This is my GOTO for any season ... doing this hike in summer is just extraordinary. We did this…read morehike with our dog , it's medium with lil elevations . I love the swimming hole here , not so deep for you n ur fur babies . Mine is a 78 pound lab mix who loves water . Most of the trail is covered with trees so even on a hot summer day you can totally attempt this .

The trail was a good workout and the falls were beautiful. However the road to the trail was…read morebrutal. A section of the road is washed out - you have to drive through a stream. Most of the road is rocks and ruts - best for you to have a sturdy 4 wheel drive vehicle.

If there wasn't a recent rain or snow, the falls are not really falling. Even with the little…read morewater fall I was there for, it was still memorable. Plenty of parking. BUT, not free and definitely not easy. No cell phone signal to download app that is required to pay the $5 fee. Driving in can be stressful, as there are motorcycles zooming all around you on the winding roads. Also the loud motorcycles take away from the sound ambiance at times. There are toilets, but they are literally holes in the ground with no lighting, so just be mentally prepared for that. There is a north waterfall and a south waterfall. The north is not only larger, but an easier climb. South waterfall is tiny and basically switchback stairs. The best activity here would be camping in either tent or rv by the beautiful creek.

Definitely a good set of falls (Upper and Lower falls) to see in the area…read more This is one of the easier falls to get to in the area. It is right off of 19 which is a 2-lane road. To get to either the upper or lower falls you park at the DeSoto Falls recreation area. This location has a campground and a parking lot next to it. There were about 40 parking spots for cars at the parking lot portion along with a bathroom and informational board. If you are going to go here make sure you look at their website and download the app or purchase a parking pass before you get there. There is very poor cell service when you are at the parking lot and the sign recommends going online to purchase a pass through the app but with poor cell service that is problematic. A parking pass is $5 and can be purchased online or at any state park. The trailhead for both the upper and lower falls is right after the campground and across a small bridge spanning a lovely creek. The upper falls is to the right and the lower falls is to the left. The lower falls are about 1/4 of a mile up a fairly steep and often narrow trail for most of the path. The viewing platform is smaller than the Upper falls platform but can fit several people comfortably. I really enjoyed this hike and the one to the Upper Falls. They were in a drought when I went so the falls are not really full but the view was still nice. If you feel adventurous, I would recommend doing the Upper falls after this. Enjoy.

Amazing views, and worth the drive up, but... oh, that road. Took my Jeep Gladiator and drove up to…read morethe top. For the last mile, in first gear the whole way. One close call: someone in a giant GMC SUV had trouble maintaining lane in a curve. Not for the leaden footed drivers. We parked at the first parking lot, which was pretty full, but after the steep, short walk up the remainder, found 3 more spots up top. It's worth checking. The views were spectacular. Our 16 year old dog had some trouble with all the steps, but managed it. Also, more graffiti than you're likely to see in any one place, but climb those stairs, get above the graffiti, and it's worth every step!

The views from the top of Bell Mountain are spectacular! The drive up the mountain is not for the…read moreweak either. My husband and I took some great photos, but at the very top deck I could barely stand still due to all of the gnats flying around!! (Nov 1)

