I came here on a very hot summer day with the plans to see some waterfalls. We got here around…read more8:30am which I believe is when the park opens. We took the South Rim (At least I think it was the South Rim) and went to all 5 viewing points which is a flat walk and a round trip of about 1.5 miles. Then we went down into the Gorge which includes 1,099 steps (actual staircase) to the bottom and of course that many steps back up. You can't go all the way to the Gorge floor without a permit but that just means you can only walk down 1,089 steps to a platform. There are plenty of places to stop including a very cool suspension bridge that overlooks Hurricane Falls. This was pretty tough for a 50-year-old fat boy like me but it's doable if you can simply climb stairs. The views are amazing and worth the quads burning for the next 3 days. The visitor's center is really nice. There is of course a gift shop. a huge display of taxidermy of all the local wildlife and a very nice museum that goes through the history of the region. The most important part is they have air conditioning. Suck it up, take the stairs and buy the t-shirt saying you did it when you are done.

The visitor center is phenomenal! Movie was down for some reason. The gift shop has loads to choose…read morefrom and the rest rooms were clean and there were many stalls available. There is almost a museum quality to the taxidermy animal scene they have in the middle of the room and along the walls. Truly a special visit! The hike to see the inspirational point and the swinging bridge wasn't too strenuous for my 4 or 5 year old for people's reference when considering it. We are an active family who hikes etc. There were a lot of warnings but we found it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Overall great hike. A few steep sections but nothing too crazy. Beautiful scenery the whole way…read more Would recommend for anyone looking for a solid outdoor experience.

My partner and I recently visited Clarksville for a spontaneous hiking trip. Panther Creek Trail…read morewas at the very top of our list and we were not disappointed. At first we were worried that the trail would be closed due to the storm damage that occurred during the prior year but we drove by and there were multiple parties going in and out of the trail so we figured we would go for it! This trail is long and arduous, so be prepared! Us Floridians definitely overestimated our hiking abilities but we still got it done (thankfully). Bring around 2L per person or more if it's a hot day. We started on a Friday around 2pm and finished by 6:30pm and clocked in a total of 8 miles round trip. If you can go earlier, I highly recommend doing so to have plenty of light. There's two main parts of the trail where the bridges were damaged and removed. In one section, there's several logs that lay across the stream. Find a big stick, and scramble across. In the second section, the water is shallow enough to walk across without the possibility of getting your legs wet. But even if you get wet, both sections are not deeper than your ankle. I don't know if I'd recommend this for children as there are multiple sudden drop offs but more power to you if your family can do this! If you are a hiker, this does not disappoint!

Nice place with lots of room for improvement. The setup is really cool, love the layout, the games,…read morethe bar, the views and access to the park. Service was (shy of one saving grace) meh and food was just meh. The menu had several items listed that really could bring this place up a notch. Hubby ordered the duck Cuban which was really good. I had the chicken quesadillas, nothing to write home about. My girlfriend got the Philly and said it was good. I love the brand of chips they serve and especially the jalapeño queso chips. They were out of wings. This is a miss considering how this was one of if not the last weekends of the season to see the leaves change colors, it's going to be busy and wings aren't hard to stock nor do they go to waste at a restaurant/bar. They should've been prepared. The setup is you order at the bar, take your drink and a number to your table and they bring your food. Cool. They bring our food out and my gf asks for napkins and they tell her she's gotta go back up to the deck to get them. Huh? Why didn't they just bring them with the food? We have fresh food in front of us and now have to leave that food to get napkins? Here comes saving grace because as soon as that server made it back to the deck, a different server comes out to our table with a caddy of napkins. She was really cool, and much appreciated! They have a target audience (people coming and going to and from the park) so I guess they don't have to deliver stellar food and service but to miss on both is disappointing. People are making memories with their families. And it wouldn't take much to tighten up and deliver amazing food and amazing service instead of just being convenient. I chose the place for our party of 8 and I felt bad. Thankfully I think everyone was too tired and cold to complain.

