Don’t Miss This Incredible Natural Wonder in Georgia: Tallulah Gorge State Park

Where to Stay Near Tallulah Gorge

Planning to stay awhile? If you’re planning a family vacation or weekend getaway, here’s where to stay near Tallulah Gorge State Park. Note: Kidding Around earns when you book through this link via an affiliate relationship with STAY22.

Tallulah Gorge State Park is only 90 minutes from Greenville, yet the vast gorge seems like a world apart. I had no idea a place like this existed. I discovered it while researching hiking trails and decided to check it out. I wasn’t disappointed! The park is very unique, and I’ve got all the info you need to know before you visit this natural wonder.

History of Tallulah Gorge State Park

The gorge was formed by the strong currents of the Savannah River, which cut through the rock. It’s about 1,000 feet deep and two miles long.

The land at Tallulah Falls was originally inhabited by the Cherokee, who called it Ugunyi, and they lived there until white settlers appeared in 1820. The Cherokee typically avoided the falls and did not hunt there, but white settlers flocked to the area, inspired by the beauty of the waterfalls through the gorge.

The town of Tallulah Falls became a summer destination for wealthy families once the railroad reached the region from Atlanta in 1882. The town grew into a full-fledged resort, and by 1897 it had three churches, several hotels, a post office, and restaurants, all supported by tourism.

At the turn of the century, power companies began competing for rights to dam the falls for hydroelectricity. Helen Dortch Longstreet led conservation efforts to save the gorge from destruction, and her work laid the groundwork for the state park that exists today.

The dam was completed in 1913, creating a lake above the gorge and supplying electricity to North Georgia and Atlanta. It’s still operating today, though now just a small piece of a much larger grid.

The state park opened in 1992, and on certain weekends in the spring, summer, and fall, controlled releases from the dam invite brave kayakers to run the falls. You can find water release dates on the Tallulah Gorge website. Hiking on the gorge floor is prohibited during this time.

Hiking at Tallulah Gorge State Park

There are 20 miles of hiking trails at the park ranging from strenuous and challenging to leisurely and easy. There are maps everywhere at the gorge and inside the Interpretive Center, so be sure to grab one or take a screenshot.

The North and South rim trails are easy (about three miles total for both trails), and the overlooks are stunning. You can see straight down into the gorge and to all the waterfalls. On the summer day we first visited, the clouds were wisping in and out of the canyon. It was beautiful.

There are signs at each overlook that tell you what you’re seeing. I cannot even imagine how stunning this place must look when the leaves change color in the fall.

The suspension bridge is what you often see in photos when you Google the park. I love suspension bridges and was excited to see this one. The first thing I asked the park ranger was how to get to it! It swings 80 feet above the gorge floor and is so beautiful.

But here’s the thing: you have to walk down (and then back up) 620 metal steps. These steps are no joke. They’re steep, and one of the rangers told me a lot of rescues happen on these stairs because people think they can do it and then can’t make it back up.

Please note: The park now closes access to the stairs at noon on days when the heat index climbs into the National Weather Service’s “Extreme Caution” range. Since heat index factors in both temperature and humidity, there’s no fixed temperature that triggers this. A hot, humid day can hit that threshold even if a hotter, drier day doesn’t.

Closure notices for the next day go up by 5:00 pm daily, and you can see them on the park’s website. You can also call 706-754-7981 (8 am – 5 pm) for the latest update.

Another important thing to note is that dogs are not allowed on this trail or the Sliding Rock Trail on the gorge floor.

We did the hike down into the gorge to see Hurricane Falls and then back up to the South Rim and headed off to the North Rim for a total of a little over two miles. My kids (ages 11 and 7) and I are experienced hikers, and while the stairs were pretty brutal, we didn’t have any issues completing the hike.

The connection of the North and South rim trails is over a busy highway bridge at the dam. You don’t have to cross the road, but you do need to keep a close eye on your kids if you choose this route.

