The Town of Tallulah Falls

The Town of Tallulah Falls sits on US 23/441 in Rabun and Habersham counties, 12 miles north of Clarkesville and 12 miles south of Clayton. About 199 people lived here in the 2020 census. What it has is the gorge, a series of waterfalls cut by the Tallulah River, and a lot of history for such a small place.

According to the town's history page, outsiders discovered the falls in 1819, and early visitors included Vice President John C. Calhoun in 1829. The railroad reached town in 1882, and at its peak there were 17 hotels and boarding houses; people called it the "Niagara of the South." The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the town in 1885.

Crowds came to see tightrope walkers too. Professor Leon crossed the gorge on a high wire in 1886, and Karl Wallenda repeated the feat on July 18, 1970; you can still see the towers he used from the park. A dam finished in 1913 harnessed the falls for power, which is why the river runs low on a normal day. Portions of the 1972 film Deliverance were filmed here.

This is the main event. The 473-acre state park has 20 miles of trails, two suspension bridges, the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center (exhibits, an award-winning film, a gift shop, an EV charger) and a 63-acre lake with a seasonal sand beach. The Hurricane Falls suspension bridge hangs 80 feet above the rocks and is the shot everyone wants. A paved path along an old railroad bed works for strollers and bikes, and mountain bikers have a 10-mile trail.

On a typical day the gorge carries only 35 to 40 cubic feet per second. On release days Georgia Power sends much more through, and the falls look like they did a century ago. These are the remaining 2026 dates from the state park.

Watch from the rim on these days. The south-side staircase is closed and hiking or climbing in the gorge isn't allowed.

It's a short list, so it's easy. Hours change, so call before you go.

Sources: Tallulah Adventures and the town's business directory.

For a sit-down dinner, Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant is a few miles away in Lakemont. See the Rabun County lakes guide.

Plan on 45 to 50 minutes from downtown Helen. You can build a loop with Mountain City and Black Rock Mountain, or head back through Clarkesville. For more detail on the park itself, see our Tallulah Gorge guide, and for waterfalls closer to Helen, try Anna Ruby Falls.