Overall great hike. A few steep sections but nothing too crazy. Beautiful scenery the whole way…read more Would recommend for anyone looking for a solid outdoor experience.

My partner and I recently visited Clarksville for a spontaneous hiking trip. Panther Creek Trail…read morewas at the very top of our list and we were not disappointed. At first we were worried that the trail would be closed due to the storm damage that occurred during the prior year but we drove by and there were multiple parties going in and out of the trail so we figured we would go for it! This trail is long and arduous, so be prepared! Us Floridians definitely overestimated our hiking abilities but we still got it done (thankfully). Bring around 2L per person or more if it's a hot day. We started on a Friday around 2pm and finished by 6:30pm and clocked in a total of 8 miles round trip. If you can go earlier, I highly recommend doing so to have plenty of light. There's two main parts of the trail where the bridges were damaged and removed. In one section, there's several logs that lay across the stream. Find a big stick, and scramble across. In the second section, the water is shallow enough to walk across without the possibility of getting your legs wet. But even if you get wet, both sections are not deeper than your ankle. I don't know if I'd recommend this for children as there are multiple sudden drop offs but more power to you if your family can do this! If you are a hiker, this does not disappoint!

Maxie Lee Wright Duke was an avid waterfall hunter and good friend to Sidney Holmes Ballenger, Jr.,…read morea man who loved waterfalls so much that he literally wrote the pioneering book on finding them in Oconee County, South Carolina. When he died @ age 73, Maxie wanted to honor him by petitioning the U. S. Department of the Interior in hopes of naming an UNNAMED local waterfall in his honor. While her 1993 petition was denied, the effort didn't end. In late 2014, Renee Hattenstein reapplied to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to have the falls officially named Sid's Falls and in April of 2016, the name Sid's Falls was accepted by the board. Sadly I found an online obituary stating Maxie Lee Wright Duke passed away in December of 2020. But Oconee County residence wanted to honor her by unofficially naming a waterfall after her in close proximity to Sid's Falls. As a matter of fact, Maxie Duke Falls shares most of the same trail and parking that you would use to visit Sid's Falls. [ THE EXPERIENCE ] I WANT TO GIVE FAIR WARNING right up front that while 95% of this trail is super easy, the final leg of the trail to the base of the falls is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART or anyone not capable of using BOTH HANDS during the descent. You will absolutely need to posses basic skills in climbing and some upper body and leg strength. The trail to the bottom at minimum fits the CLASS 3 hike rating and the breakoff trail to Maxie Duke is practically CLASS 4 as ropes are available to assist climbers on the steep, steep terrain. PARK at the small area off Damascus Church Road between Damascus Baptist Church and Cool Springs Road (State Route S-37-797). Walk around the gate and enjoy approx. 1.4 miles of easy hiking on a wide old road that passes two open grassy fields along the way. The grade varies, but typically stays within a 5% differential. However, once the trail enters into the woods and narrows, it becomes steeper. You will reach a point where the trail forks right or left. RIGHT is to Sid's Falls and LEFT is to Maxie Duke Falls. Here is where either trail gets noticeable difficult as the grade to Sid's can exceed -34% (according to AllTrails). Maxie Duke's trail is even steeper and may require the assistance of a preinstalled rope for most of the descent. Once you reach the creek you will need to wet cross over to the right side in order to achieve the best view of the falls. I ducked under a large fallen tree and discovered a dry trail leading to the base of the falls. I walked right out onto the stone ledge of the falls through the water and did not find the stones to be particularly slippery. In fact, I had good grip but I still remained very cautious. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] When returning, you could also continue your adventure and follow the trail right of the split to Sid's Falls. But again, BE FOREWARNED the trail to Sid's is only slightly less steep, and you will absolutely need both hands and a lower center of gravity to remain balanced! Plan on getting your feet wet @ both falls to attain the best vantage for photos. Proceed with caution, respect the power of nature and know your own ability. It took us about 2 hours 20 minutes to hike from parking to both falls and back, which included rests and about 25 minutes of picture taking. ~ Round trip length to both: 3.3 miles ~ Elevation Gain: UNKNOWN (but probably 600+ feet) OVERALL this is a wonderful hike that will fool you into thinking it's easy for its majority... But do not choose to visit this trail casually! You're gonna get dirty, you're gonna be very tired, but the payoff is well worth the effort to see these two 50 foot beauties! NOT RECOMMENDED for young children, dogs, anyone with balance issues or solo hikers because it is not a popular trail (yet) and injuring yourself would make the return ascent very difficult. 2022 / 73

