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Watson Mill Bridge State Park

4.4 (16 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Playground slide

Peaceful! Nice nature walk to take with kids, plenty of little photo ops next to the water! The playground was a nice little break for mom while kids got the rest of their energy out!

Lisa W.

This is a very beautiful spot to visit. We rented one of the log cabins at the equestrian campground. The cabin is really well built and has a lovely rustic charm. A little bit dirty but nothing that couldn't be overcome with a broom and the flip of a mattress. It has heat for the colder months and AC for summer. Important to note: 1.) If you arrive after 5:00 pm you retrieve a key from a lockbox. There is a number to phone. No one answered but the campground host was able to help. 2.) Bring a lantern and/or a flashlight. The campground is very dark (great for sleeping.) 3.) There is only one flush toilet and one semi outdoor shower stall for all campers to share. Each time we used the restroom we had to wait in line. Some folks might be cool with that as it is camping but for me personally that would be the one negative. All in all a very pretty place with a nice historic atmosphere.

Richard R.

I caught wind of this place from reading the Atlanta Yelp threads and decided that it would be a great adventure for our Memorial Monday afternoon. We packed up the kids and all our beach/picnic gear and headed to see this landmark and play in it's waters. However, it was not at all what we were expecting. The standing water had a oily haze across it's surface, mosquito larva was in one section and huge schools of tadpoles in another. There was an odor in the air of stagnant water and/or something dead or dying. In the small whirlpools there was this brown gewy foam building up. We also spotted a dead fish in one algae filled pool of water. So needless to say we decided to forgo our plans to get wet and just admired the landmark instead. SUMMARY: It's kind of a dumping ground, as people have left behind shoes, flip flops, cans, tents and towels. Too bad, but it was still a great opportunity to visit local history. In the end, we spent a half hour taking a few pics and heading back to our car. The bridge itself is very cool and worth a visit if you are into landmarks like these. Georgia once had over 200 covered bridges, but only 16 now remain. We'll use this visit as a fun opportunity to begin a new quest with our children to find all the remaining covered bridges in Georgia. I loved seeing the old wooden nails used in the original construction. Overall, it was a pretty solid structure and not as rickety as it looks. The water flow was pretty low, which may be the major reason for the stagnant water pools. Probably better to visit after heavy rainfalls. We drove to Fort Yargo Beach instead for the kids to have a little cleaner water fun, which they greatly appreciated since their mom practically bathed them in antibacterial gel after splashing some water from the river on themselves. LOL

Watson Mill Bridge State Park
Falicia G.

This park is awesome. (Go Team Albino Cows!) I went on a group "camping" trip with about 8 friends. We arrived around 10pm to our cabin (which was rustic and beautiful). It was pitch dark. You could see thousands of stars. Beautiful!! But, there were ominous white cows with red eyes staring at us. Scary!! We instantly made friends with our neighbors who taught us how to 2 step. That night we sat up sharing stories and having fun. Saturday, we woke up and went on a 4 mile hike. The trail was fairly easy and the views were great. We hiked to an old power station with only the brick wall remaining. We finished up our hike then rented canoes and paddled to a beautiful waterfall. This park has so much to do. They have several campsites and a cabin available for rent. There's a covered bridge (one of only 20 in the state), horse stalls, bicycling, canoeing, paddle boats rentals, and fishing.

Deidre K.

Just a little pit stop off the trip we were on. Great little covered bridge. THe Park looks amazing. Construction next to the bridge with tractors.

The bridge and water view. Ignore the blurry pup in the corner. She was moving during the pano picture and came out blurry.

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11 months ago

Many picnic areas that are first come first serve but you need to reserve the shelters in advance.

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5 years ago

Love the old bridge and it's history. Nice hiking trails. Also has picnic areas.

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6 years ago

A beautiful little gem just 30 minutes away from Athens. A wonderful place to enjoy nature.

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Review Highlights - Watson Mill Bridge State Park

A beautiful little gem just 30 minutes away from Athens.

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Riley Moore Falls

Riley Moore Falls

(4 reviews)

This is the best waterfall we got to visit in SC this far. After we left Reedy Branch Falls we…read moredrove here. Well, as close as we could get. I didn't realize that we couldn't drive all the way to the trailhead so we had a long hike in store due to me having to carry my toddler most of the time. I should have re-read the previous reviews before coming. My friend did help me carry her as well and for that I was very thankful. So definitely don't recommend this hike with a little one unless strapped in a carrier. Also, I don't recommend it for the elderly either. It's definitely a wilderness hike deal with roots and elevation change. In fact, it's mostly downhill on the way to the falls, but on the way back it's pretty much all uphill, which was not fun with aforementioned young child. It's about a half mile to the actual trailhead and then another 0.7 mile to the falls. That's about 2.4 miles round trip. The reason of course that my boys absolutely became enamored with this place is the large swimming hole. It is wonderful and has plenty of space. The waterfall itself is beautiful and although it's not as tall as others, its width is quite impressive. I was trying to get as close as I could and even noticed a hidden part of the falls inside of the rock structure. That was so cool!! The sand at the base and shore give it a beachy vibe. We definitely packed it in and out making sure not to leave anything behind as to preserve the area as best as possible. Needless to say we were wiped by the time we made it back to our vehicles, but we're still glad we decided to venture here. Coming back with my hubby and boys in the very near future. Happy yelping!