One the North Rim trail, you can see the old remnants of the tower that 65-year-old tightrope walker Karl Wallenda used when he walked across the gorge on July 18, 1970. Photos, a portion of the cable he used, and tickets distributed that day are inside the Interpretive Center. So cool!

I made an Instagram Reel about our visit that you may enjoy.

The Sliding Rock (Gorge Floor) Trail

I hiked the Gorge floor on my second trip to Tallulah Gorge and had read so many reviews of the trail and what to expect. I really try to be prepared, and my kids and I all had enough water and snacks and the right hiking shoes.

I did have second thoughts when a ranger asked me directly, “Do you know how dangerous this is?”. I mean, yes, I had an idea. But of course, hiking it is a whole other beast. Let me tell you how it went.

There are only 100 permits per day that the park gives out. They are free, but they are also in demand. The park opens at 8:00 a.m. To get a permit, you need to get to the park at least 30 minutes before they open and wait at the gate. You’ll then park and wait in line at the Interpretive Center.

The park only issues gorge floor permits at 8:00 am on days when they close the stairs due to heat. All visitors with a permit must be out of the gorge by noon. The other variables are weather and dam releases. If it rained the night before or is raining the morning you want go or if the gorge is releasing water from the dam, the park won’t issue a permit. So watch the weather and look at the park website for dam release dates.

We camped at the park the night before and hiked the half mile or so from the campground to the Interpretive Center. We were the very first people in line at 7:20 am.

About 20 minutes later, the gates must have opened because cars poured in. By 8 am, there were easily 100 people in line. A ranger announced that people wearing Crocs or flip-flops wouldn’t get a permit no matter their place in line.

Once the doors opened, the ranger led us and about 50 other people to the bottom floor of the Interpretive Center for a safety class. The ranger had photos of the trail, gave us tips on water crossings, and made sure to tell us that Oceana Falls, which looks a little like Bridal Veil (aka Sliding Rock) Falls, was definitely not the right one to swim at because it was “bone-breaking.”

From then on, we knew the waterfall as Bone Breaking Falls. See how you remember things?! He told us to make sure we had the right shoes and plenty of water and that this was not a hike for inexperienced hikers or little kids. This class lasted about 15 minutes, and then we each got a permit and were on our way.

There are water fountains in the Interpretive Center, so we filled our water bottles and headed down the stairs to Hurricane Falls. We then went through the the permit-only gate and headed to the unmarked trail down to Sliding Rock, the only place in the Gorge people are allowed to swim other than the lake.

The very first water crossing was a doozy. We had three kids with us, ages 8-11, and they were all experienced hikers. So was my friend who came along with us. My friend ended up getting in the water almost to her waist halfway through the crossing to help the kids across. I was next in the water and slipped on a rock but caught my balance before tumbling in. The kids did awesome. It was so fun!

Then the next mile, which felt like forever, was all over boulders, walking over crevasses and drops, and crab crawling over a sloped rock above Bone Breaking Falls. That last one had me wondering what I had gotten myself into. I’m thankful my hiking boots have a really good grip.

Once we got to Sliding Rock, it was even more fun to slide down the nearly 20-foot waterfall into the pool below. I had a slight fear of doing this but figured it was a bucket-list item and headed down. I nearly turned my whole body around because apparently I’m awful at sliding down waterfalls. My kids told me everyone looked over to the waterfall when they heard me scream. I was fine. Totally fine. Promise.

The absolute coolest part of this hike for me was swimming in the pool below Sliding Rock and looking up at the sheer cliffs of the gorge above me. It was truly an awesome experience. Getting out of the pool was another challenge since the rocks near the edges were really slippery. We ended up swimming all the way over to the right side of the falls to get out. That’s where you need to go anyways to complete the three-mile loop trail.

That last part is a straight-up rock scramble over 0.25 miles where you gain 800 feet of elevation. It’s hard, but as long as you take it slow, you’ll be ok. The whole trail was a lot of fun, and the kids had such a blast.

