Tallulah Gorge State Park Trails, GA

While not nearly as vast as the Grand Canyon, Tallulah Gorge is most definitely a sight to behold. Although Georgia has another canyon known as the "Little Grand Canyon", Tallulah Gorge is much more worthy of the title.


Most of the parks trails are out and back, with options to loop to other trails or to continue on longer and more difficult trails with a new name. (Basically one trail stops, and another picks up where it left off. Usually this marks a much more difficult trail.) Of the several trails in the park and the gorge, most are easily accessed and are easy to moderate, such as the Short Line Trail and North and South Rim. There are however a few that are strenuous, such as Hurricane Falls and Inspiration Point. Even some with much more risk, reserved for the more adventurous than what usually visits the park.Most of the trails (Accessible through the State Park)start very near the gorge and continue along the rim. North and south rim trails offer breathtaking views and are not too populated. Especially the Hurricane Falls Trail which descends to the bottom of the gorge, offering beatiful waterfalls and a look up to Inspiration Point over 1000 feet up. There is also Rim to Rim hiking via Hurricane Falls. Access to the canyon floor is granted via permit, but if you go down, it is a long way back up. Most of the trail down is stairway because their just is no way to access the floor any other way. The cliffs and gorge walls are completely carved of solid rock.

As the trails range from difficulty, they also differ in compostion. Some trails are dirt with ALOT of exposed roots and smooth rock to all rock. You will find trails near the visitor center very improved and smooth, even with mulch and the further you go, the less improvements. There are virtually no improvements on some trails, making for a very exciting hike. Off trail hiking is not forbidden, but you have to be careful. THe Georgia Mountains are full of gorges and cliffs that take you by surprise, and Tallulah Gorge is NO EXCEPTION!

The park also offers trails with back country hiking and camping.

Tallulah Gorge is most definitely a place to visit if you love to hike, climb (permits can be obtained), bike or just get out there for a nice "walk: or a downright challenge!

2012-08-06 satillayakker