I just wanted to update my 3/15/20 review below to add I've now done this hike several times, but…read moreTHIS time I had the chance to hike it with a friend who is directly related to the namesake of the waterfall... Riley Moore. Sandie is a church friend of mine and Riley Moore was her Great Great Uncle (I believe that's right). He once upon a time operated a grist mill here at the top of the falls. She's been trying to get here to see the waterfall, but couldn't find it and wanted to join us (along with her family) since I knew the way. Upon further research I discovered there are actually still remnants of the mill including visible drill holes, spikes and bolts. Thought that was pretty cool info to share! [ [ [ PREVIOUS REVIEW ] ] ] Riley Moore Falls is small in height but HUGE in personality. It's located off State Road S37-748, which is a nicely maintained gravel road where cars and trucks alike can comfortably traverse. ~~~ DIRECTIONS From Westminster, SC - DO NOT turn onto Cobb Bridge Road from Long Creek Hwy (Hwy 76) where you will see the brown & white sign pointing you in the direction of Riley Moore Falls. Our GPS had us go this way, then left onto State Road S37-748, but the road was CLOSED during our visit! INSTEAD, turn onto PU-32 also known as Rocky Fork Road. Turn left onto a gravel road near Rocky Fork Baptist Church and follow that until it dead ends @ State Road S37-748 (also known as Spy Rock Road). Turn right and drive approx. 1.4 miles (4 minutes) to 748c (aka Riley Moore Shoals Road). Park at the intersection of State Road S37-748 and 748c. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE 748c in a car or minivan. Low clearance vehicles will find the terrain on this road to be VERY difficult to navigate without bottoming out or getting stuck. I'd also recommend 4x4 capability on wet days! There can be several deep-pocketed muddy areas after heavy rains. ~~~ THE TRAIL Once you reach the intersection of Spy Rock Rd (S37-748) and 748c, park roadside on Spy Rock, secure your vehicle and begin your hike approx. 1/2 mile down the "primitive road." IF you have a high ground clearance SUV or truck, you can drive the primitive road another half mile or so to a second parking area near the trailhead. The primitive road is VERY BUMPY  and can be muddy in spots after heavy rains, so a 4x4 is best. After reaching the second parking area, follow the marked trail on the left!!! The trail is a little over a 1/2 mile to the falls from here. The trail is fairly straightforward and easy to follow. ~~~ THE FALLS Once you reach the Chauga River, you will notice a large sandy area with plenty of room for an entire horde of hikers!!! Riley Moore Falls is not very tall (only about 12 feet), but it is very wide and has a deep base pool. PRO TIP - Bring swimwear, towels and a picnic, but be sure to pack it in and pack it out. ~~~ THINGS TO KNOW Hiking Distance: 2 miles (round trip to falls from S37-748) Difficulty of hiking 748c: All downhill to trailhead (moderate return) Difficulty of hiking trail to falls: EASY Creek Crossings: NO Elevation Gain: 357 feet Waterfall Height: Approx 12 feet Access to top of falls: NO - not without getting wet Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES Sitting areas @ base: YES + sandy beach RESTROOMS: NO PARKING: YES (along road) + secondary parking area closer to trailhead for trucks and high ground clearance vehicles with room for about 6 cars. ~~~ [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] A lovely waterfall in any season, but also a great spot for a summer swim. While we had the waterfall practically to ourselves during our Mid-March expedition, be advised other trail website reviews say it gets trashy & crowded in summer months. What a shame if that is true because it truly is a treasure. ENJOY! 2022 / 74 #UPDATE 178

Sid's Falls - Can you see me in the photo?

Sid's Falls

(1 review)

It is my honor to introduce Sid's Falls to the yelp community…read more [ THE STORY BEHIND THIS WATERFALL ] It is named after Sidney Holmes Ballenger, Jr., a man who loved waterfalls so much that he literally wrote the pioneering book on finding them in Oconee County, South Carolina. He died @ age 73 and a 1993 petition was sent to the U. S. Department of the Interior in hopes of naming one of the local UNNAMED waterfalls in his honor. By his side on many adventures was his friend Maxie Duke, who actually helped discover and officially name the waterfall currently known as Sid's Falls. 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. *** I absolutely love chasing waterfalls despite TLC's song warning otherwise, so this story of friendship and determination to honor all he had done for Oconee County touched me deeply. I simply couldn't, as an avid hiker and purveyor of waterfall adventures, pass on the opportunity to visit Sid's. During my research of this waterfall duo I discovered a third member of their hiking team, a man named John Danner. Sadly I found an online obituary stating Maxie Lee Wright Duke passed away in December of 2020. Both her & John have waterfalls unofficially named in their honor 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). You will absolutely need both hands and a lower center of gravity to remain balanced, but the payoff is fantastic! Sid's is a beautiful 50+ foot natural wonder. NOTES: Plan on getting your feet wet to attain the best vantage for photos. I walked all the way to the base through the water and did not find the stone ledges to be particularly slippery. Still, proceed with caution and know your own ability. See pics to determine the water level during my hike. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] When returning, you could also continue your adventure and follow the trial left of the split to Maxie Duke Falls. But again, BE FOREWARNED the trail to Maxie Duke is even steeper than to Sid's and may require the assistance of a preinstalled rope for most of the descent. Here you will also need to wet cross the creek to the right side of the falls in order to achieve the best view. 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 a wonderful hike that will fool you into thinking it's easy for its majority... But this sweet thang goes GUANO LOCO on you the final 500 feet and leave you contemplating the foolishness of your life choices! LOL NOT RECOMMENDED for young children, dogs, anyone with balance issues or solo hikers because it is not a popular trail and injuring yourself would make the return ascent very difficult. 2022 / 72