I've never had such difficulty following a trail to the point I felt like giving up, but I almost…read moredid today. - - - I've come to face some hard facts in the last few weeks that has put me in a sort of funk. A) I'm getting older B) my body isn't responding the way it used to C) I've gained more weight in the last year than the past 5 years combined D) I'm tired all the time E) Aches & pains have become full time occurrences F) I am slowly losing my will to hike (which I love) or to work out (which I hate) In an effort to lose 60 lbs before the end of the year, I have embarked on a campaign to hike off my weight. This will also include biking when I get down a few more pounds and running once I've shed 40. Why mention that? So you would know my determination to complete this trail was unwavering, although I got lost and bruised trying to follow the nearly impossible to read faded map at the parking entrance. I spent nearly an hour trying to forage my way through the woods once I missed my turn. I lost the trail as I followed the wrong path along Holly Creek and I wasn't the only one! I met two couples also lost that were coming back from where I was headed. It was treacherous, and I lost my footing several times, nearly broke my camera. I should have known the trail shouldn't be this hard, but I kept searching anyway. Scraped, battered and bruised I returned to my car feeling defeated and frustrated. "You're smarted than this Richard! Don't let this trail defeat you" I said to myself. It was then I decided to take one more look at that map, and that's when I noticed a faint white line outlining the trail, which was different that the dark dotted line I was trying to follow before. After I learned the correct path, the trail was much easier to follow. So, here's what you need to know in a nutshell: - - - FOLLOW THE CORRECT TRAIL * From the parking area, follow the trail uphill. Downhill just leads to the river. * You will come to a point in about half a mile where the creek clearly splits. As the path takes you towards the creek, look for a green blaze marker on a tree near the shore. This is where you MUST cross through the creek. * Emery Creek Trail is unlike any other trail I've been on. THERE ARE NO FOOTBRIDGES to cross water. YOU MUST go directly through the creek, which means you might want to wear shorts & water shoes with grip. Most of the crossings will bring the water just a few inches above your ankle, but there was one crossing that was practically thigh high. * The stones in the creek bed are SLIPPERY!!! BE CAREFUL!!! You can easily lose your balance. * You will cross the river again 8 times, not counting a few low volume streams. The trail is clearly visible once you know how to follow it. JUST REMEMBER that each time the trail seems to end at the river, look to the other side and you will see the trail picks up again. Sometimes you will also see a green blaze attached to the tree, but sometimes you will not. * Once you see the old abandoned truck shell, you are about 1 mile from the falls. On the last creek crossing, there will be a sign on the other side directing you to turn left for the falls or keep straight towards the overlook. * Overall it is approximately 2.5 miles one way to the lower falls and 3.1 to the upper falls. I was exhausted and running out of daylight, so I didn't spend the extra energy to see the upper falls. 6.2 miles (round trip) - - - FINAL THOUGHTS What a BEAUTIFUL waterfall. The only truly way to get a good pic will require walking through the pool at the base, but this shouldn't be a problem since you'll already be soaking wet anyway. Although there were several teens lounging near the beginning of the trail, I walked to the falls and back without ever seeing another soul. I must admit that when I got to the final crossing (which I didn't know was the final) I felt defeated. I thought maybe I'd gone too far & missed the falls. I sat on a stone contemplating turning around. I listened for the fall, but could not hear or see it. I decided to cross the creek but had made up my mind I was definitely turning around in 100 yards if I didn't see or hear anything. No sooner than I crossed the creek did I see a hidden sign directing me left to the falls. Within 200 feet of that sign the falls came into view and I could finally hear that familiar waterfall sound. I thought to myself, how many times in my life have I battled to accomplish something, only to feel defeated & turn away because I couldn't see the finish... which was closer than I thought! I love nature because it brings clarity. So, if you are reading this & you are fighting a hard battle that has you feeling defeated... take heart. Our life map can sometimes be hard to read and we make wrong turns that leave us bruised. Even on the right trail we still encounter obstacles that must be overcome. It's a long walk but don't give up. You are closer to reaching your goal than you think! 2018/30

We loved this trail! Like the other reviews say, be prepared for a moderate intensity and to most…read morelikely get your feet wet. We crossed the river several times by managing to jump the rocks to the other side and several times by just breaking down, taking our shoes off and walking straight through the creek bed. Also once you get to the falls, we had to do what seemed like some vertical rock climbing to get to the upper levels. It can be steep! Ran into a few other hikers on the trail or camping up by the falls but for the most part it was a peaceful hike. Would only have been better if there were a few more trail markers! We were unsure where to cross at some points and had to double back a few times to find the right path. We wore our FitBits and estimated that the trail was approximately 8 miles round trip. I also brought my 12 pound Long hair Chihuahua Loki because he loves to hike. He did great even with his little legs and jumping over fallen trees. He had to be carried over the streams but otherwise he wanted to lead the way! If he can do it, we all can!

To get to the parking area for this is a 40 min dirt road drive on beautiful red earth and cliffs…read moreon the side of you going up. The views are beautiful but the drive is something haha. The hike itself is straight forward and beautiful. The makeup of the rocks causes them to appear like they glitter on the trail which was magic to my kids. There is a lean to on the trail they don't suggest using due to erosion. There are two nice metal markers in the rock to denote the official start of the Appalachian trail and what a glorious view you can sit and enjoy the beginning of your life changing journey!

Beautiful views and a wonderful trail to the summit!:) Not a…read moredifficult hike- family/kid friendly. I would recommend hiking the trail earlier in the morning- seems like it gets busy later in the day....