This really isn’t a trail for inexperienced hikers though. Before you go, consider your own abilities, and those of whoever will be with you, and make sure you have the proper footwear and water. Always carry a first aid kit as well, and just take your time. I’m used to hiking a three-mile trail in a hour and a half with my kids. The ranger told us to plan for four hours, and he was right on the money. We spent maybe an hour at Sliding Rock, and the whole trip took us just over four hours. Some people are there all day since it’s slow going.

The Interpretive Center

I’ve found that visitor centers at parks are truly underrated establishments. My kids and I have learned so much about local areas by just checking out the visitors’ centers wherever we travel. The Interpretive Center at Tallulah Gorge State Park is no exception. This place is a museum in and of itself!

It is two stories with a switchback walkway in the center that has animals, both alive and stuffed, plus exhibits on the many habitats of the gorge, Cherokee legends, and even a mini-theater that plays a 15-minute movie about the history of the town and state park every half hour.

There is an awesome exhibit on the top floor that shows a replica of the town in the 1800s and tells all about the Native people who first inhabited the land, the construction of the dam, the introduction of the railroad, and the history of the resort town.

My kids and I really enjoyed this part and spent about 40 minutes after our hike going through the exhibits and learning all about the animals and history.

Camping at Tallulah Gorge State Park

For camping, Tallulah Gorge State Park has 55 RV, tent, and backcountry sites, and you can pick up the trails right from the campground. Camping is ideal if you want to hike on the gorge floor since you can be among the first in line for a permit!

Backcountry sites start at $22 and campsites start at $40. I thought the campground was pretty great. There are electrical outlets and water at each site, and the bathhouse was really nice!

Tallulah Gorge Full Moon Hikes

The full moon hike is one thing we didn’t do, but it sounds super cool. The park opens at night so guests can hike down (and back up) the stairs to the suspension bridge to see the full moon. Follow the park’s Facebook page for dates and more details.

Tallulah Falls Lake

We saw the beautiful lake during our hike but didn’t visit. There’s a sandy beach and picnic area for guests’ enjoyment.

The ranger told me that if you Google “Tallulah Falls Post Office” and look to the right, there’s a small area to walk down and drop in your kayak or paddleboard. You could also just drop it in at the beach. The $5 parking pass at the state park covers this lake as well. If you camp at the park, you’ll have a day-use pass.

Visiting Tallulah Gorge State Park

Admission to the park is a $5 parking fee you can pay in cash or via an app. When you get to the park, you scan a QR code with your phone and pay.

Dogs are not allowed on the hike down to Hurricane Falls, the suspension bridge, Sliding Rock Trail on the gorge floor, or at the lake whatsoever. Dogs are allowed on leash on the rim trails.

Park hours are 8 am – dark, and the office is open daily from 8 am – 5 pm.

Know your limits and health regarding the trails with the stairs. And bring enough water. There are signs everywhere indicating how difficult it is, and to bring water. We passed a couple of water bottle and water fountain filling stations on the stairs, which were much appreciated. One wasn’t working though, so be prepared.

During the summer and busy fall leaf-peeping season, the park will close the gates when they reach capacity, usually around 8:30 or 9 am. So if you want to go, get there when the park opens.

Please also follow Leave No Trace and pack out what you pack in and don’t litter. The park is beautiful, but we saw so many discarded plastic water bottles along the stairs, and it was so sad. Not only does it take away from the natural, stunning environment, but it makes it really hard to pick up since the terrain is very steep.

One of our awesome readers recommended grabbing coffee/tea and small bites at Tallulah 1882, right across the street from the park entrance. We saw it but didn’t stop, so now we have to go back! After our gorge floor hike, we did stop at the general store behind Tallulah 1882 for ice cream, and it was so good. The owner was also so kind.

Tallulah Gorge State Park
338 Jane Hurt Yarn Rd, Tallulah Falls, GA

Check out Kidding Around’s Georgia Travel Guide.