Martin Creek Falls - Base of Martin Creek Falls approximate height here is about 15 to 18 feet of the overall 30 feet height of the entire falls.

Martin Creek Falls

(3 reviews)

Beautiful waterfalls and very easy to get to from warwoman dell parking lot. The trail is abt 2…read moremiles one way with an easy water crossing within 5 min. You can avoid it if you take the trail on the right of road crossing instead of going straight. The path is mostly gentle and downhill to falls but it felt ssteep and uphill on our way back from pinnacle knob at the end of 8 Miles. Always an awesome hike especially after rain or with fall colors

Martin Creek Falls is a beautiful secluded waterfall in Clayton, GA near Warwoman Dell. It is part…read moreof the Chattahoochee National Forest that encompasses the entire Northeast corner of the state of Georgia. The forest itself is 750,145 acres and is so large that it is divided into regions. Martin Creek is located in the Chattooga River District and specifically in Rabun County, whom incorporates the largest portion of the National Forest. 148,684 acres of this massive forest system lie within Rabun County borders. Depending on how much you like hiking, you can get to Martin Creek Falls on a short 1/2 mile hike via Finney Creek Road or a longer 2 mile hike (one way) from Warwoman Dell via the Bartram Trail. If you choose to hike from Warwoman Dell, your extra effort will be rewarded with two additional waterfalls as well as a loop trail highlighting the history of the area. Becky Branch Falls is located near the trailhead at Warwoman Dell and an additional unnamed waterfall is about 1/4 mile south of Martin Creek Falls. Only about 8 feet tall, but it's multiple levels make it a beauty. Martin Creek Falls is one of the prettier waterfalls in North Georgia. It is a multi-tiered waterfall that looks as if it goes on forever from the base. It is also one of the few waterfalls that I wish the vegetation would be cut away to make the full view of the falls visible. From the deck at its base you can see the largest drop, but the upper tiers become more difficult to see as vegetation near the middle tier blocks the view. Still, it is a gorgeous waterfall that makes wandering in this neck of the woods an incredibly satisfying adventure. The lower part of the falls are shaded while the upper part is sunny, so bring a UV filter (which I forgot) for best DSLR results. 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. 2.5 miles from here you will pass the parking entrance to Warwoman Dell, which is difficult to see, but look for a small brown sign with a picnic table symbol and turn right. You can either park here and take Bartram Trail to the falls (about 2 miles one way) OR continue along Warwoman Road to Finney Creek Road. Approximate address for Finney Creek Road is 3742 Warwoman Rd, Clayton, GA 30525. TURN LEFT. It is a gravel road across from an open grassy field. The trailhead to the falls is approximately 1.1 miles from Warwoman Road or approximately 1/2 mile from the Wildlife Management Check-In station that you will pass along Finney Creek Road. Hike from this trailhead to the falls is approximately 1/2 mile round trip. Recommended for families with young children as they can also splash around in the pool of water at the waterfalls base, so bring their swimsuits and ENJOY! 2018/54

Fall Branch Falls - The final place

Fall Branch Falls

(34 reviews)

Relatively easy hiking trail to a waterfall in the Cherry Log/Blue Ridge area. Kids as young as 3…read morecan walk the trail. It's a pretty short trail to the waterfall approximately 1/2 mile. The cell service is poor getting to the trail so map it out before hand. Along the trail you will see a Glamping camp, which is very cute. Definitely would recommend as a family outing.

I was finally able to get some lite hiking in. Fall Branch Falls was the perfect trail to get back…read moreinto it. All the Yelp Reviews are pretty spot on and all agree. A nice moderate trail deep in the woods, which I liked because the shade kept everything a little cooler. The trail is very easy to follow and not overly long. Caution needs to be taken as there are many tree roots extending above the ground and could easily cause a trip. Careful is key. A rise in elevation of approximately 300 feet over half a mile makes it a decent cardio walk. With many different trees, plants and flowers along the way. All culminating with a beautiful waterfall. Note: depending on the season and amount of rain will determine the amount of water coming over the falls. Two minor items that need to be corrected. 1. Yelp has the wrong address (or pin drop) I'm not sure which. Not even close. 6 more miles down a gravel road to be exact. I'll try and fix that. 2. Not one sign or directional indicating you're are heading in the right direction. But other than that a very enjoyable experience.

Watson Mill Bridge State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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