On the mountain-rippled landscape of North Georgia, countless creeks trickle from the ridgetops and tumble into the valleys. High Shoals Creek is one of these streams, and the cascades it creates are particularly picturesque, but the region is so rich with waterfalls like nearby Anna Ruby Falls that these little gems are often overlooked.
Finding them is well worth it, however, both for the waterfalls themselves and for the lush cove forest through which the trail travels. They are each easily viewed from wooden platforms and reached on a straightforward but enjoyable hike. The trail starts from a pullout on a gravel road in High Shoals Recreation Area. The drive requires one creek crossing and some rough bumps, but in dry weather it should be passable for most cars.
The trail begins by descending rather steeply through upland hardwood forest among oaks and poplar and soon hitting bottomlands along the creek with more pine and rhododendron. Blue Hole Falls is less than a mile in and is found down a short spur trail. This 20-foot waterfall drops cleanly into a deep, clear pool. The rest of the trail down and back to High Shoals Falls is more strenuous, and it requires some rock stairs that may be slippery, but it is worth the trip. This is a cascading, beautifully braided waterfall that drops more than 50 feet.
Note: Climbing on or around the waterfalls is expressly forbidden. Swimming and wading below the falls is allowed, but only if you are careful to avoid trampling any vegetation.
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