Hiking Tallulah Gorge

About two hours north of Atlanta and past Lake Lanier is a hidden treasure and one of Georgia’s 7 Natural Wonders, Tallulah Gorge. The gorge itself is 2 miles long and 1,000 feet deep and is home to a series of six waterfalls known as Tallulah Falls. The waterfalls are a sight to behold even though the water flow is restricted by the dam at Tallulah Falls Lake Hydroelectric Plant created by Georgia Power. They have water release dates to increase the river flow for aesthetic value and kayakers but there are no scheduled releases after Memorial Day, which allows hikers to have access to the lower portion of the river gorge.

So, here’s the deal; if you want to hike the gorge floor and along the river, you must have a special permit. They give out 100 a day so it is important to arrive early and possibly even on a day in the middle of the week. Children are allowed. You can also schedule a tour with a group of ten or more, which will be helpful if you are not experienced at hiking. My group was too small for a guide, so we went on our adventure alone. I have some experience hiking but only on marked trails. I really thought in my mind that my adventures in Portland at the Columbia Gorge were superior even though looking back I didn't do much. I must warn everyone that this hike at Tallulah is quite intense for a beginner. I went with two of my former students and we thought we were going to just stroll along the river and take cute Instagram and Snapchat pictures but it was way more difficult than that.

Video of L'eau d'Or Falls

After being given a Tallulah Gorge Map, we began our hike down a steep set of stairs that had multiple benches for breaking. The first main landing is where you cross a suspension bridge over the river. The bridge is secure but it does move slightly and the view is incredible. There are so many awesome places to take photos on this hike. Once across the bridge you go down another set of stairs to the gorge floor. In total they say it’s around 1000 steps. 

View of Tempesta Falls from
Suspension Bridge

Me on the Suspension Bridge

Once at the bottom you can view the gorge floor and head back up the steps or you can cross the river if you have a permit. The first falls is Hurricane Falls, where we took pictures and hopped across rocks. We got a little wet but it was good fun.

Gorge Floor and Panorama of the top of Hurricane Falls

The Rocks We Hopped

This is when things started to get real. There is no real trail to follow, you just want to stay close to the river and not slip on rocks. Tons of spider webs below, random lizards, black ants (all the least of my concerns) and if you aren’t experienced you will be confused. I started to get the hang of things and figured out how to find out better path, hop rocks, and scale through the woods and steep rocks. You are supposed to follow the trail down to the third waterfall where you can finally cross again. Of course me and my group accidentally crossed too early at the second waterfall, Oceana Falls, which is dangerous, slippery and not smart. Good thing the river flow was around 41cfs. Anyway, we only realized our error when saw people stopped and ate lunch, took pictures on the rocks at the top of waterfall, but went back to the other side. (Side note: I thought it was a little shady no one said anything considering they saw us struggling early, but I digress.) We were a little nervous, tired, and overwhelmed but managed to eat our lunch on a large bed rock. After about resting thirty minutes we ran into a solo hiker who helped us back across the river and guided us the rest of the way. (See, everything happens for a reason.)

The Slope She Slid Down
(Note: We are on the
wrong side at this point)

The slope down was steep and I had to watch my friend slide down a rock into the river. It was shallow and the water was slow so she crawled out. My other friend broke a nail, I bruised my knees after slipping twice and we all got completely wet. I would say the damage was minor and we reached the third and gorgeous waterfall Sliding Rock Falls. Here you can slide down the waterfall and swim. It was breathtaking and worth the hike but I was beat. 

We Made It!
Sliding Rock Falls

Now keep and mind, you could hike back up the way we came at any point but I could not picture it even though I saw people do it. We crossed the falls after relaxing in the water and eventually began our hike back up. 

Going back up required hiking up is a steep set of rocks. We were told 45 degrees but I want to say it may have been 60 degrees in some spots. The step ups were high and I had to take a few breaks while I watched happy kids hop up past me. Once you reach the top it’s a simple relatively flat trail that takes you back around the park by crossing the dam on a main road. Overall, it took us about 5 hours to complete the hike but I am so thankful for the solo hiker who lent a helping hand and his water when mine ran out. I am so amazingly proud of myself, my group, and I am tempted to do it again. (Not going to say when just yet.) My body was in full pain for two days, my butt was on fire, and my calves were in shock but I survived Tallulah River Gorge; So, here are my survival tips for you if you are new to hiking and want to go to the gorge:

• Wear shoes with good traction that you don’t mind getting wet
• Wear mosquito repellent and long pants/leggings if you are worried about bugs or poison oak. (I have no bites to show for!)
• Bring a backpack with a lunch and plenty of water
• Have items you don’t want to get wet in a double Ziploc in your bag
• Stretch before, during, and after.
• Take plenty of breaks and be patient with yourself
• Keep a Change of Clothes and Shoes in your car
• Get a guide if you are new to this (like me!)
• Take lots of pictures!!!
• Be prepared for a learning experience and memories
• For a School Field Trip I recommend visiting the Hydroelectric Plant for a tour, hiking the trails above the gorge, and then hiking the steps down to the gorge floor, maybe crossing the river, but coming right back up the same way.

When we made it to the other side...

The Best Glamour Shot I Got from the Gorge

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