We stayed here on our way back from Savannah on a whim. The falls are gorgeous and the park itself…read moreis very nice. Beware, it is a very steep hill to get up to the campsites. The sites themselves are very nice, and it is quiet. We did get hit by a storm, but our camper held up quite well. The lodge is also a beautiful building and has scenic views. The park was clean and there is a small nature center with live animals and reptiles. The staff are friendly and helpful too. The one downside is the firewood issue that persists in most state parks. You aren't allowed to bring in firewood from other places (unless bought in the area), and they charge you a ridiculous amount for what are little more than shims to use. Overall, this was a wonderful end to our Georgia journey.

Nice place to walk or relax It was beautiful…read more Lots of people walking and enjoying the views Small body of water to put your feet in So calming.... Great place to have a picnic

The Tesnatee Gap parking area has space for about 15-plus cars off Hwy 348 which is also known as…read morethe Richard Russell Scenic Highway that's approximately 12 miles northwest of Helen, 15 miles southeast of Blairsville. Tesnatee Gap Lookout Point offers visitors a serene and picturesque setting to enjoy the natural beauty of mother nature and also provides access to the AT. With stunning views and peaceful surroundings, this lookout point provides a perfect spot for relaxation and reflection, it's definitely worth spending a few minutes of your time while driving through the area.

On our way from Helen to the Wolf Mountain Vineyards, we took the backroads including some of the…read morecurvy twisty roads known as the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway. Along the road a number of parking areas with lookouts but none were as fabulous as this one which is near the Tesnatee Gap. The drive is amazing in a fancy sports car and if you're a motorcycler, just as incredible. Here at the gap - some 3000 feet ASL according to the GPS - it was absolutely stunning and about what I expected to see. Come back in a week or two and you'll have the leaves changing. This is not the highest point in Georgia. That would be Brasstown Bald and it's about 15 miles north of here and we did not have time to visit. I guess because of boredom, the kids have spray painted graffiti and tags on the parking lot ground. Thankfully, they haven't damaged the amazing view. As for the turd in the big white pickup truck that decided to blast us with his horn... I hope you hit a tree. [Review 15947 overall - 445 in Georgia - 1452 of 2021.]

Found in the Chattahoochee National Forest is the Cohutta Overlook. We paid this hidden in plain…read moresite overlook a visit while driving into the city of Ellijay from Fort Mountain State Park. Being a shade under 5 miles from Fort Mountain along GA-2/GA-52, i'm hesitant to say you can't miss this area because you can. Only a sign and a road going into a wooded area are all that alerts you. I'd advise you to turn on in. This lone road has parking spots along it, and loops around back out to GA-2/GA-52. Very close to the entrance of this road is a very small dirt trail, marked by a small wooden sign listed as "overlook", that goes up. Yea it can be sketchy looking, but if you head on up the trail, you'll be met with a stone circular clearing that gives you a nice view. On a clear day, it's beautiful, and while I wasn't here at night, I can only imagine that stargazing here at night must be out of this world. The actual trail is barely a quarter of a mile and is more a nature walk than any sort of a hike. There are a few wooden/stone stairs, but practically anyone can make it to the top. Very little foot traffic here, as my girlfriend and I had the place to ourselves for several minutes, which was nice. There is no physical address, but there are coordinates entered (34.785218, -84.626853). Nice little find that you probably weren't looking for. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

April 4, 2014, Tony and I was driving the back roads of Georgia on our way to Helen, GA to visit…read morethe Bavarian Village. We passed Fort Mountain State Park, which we love by the way. We visited there a few weeks back, but this time ON TO HELEN....on down the road towards Elijay, Ga I noticed a sign "COHUTTA OVERLOOK"...I said...BRAKE..side trip.. My husband is used to this..that is why I travel the back roads so I can find interesting sites, old homes and buildings and overlooks...I do this quite regularly...Glad I am the driver. I also Brake for Yard Sales...lol I drove out the side road and parked along the narrow ONE WAY road..and we started to climb up the side of the small mountain via a trail and some stairs...its a nice little HEART POUNDING hike..but once you are at the top...oh WOW !!! the View is AWESOME...STUNNING..the adjectives keep going on, on and on...You have to take the 10-15 minutes out of your schedule to check out this great vista. I loved it. I took several photos ( of course ) And AGAIN..I can't say it enough....FREE FREE FREE !!!!