Tallulah Gorge State Park - Tallulah Falls, GA




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Overview

     Tallulah Gorge is one of the oldest geological features in North America. Over thousands of years, the Tallulah River has eroded hard, quartzite rock into a 1,000 foot deep chasm more than two miles long. The river drops almost 00 feet in elevation before it joins the Chattooga River, forming the Tugaloo River. Five major waterfalls are located in the bottom of the gorge: L'Eau d'Or, pronounced LaDore (46'), Tempesta (76'), Hurricane (96'), Oceana (50'), and Bridal Veil (17').
     Tallulah Gorge was designated a state park in 1992 and is jointly operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Power Company through unique public-private partnership. Located in the historic town of Tallulah Falls, this 3,000 acre state park features may types of activities.
     Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center - a 16,000 square foot educational facility with cultural, historical and natuarl exhibits, an award winning film, classroom space, gift shop, restrooms and staff offices. The center is named for a Georgia conservationist, counselor and educator who devoted 30 years of her life to the preservation and wise use of natural resources.
     Terrora Campground - 50 RV/tent sites may be reserved or are otherwise available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call 706-754-7979 for reservations. Confort station with hot showers are available.
     Georgia Heritage Association Center for the Arts - gallery includes works from some of the finest artists and craftspeople in the region. Located on Hwy 441 beside the dam. Resident artists often demonstrate during operating hours: 10am - 5:00pm Mon-Sat, 1pm - 5pm Sun.
     Day-Use Area - picnic tables, 63 acre lake with beach (swim at your own risk; open Memorial Day - September), 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, and two tennis courts. Free permit required for gorge floor hiking and rock climbing/rappelling.

Hiking and Biking Trails

     Six trails are open to the public: North and South Rim Trails; Sliding Rock and Hurricane Falls Trails with gorge floor access (2.5 miles round trip, very strenuous, permits required); multi-use Stoneplace Trail for hiking, mountain biking and backcountry camping (5miles one-way, moderate to difficult, permit required); Shortline Trail (3-mile paved trail following Old Tallulah Falls Railroad Bed for hiking and bicycling); and Terrora Trail (1 mile loop, moderate). Detailed information and free, required permits are available at the Interpretive Center.

Trail Overview

Trail	Activity	Distance	Difficulty
North Rim		3/4 mile	Easy to moderate
South Rim		3/4 mile	Easy to moderate
Shortline		3 miles	Easy/Paved
Terrora		1 mile	Easy
Hurricane Falls		1/4 mile	Very Strenuous
Sliding Rock		1/4 mile	Very Strenuous
Stoneplace		15+ miles	Easy to Strenuous

     North Rim Trail Overlooks - Access trail behind Interpretive Center. Approximately 3/4 mile one-way, moderate, some inclines and stairs. (Numbers correspond to map).
1. Best southern view into gorge. Oceana Falls is below, with Bridal Veil Falls at far end of gorge. Tightrope walker Karl Wallenda walked from this overlook to his tower on the south sim in 1970. Another aerialist, Professor Leon, made a similar walk from the north to the south rim in 1886. Gorge depth 750 feet.
2. View of L'Eau d'Or Falls (French for "water of gold"), top of Tempesta Falls, and Hawthorne Cascade and Pool. Gorge depth 350 feet.
3. View of L'Eau d'Or Falls, Hawthorne Pool, and 1910 remains of water compressor plant used in building Tallulah Falls Dam. Closest overlook to the Interpretive Center.
4. Good view of Tallulah Falls Dam (completed in 1913) and upper portions of gorge. Gorge depth 250 feet.
5. View of upper gorge and southern view of Hawthorne Pool and Overlooks 2 and 3. Gorge depth 250 feet. Accessible by wheelchair from Day Use Area.

    South Rim Trail Overlooks - Located on the opposite side of the gorge from the Interpretive Center, this 100+ year old trail was destroyed by a tornado in 1994 and rebuilt in 1998. Approximately 3/4 mile one-way, moderate, some inclines. Trail is reached only by foot from the North Rim Trail or Day-Use Area. From the North Rim Trail, walk past Overlook 5 and Hwy 441. Take sidewalk on bridge to stairway on south end. Exit right down stairs, under bridge and up stairway. Trail begins at old pavilion. You will pass Hurricane Falls Trail stairway which is accessible only with a Gorge Floor Permit. Permits are free and available at Interpretive Center.
6. View of Hawthorne Pool, North Rim Trail overlooks 3 and 4, top of Tempesta Falls and down gorge towards Hurricane Falls. Gorge depth 350 feet.
7. View of Hawthorne Pool, Tempesta Falls and Pool. Gorge depth 400 feet.
8. View of Hurricane Falls and Pool, "Devil's Pulpit" outcrop below, Interpretive Center. Gorge depth 500 feet.
9. Hurricane Falls, Oceana Falls, Caledonia Cascade (600 feet), North Rim overlook 8. Gorge depth 650 feet.
10. Caledonia Cascade, Wallenda north tower area. Bluff to far right is approximately 1,000 feet high.

Water Releases For Whitewater Boating

     Whitewater boating releases are scheduled for first two weekends in April and first three weekends in November, 8am-4pm. Permits are required for the 120 kayaking spaces available each weekend and can be obtained through Tallulah Gorge State Park. Water volumes are 500 cfs on Saturdays and 700cfs on Sundays. Kayakers access river below Hurricane Falls and can be best viewed from North Rim Trail overlook 1.
     Aesthetic water releases of 200cfs are scheduled for several days during spring and fall. Call the park for exact dates.

    
Activities & Amenities

	Hiking Trails		Interpretive Center		RV/tent/pioneer camping
	Wheelchair accessible		Climbing		Biking
	Kayak/Canoeing		Dam		Fishing
	Dumpstation		Laundry		Restrooms
	Picnicking		Playground		Showers
	Swimming		Tennis Courts

Nearby Attractions
Alpine Village of Helen
Black Rock Mountain State Park
Chattooga River
Traveler's Rest State Historic Site
Unicoi State Park and Lodge
Chattahoochee National Forest
Moccasin Creek State Park
Burton Fish Hatchery

Park Times and Information

Park Hours:
Day Use Area: 8am - Dark
Campgrounds: 8am - 10pm

Address:
P.O. Box 248
Tallulah Falls, GA 30573
Camping Reservations: (706) 754-7979 or 1-800-864-7275
General Info: (706) 754-7970

Park Fees
A $4 daily fee or $25 annual parking fee is required. ParkPass is available at Interpretive Center.

Camping Rates: Tents $10.00, Trailer/RV $12.00

Georgia State Park Pass is not accepted at Historic Sites. A small admission fee is required to view the museum and mound area.

Some information has been provided by GA State Parks Dept.