This is a beautiful trail that leads to two stunning waterfalls. The trail can be challenging in…read moresome areas due to rocky terrain and roots on the path. However, overall it's a pleasant trail with several creek crossings and rhododendron tunnels. The first falls, Panther Falls, is a sight to behold and you can even walk in the pool at the base of the falls. As you proceed from Panther Falls, the trail becomes harder as you go up the side of the falls, and there are handrails due to steep drop-offs. The trail is an in and out and takes you through lush rhododendron forests, alongside a scenic Creek. The effort is well worth it, though, as the falls themselves are magnificent, with cascading waters that make for an incredible photo opportunity. Angel Falls at the end of the trail can be harder to see due to plants growing over it partially. The Angel Fall Trailhead is located in Loop 2, area 2 of the Rabun Beach Campground. This is mostly an easy trail with a couple of short, steep runs. The payoff is reaching the observation deck where you can enjoy Angel Falls. Here you will see dogs on leash, kid-friendly, forests, rivers, and hiking. Great, short, easy "Moderate" hike. Parking is enough for a few cars only, but nearby there is a campground with a lot of parking. The hike itself is pretty easy. The peaceful surroundings and the sound of rushing water create a serene atmosphere, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.

Angel Falls was tough to find with Google providing the wrong location, but the trailhead is off…read moreRabun Rd. about 4 miles down from where Google says it is! Happy we continued the beautiful drive around the lake to find it. The parking area is small, but we also were the only car there for our visit. It's a short, easy walk (just watch out for the roots!) to the falls, but it was a little more advanced after the bridge at the falls. We had lots of rain so the mud was slippery. Must-do hike if you're near!

It is wildly cool that you can still walk/run up this mountain just like the 101st Airborne did in…read morethe 1940s. The trail is gravelled and extremely well maintained since it serves a utility tower on the top of the mountain. The grade of the trail is usually pretty gradual with only a couple portions where it gets really steep, but it is a continual slope for 3 miles so you have to be at least a little physically fit to tackle it. There is a really nice parking area with an informational sign right off the turn to Currahee Mountain Road where you can park. The trail from the parking not is not "original" to the Camp, but it comes around a curve and then joins up with the original trail that comes out of the Camp.

I just moved here, and this has by far been the best spot. We took the jeep to the top and sat and…read moreenjoyed the view for a while. It's pretty cold this time of year so bundle up. SO WORTH IT.

Decently maintained trail head with great views. A little over a mile to the waterfall. Good amount…read moreof parking at the trailhead. There are some large logs that you need to climb over near the falls and if it's rained recently at all the pathway can get slippery. Super worth the short hike!! The falls itself is stunning and you can swim up to it. Water is FREEZING but it's a fun dip!

The falls were just a mile from the trail head. We didn't venture further. It was a fun short out…read moreand back and scenic trail. Fun for the dogs. Fun for us to get a little wet too. This water feeds right into Burton Lake which is beautiful. I had planned to summit Double Spring Knob as my 16th 4ker in Georgia but Wildcat Road was closed for maintenance and it was another 7 mile hike from the closure, something I might have run, but today was a family weekend, and I think I made the right call. Double Knob will have to wait another day.

The visitor center is phenomenal! Movie was down for some reason. The gift shop has loads to choose…read morefrom and the rest rooms were clean and there were many stalls available. There is almost a museum quality to the taxidermy animal scene they have in the middle of the room and along the walls. Truly a special visit! The hike to see the inspirational point and the swinging bridge wasn't too strenuous for my 4 or 5 year old for people's reference when considering it. We are an active family who hikes etc. There were a lot of warnings but we found it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Great hike. The guy with the maps at the front desk should win an oscar for his "it's only two…read moremiles for that loop with the suspension bridge you'll be fine". The stairs up are no joke, especially in the summer. Felt accomplished after completing and had some stunning views!

