Toccoa Falls, GA

Toccoa Falls is located on the Toccoa Falls College campus in the small town of Tocco, GA. At 186 feet, it is one of the tallest sheer vertical falls in Georgia.


The trail to the falls actually starts at the college gift shop. (The college is a very small, and relaxing campus.) The hike up is on a well maintained trail along Toccoa Creek. The incline is not steep, but could offer a little workout for those not use to hiking or walking unimproved trails. Toccoa Creek is fast moving, shallow, and filled with rocks, many of which were deposited below the falls after a dam break on Toccoa Creek north of the falls in 1977.You reach the falls shortly and you wonder how is such a beautiful place so well hidden so close to a major roadaway only a few hundred yards away! The 186 foot drop ends in a crystal clear pool. Off trail hiking in not approved here, so as to keep the beauty the way it is. Even so, there are definitely some trails (evident if you have even minimal route finding skills) leading up the side of the cliff that appear to switch pack toward the top of the falls and Toccoa Creek. You can hop around and explore the many geological attractions. Huge boulders line the pool, and some can even be fit into place at the top of the falls (in your mind of course) with a little thought and study of the area. Even though this place is treated as more of a stop off and side stop for a longer trip, it is worth even a direct drive for some distance to see.

Advice, in months other than mid summer, I would bring a jacket. The falls are in a small gorge that is several degrees cooler than the surrounding area.

2012-08-07 satillayakker