Within a 40-mile radius of one small Georgia mountain town lie some of the most accessible and dramatic waterfalls in the Southeast, easily earning their spot among the more unusual places to visit in the region, including one of the tallest cascading falls east of the Mississippi.
We're talking about everything from a 30-minute family stroll along the Appalachian Trail to a 9-mile wilderness slog through the Cohutta that earns every single drop. If you're going to chase waterfalls in North Georgia, Blue Ridge is where you set up camp.
1. Long Creek Falls
Difficulty: Easy | Round trip: ~2.2 miles | Trail: Appalachian Trail
Yes, "easy AT hike" is not an oxymoron, at least not here. The approach to Long Creek Falls follows a relatively flat creek walk through hardwood forest near the Springer Mountain trailhead, and unlike the other 2,170 miles of the AT, this stretch won't destroy you.
The payoff is a 30-foot drop into a broad, clear pool that's as photogenic as it is easy to reach. Families do this one regularly, which means it gets crowded on fall weekends. Go early or midweek if you'd rather not share the pool with half of Atlanta.
2. Amicalola Falls
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Height: 729 feet | Location: Amicalola Falls State Park
Georgia's tallest waterfall spans 729 feet across a series of dramatic cascades, making it one of the tallest east of the Mississippi. This isn't some trickle you squint at from a scenic overlook. It's legitimately impressive, and the state park trail system gives you multiple ways to see it: from the base, from mid-trail platforms, or from the top overlook if you want to earn the full picture.
The trail is well-maintained and accessible for most fitness levels, depending on which vantage point you choose. Thru-hikers use the 8-mile approach trail here as the official lead-in to the AT at Springer Mountain, so you'll occasionally share the path with people carrying everything they own. There's a $5 parking fee at the park entrance, which is about as reasonable as it gets for a waterfall of this scale.
3. Helton Creek Falls
Difficulty: Easy | Round trip: ~0.5 miles | Location: Near Blairsville (~25 miles from Blue Ridge)
Short doesn't mean forgettable. Helton Creek is a double-tiered waterfall with an upper and lower cascade, and the upper drop features a natural water slide worn smooth into the rock face. The trail clocks in at about half a mile, which means hikers targeting longer routes tend to skip it entirely
It's a particularly good photography spot in spring when the flow is strong, and it works well as a warm-up stop or a quick add-on to a multi-falls day. Sometimes the most efficient decision is the most rewarding one.
4. Fall Branch Falls
Difficulty: Moderate | Round trip: ~4.4 miles | Trail: Benton MacKaye Trail
The Benton MacKaye Trail is Blue Ridge's other famous long trail, and it gets a fraction of the traffic the AT does. That's the whole point of heading to Fall Branch Falls.
This double waterfall on Fall Branch Creek rewards hikers willing to take a rougher trail with genuine solitude, no state park infrastructure, no interpretive signage, and fewer selfie-takers.
The BMT has a wilder feel than the AT-adjacent options on this list, and Fall Branch is one of its best single-day payoffs. If Amicalola is the polished introduction to North Georgia waterfalls, this is the follow-up for people who actually want to be in the woods.
5. DeSoto Falls
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Round trip: ~2 miles | Location: Near Dahlonega (~35 miles from Blue Ridge)
Three-tiered waterfall system in the Chattahoochee National Forest, with the upper falls being the most dramatic of the three. The trail is well-maintained with solid parking, making it a straightforward stop, but the real hook is the legend behind the name.
A piece of Spanish armor was allegedly found here, possibly linked to Hernando de Soto's 1540 expedition through the Southeast. Nobody has definitively confirmed it, which is exactly the kind of unresolved historical detail that makes a waterfall more interesting. Worth hiking regardless; the armor story is just a bonus.
6. Cochrans Falls
Difficulty: Easy | Round trip: ~1 mile | Location: Near Ellijay (~20 miles from Blue Ridge)
Cochrans Falls is the kind of place that gets bypassed because it doesn't have the name recognition of Amicalola or the reputation of Jacks River. That's precisely why it's worth knowing about. Accessible, photogenic, and quiet — it works well as a quick stop on its own or as part of a multi-falls day when you're already moving through the area.
Check trail access and conditions before heading out, as it can be seasonal. But if you hit it on the right day, you'll likely have it to yourself.
7. Jacks River Falls
Difficulty: Strenuous | Round trip: ~8–10 miles | Location: Cohutta Wilderness
Here's the one that separates the day hikers from the committed. Jacks River Falls is the broadest, most dramatic waterfall in the Georgia mountains, sitting deep inside the Cohutta Wilderness, and getting there requires more than just lacing up trail runners.
The route involves 15+ creek crossings with no bridges, genuine route-finding, and enough elevation change to remind your legs what hiking actually costs. The reward is a wide, powerful cascade in one of the most remote corners of North Georgia, with the kind of quiet that only comes from having made 15 creek crossings to get there.
Spring brings maximum flow. Summer crossings are easier. Don't do this one in waterlogged boots without a plan.
Before You Go: Trail Tips Worth Reading
Below are some must-follow trail tips before you begin your journey.
What to Bring
Waterproof boots or water shoes (non-negotiable for Jacks River), a comfortable, well-fitted backpack for longer treks, trekking poles for creek crossings, and offline maps downloaded before you leave. Cell service is unreliable throughout the Cohutta Wilderness and along most of the BMT.
Best Seasons
Spring is the peak flow, and waterfalls are at their most dramatic. Fall for foliage, though crowds increase. Summer is hot and humid, but the creeks become swimmable, which changes the calculus on a hot day.
Difficulty is Relative
Trail mileage is a starting point, not the whole story. Elevation change, creek crossings, and trail condition all matter particularly on Fall Branch and Jacks River, where the terrain is the challenge, not just the distance.
Fees and Passes
Amicalola Falls State Park charges a day-use fee. Several USFS trailheads in the area require a Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass. It is best to check and set a travel budget before you go.
On Base Camp
These seven falls are spread across a 40-mile radius, which means trying to hit more than one or two from a hotel in Atlanta is an exercise in frustration. Blue Ridge makes a natural home base for a two or three-day waterfall itinerary, and if you're going to put in the miles on Jacks River, you'll want somewhere with a hot tub waiting at the end of it.
You can find comfortable places to stay in the Blue Ridge area with Georgia Cabins for YOU, making Blue Ridge a convenient base for exploring one or two waterfalls a day at your own pace. The falls aren't going anywhere, but you might as well see them properly.
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