These falls are gorgeous. But they you will need an suv to ford the river on sandy ford road to get…read moreto trailhead. Currently the bridge to dicks creek is out and you have to either walk on stopping stones, walk on a tree log across or get in the water. All options are worth it as you will love seeing these falls and sitting ththere for hours. So plan ahead and u won't be ddisappointed

There are two things about Georgia that make me scratch my head. One would be some of the old laws…read morethat are still on the books here, such as: 1) It is illegal to keep a donkey in a bathtub. 2) No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket on a Sunday. 3) In Atlanta, it is against the law to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp. WHAT'S IN A NAME? The other thing that makes me scratch my head is how notorious Georgia is for having several places with the same name. Metro Atlanta has over 200 streets with the name Peachtree. Also, if you are looking at a map leading to THIS waterfall, you will notice a town by the name of Pine Mountain in the upper right corner of the state. However, there is also a town by the same name one hour south of Atlanta. Similarly, there are two Dick's Creek (as if one weren't enough) and both have waterfalls bearing their name. The other is "smaller", located about 55 miles east of these falls and is a gorgeous 20-foot multi-tiered waterfall with a swimming hole at the base of the final drop. It is (in my opinion) one of the best-looking waterfalls in Georgia and no hiking required to reach it. You can practically park on the upper tier and find your way down to the swimming hole below. A small waterfall that proves its how you use it that counts. THE HIKE THIS Dick's Creek Falls (located in Rabun County) is much taller @ 60' and looks like a giant Slip n' Slide. To get to the waterfall you must travel Sandy Ford Road until it intersects with the Bartram Trail. Follow the trail north until you cross Dick's Creek. Turn right after crossing the first foot bridge and when you see a second foot bridge on your right, cross it also and continue to follow the trail straight. There will be a small opening on the right side of the trail that leads you to the top of the falls. The vantage point here will allow you to see upstream of the Chattooga River. Continue a few hundred feet down the trail to find an opening that leads you into the Chattooga River. I did not find a direct trail to the base of the falls, but from this opening expect to get your feet wet! You must get wet IF you want a great photo of the falls. But don't fret, the view downstream and upstream on the river is actually more beautiful than the waterfall itself. The river bends and cascades 100 yards from the base of the falls and creates a very unique photo opportunity. The Chattooga River was not deep or raging the day I visited, so the current was mild. It only came as high as my thigh as I crossed over the weirdly hairy stones and a sandy bottom, which I suppose is where Sandy Ford Road gets its name. Upstream I could see kayakers approaching and on the dry boulders near the rivers bend there were sunbathers. The most attractive thing about Dick's Creek Falls is the area surrounding the falls is simply one of the best looking of any of the waterfalls I've been to in the state. Picturesque is the only world that comes to mind. NOTES: While driving to the trailhead, if you stay on Sandy Ford Road past the trail entrance it will lead to a beach-like area off the Chattooga River. This area is downstream of the falls. Also, there are only three places a vehicle could park comfortably near the trailhead. [ DIRECTIONS ] From US-23 (Hwy 441) in Clayton, Georgia travel east on Rickman Road. In 1/2 a mile it will merge into Warwoman Road. 5.3 miles from here make a slight right onto Sandy Ford Road. Stay right and follow it down to the small concrete bridge over Warwoman Creek. Stay on this road approximately 3.2 miles to the Bartram Trailhead (you will see wooden signs). Follow the trailhead to the left of the road as you drove in. The trail to the right will take you back to Warwoman Dell and NOT towards the falls. Once on the trail, make a sharp right after you cross the first foot bridge then another right when you see a second footbridge and follow the sounds of rushing water. Overall trail is about 1.2 miles round trip and not very steep. FINAL THOUGHTS A beautiful waterfall and a even more beautiful natural area to bring the family on a hike (and play in the water). Just know there is no easy way to get a full and unobstructed photo of the falls without walking out into the Chattooga River. I did see what seemed to be an unsanctioned side trail to the base, but it was steep and didn't at all look safe. Another option would be to bring your own kayak and launch from further upstream. Here also is a link to the OTHER Dick's Creek Falls just in case you have a little more adventure in you after your visit: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dicks-creek-falls-cleveland?osq=Dick%27s+Creek+Falls 2018/56

Sometimes you just stumble across beauty when you weren't even looking for it. Case in point:…read moreRichard R. And I were driving along on a destination to a waterfall, when we both pointed at the huge waterfall we almost drove past! Located on the property of Mark of the Potter off of GA-197 in Habersham County, this is a waterfall you don't get to have much access to if the store is closed, and sadly we visited this waterfall during COVID times and they were closed until further notice. Being closed doesn't mean you shouldn't stop and take a look however, because the waterfall is pretty impressive. Fortunately for us, the falls were flowing very well for us on this day. I'm not quite sure we have much access to this when the shop is open, but it's definitely worth the visit regardless! To get there on purpose (unlike what we did), the best way is to just use the address to Mark of the Potter here: 9982 GA-197, Clarkesville, GA 30523 Such a pleasant surprise to see a gushing waterfall visible from the road. If you find yourself in this area, stop on in!