile hike to a waterfall on Helton Creek, with many abrupt changes in grade. | Cost: Free Season: Open year-round; no daily hours listed Access: Easy 0.2 mile hike; many abrupt changes in grade; no restrooms or potable water; Forest Service alert ‘CAUTION Waterfall Dangers’ Parking: A small pullout on Helton Creek Road, 2.2 miles from US 19/129; trailhead on the right |
Waterfall Safety
- The Forest Service lists an active ‘CAUTION Waterfall Dangers’ alert on both the Anna Ruby Falls and Helton Creek Falls pages. (fs.usda.gov)
- Tallulah Gorge says weather and water conditions can restrict gorge access, wet rocks are slippery, and visitors should call ahead. (gastateparks.org)
Directions Published by The Forest Service
- For Helton Creek Falls: from Blairsville, drive south on US 19/129 for 11 miles, turn left on Helton Creek Road just past the Vogel State Park entrance, then go 2.2 miles to a small pullout; the trailhead is on the right. (fs.usda.gov)
Toccoa Falls Is on a Private Campus
- The university states the falls are privately owned by the University but open to the public, and that hours are subject to change at any time due to holidays, campus closures or scheduled events. (utf.edu)
Map of North Georgia Waterfall Stops
Not pinned (no confirmed location yet): Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area (Official site).
Keep Planning
FAQ
Is Toccoa Falls free?
No. The university lists a $2 entrance fee paid inside the Gift Shop at Gate Cottage. (utf.edu)
Is Helton Creek Falls free?
Yes. The Forest Service page lists the fee as Free. (fs.usda.gov)
Can dogs go to the Tallulah Gorge floor?
No. Pets are not allowed on the gorge floor, the Sliding Rock trail or the Hurricane Falls staircase; leashed pets are welcome on rim trails. (gastateparks.org)
When is Anna Ruby Falls closed?
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (fs.usda.gov)
How do I get a Tallulah Gorge floor permit?
Permits are free and issued at the Interpretive Center the day of your visit; they cannot be reserved, and 100 are issued per day. (gastateparks.org)
What We Could Not Confirm
- Amicalola Falls: gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls does not state parking fee, hours, trail lengths, dogs or closures (it says the park is managed by North Georgia Mountains Authority and Coral Hospitality); the ThingsToKnow did not load. The 729-foot height and 1.5-mile guided hike come from the lodge operator’s page. The state ParkPass may not apply there; not confirmed. A search summary mentioned a West Ridge Falls Access Trail (about 0.6 miles round trip, paved) and a construction notice, but no official page was fetched, so excluded.
- Anna Ruby Falls fee: the fetched Forest Service page says $6 for ages 16+; a search summary said $5. The fetched page is used. Hours/fee page not dated in fetch; trail length, dogs not stated.
- Towns for Helen (Anna Ruby), Rising Fawn (Cloudland Canyon), Toccoa, Tallulah Falls and Blairsville are not stated on all fetched pages; the Helton Creek directions mention only Blairsville and Vogel State Park. Counties not stated on pages read.
- Toccoa Falls dogs, rules and a ‘Visiting’ fee schedule beyond the $2 not listed; whether hours match the 2026 fall closures not confirmed.
- Cloudland Canyon: Waterfalls Trail length and stair count not given; the state page does not name Cherokee Falls or Hemlock Falls.
- Tallulah Gorge: current parking amount is the statewide ParkPass price; the park page itself only says ‘fee required’.
- No drive times given by design; the order of stops for a loop is not stated by any source.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge
- Georgia State Parks – Amicalola Falls
- Georgia State Parks – ParkPass
- USFS Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area
- Georgia State Parks – Tallulah Gorge
- University of Toccoa Falls – Visiting Toccoa Falls
- Georgia State Parks – Cloudland Canyon
- USFS Helton Creek Falls
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
More from Itineraries
Cite this page: It's Georgia, “North Georgia Waterfalls Loop”, itsgeorgia.com/itineraries/road-trips/north-georgia-waterfalls-loop/ (updated ). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.