Tallulah Gorge State Park

In the late 1800s Tallulah Falls was one of the South's premier tourist destinations, a mountain resort drawing crowds by rail to marvel at the waterfalls thundering through the gorge. Hotels lined the rim, and honeymooners and sightseers came to walk the overlooks and feel the spray.

That era ended when the river was dammed for hydroelectric power in the early 20th century, diverting most of the flow and stilling the falls. A famous local conservationist, Helen Dortch Longstreet, fought hard to stop the dam and lost, in one of the early battles between industry and wild rivers in the South. The falls fell quiet for decades, and only on scheduled water releases does the full river surge back through the canyon today.

Rim trails run along both the north and south walls of the gorge, linking overlooks that gaze across and down into the canyon at the string of waterfalls below. From these points the scale of the place sinks in: sheer rock walls dropping hundreds of feet to the river, with the falls stepping down the gorge floor.

For those who want to go deeper, long staircases descend toward the river, and a suspension bridge crosses high above the water, swaying gently as hikers pass. With a permit, experienced hikers can take a rugged route across the gorge floor, scrambling over boulders and slick rock to reach the base of the falls. It is one of the more demanding day hikes in the state, and not for everyone, but it puts you right in the heart of the canyon.

Tallulah Gorge has drawn tightrope walkers to span its chasm. In 1886 a professor billed as a great funambulist walked a wire across the gorge, and the feat became part of the resort's legend, a spectacle for the crowds gathered on the rim.

Nearly a century later, in 1970, the wire-walker Karl Wallenda crossed the gorge on a cable in front of a huge crowd, pausing midway to perform two headstands high above the river. A pair of stone towers that anchored his cable still stand near the rim, and the walk remains part of the story locals tell about the place.

The gorge shelters a distinctive community of plants adapted to its cool, moist walls, including a rare and protected species found in these cliffs. Because these plants are fragile and easily damaged, the park keeps parts of the gorge floor tightly managed, which is one reason for the daily permit limits.

Spring brings wildflowers to the rim and higher water to the river, while fall lights the surrounding hardwoods in color and draws the biggest crowds to the overlooks. Summer is green and humid, best hiked early before the heat, and winter is quiet and stark, when a rare cold snap can hang ice from the cliff faces. Scheduled water releases in spring and fall are the times to see the river at full roar.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Tallulah Gorge State Park, in northeastern Georgia, protects one of the most spectacular and deepest gorges in the eastern United States, a dramatic canyon where the Tallulah River has carved a chasm hundreds of feet deep through the rock. The gorge features sheer cliffs, a series of waterfalls, and stunning scenery, with rim trails and overlooks offering breathtaking views, a suspension bridge spanning high above the river, and, for those with a permit, a challenging trail down to the gorge floor. Rich in natural beauty and dramatic vistas, it is one of North Georgia's premier natural destinations. With its deep gorge and waterfalls, Tallulah Gorge State Park offers a spectacular destination in Georgia.

You can hike the rim trails to breathtaking overlooks of the deep gorge and its waterfalls, cross the suspension bridge high above the river, visit the interpretive center, and, with a permit, hike the challenging trail down to the gorge floor. The dramatic gorge and waterfall views, the suspension bridge, the rim trails, and the adventurous gorge-floor hike are the draws, making it a spectacular outdoor destination. The views into the deep chasm are unforgettable. With its gorge and trails, Tallulah Gorge State Park offers a rewarding experience in Georgia.

Hiking down to the floor of Tallulah Gorge requires a free permit, limited in number each day and issued first-come, so arriving early is important, and the gorge-floor hike may close at times due to water releases or conditions, so checking current availability before you go is essential. The descent is very strenuous, with steep stairs and rugged terrain. More broadly, the gorge is extremely deep with sheer cliffs and dangerous drops, so staying on marked trails, behind railings, and at designated overlooks, keeping well back from cliff edges, and watching children closely are essential, as falls can be fatal, and the slippery rocks near the water make entering the river hazardous and restricted. Respecting the permits, cliffs, and rules ensures a safe visit to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia.

Spring brings wildflowers and, at times, scheduled water releases that swell the falls, summer offers lush green though warm, and fall is spectacular when the gorge blazes with foliage, one of the most beautiful and popular times, so arriving early helps then. Scheduled water releases in spring and fall make the falls especially dramatic. For foliage aim for fall, or visit in spring for wildflowers and water releases, at Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia.

Tallulah Gorge State Park is in northeastern Georgia, within reach of the North Georgia mountains, Anna Ruby Falls and Helen, the northeastern Georgia lakes and forests, and the mountain region. That makes Tallulah Gorge State Park a spectacular stop to combine with Anna Ruby Falls and the other attractions of the North Georgia mountains on a visit to the state.