I ordered the Shortline Pizza on a GF crust, Roasted Potatoes and Iced Tea as a take-out…read more That was the biggest GF pizza I have ever seen! I was impressed. The roasted potatoes were not so exciting, but maybe because I was full with the pizza. I ordered, hubby picked up at exactly the time expected, and I enjoyed the meal. Thank you, TA! We'll be back.

Beautiful waterfalls for just a short hike** from the parking lot. Has 3 sections,…read moreCascades/Veil/Sluice, the Cascades is the first one to get to and the easiest. The Veil section is probably my favorite part, it's a picture I see when someone mentions "waterfalls". I didn't hike down to the Sluice section as it didn't seem worth the effort after seeing the Cascades and Veil sections. ** excerpt from Richard R's amazingly detailed review and great tips "The hike is short to the first section of the falls known as "The Cascades." This is a highly appropriate name since this section really is more of a series of cascades than a waterfall. On the day of my visit, there had been several days of rain making the trail extremely muddy, but also making the falls extremely full! The flow was so strong that it was hard to see where the Cascades separated from the second section known as The Veil. You reach 'The Cascades' by following the trail on the right after the information board. You will go uphill slightly before making your descent down to the cascades. You will hear the falls long before you reach them. The downhill trail to the cascades is relatively easy, but it gets far more difficult when you continue downhill to see the two lower sections. NOTES: This is a class three hike, meaning you will need both hands to navigate the steepness of the trail. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND good hiking boots and a backpack for any camera, phone or other items you might carry in your hand. You will definitely need both hands to hold on to branches, tree roots or whatever you can find. * SCOUTING TIP - It is better to take the higher routes as you navigate your way to the lower falls. * SCOUTING TIP 2 - This trail IS NOT suitable for young children or anyone who doesn't have sure balance. Your legs, knees and upper body will be heavily used! * SCOUTING TIP 3 - DO NOT bring a walking stick. Again, you will need both hands to navigate this trail safely. I personally did not see the advantage to hiking down to the base of the second section known as 'The Veil'. However, if you are feeling adventurous, you can actually walk behind this section of the falls on low flow days. The trickiest part of the trail is finding your way to the base of 'The Sluice' section. At first I considered forgoing the hike since it was rather steep, but another hiker on his way up showed me pics on his camera that convinced me to continue. There is also a downed log you can use as a bridge to balance across to the other side for an even closer view of this third section of the falls, which looks a lot like a powerful water slide." https://www.yelp.com/biz/brasstown-falls-long-creek?hrid=Weq_6ZUYbqLd0Ao6QafbDg&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

This was well-worth the drive from Columbia, SC. The hike wasn't that long. There were some stairs…read morethat were pretty steep but hand rails were available. Absolutely Stunning views.

This is a beautiful trail that leads to two stunning waterfalls. The trail can be challenging in…read moresome areas due to rocky terrain and roots on the path. However, overall it's a pleasant trail with several creek crossings and rhododendron tunnels. The first falls, Panther Falls, is a sight to behold and you can even walk in the pool at the base of the falls. As you proceed from Panther Falls, the trail becomes harder as you go up the side of the falls, and there are handrails due to steep drop-offs. The trail is an in and out and takes you through lush rhododendron forests, alongside a scenic Creek. The effort is well worth it, though, as the falls themselves are magnificent, with cascading waters that make for an incredible photo opportunity. Angel Falls at the end of the trail can be harder to see due to plants growing over it partially. The Angel Fall Trailhead is located in Loop 2, area 2 of the Rabun Beach Campground. This is mostly an easy trail with a couple of short, steep runs. The payoff is reaching the observation deck where you can enjoy Angel Falls. Here you will see dogs on leash, kid-friendly, forests, rivers, and hiking. Great, short, easy "Moderate" hike. Parking is enough for a few cars only, but nearby there is a campground with a lot of parking. The hike itself is pretty easy. The peaceful surroundings and the sound of rushing water create a serene atmosphere, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.

Angel Falls was tough to find with Google providing the wrong location, but the trailhead is off…read moreRabun Rd. about 4 miles down from where Google says it is! Happy we continued the beautiful drive around the lake to find it. The parking area is small, but we also were the only car there for our visit. It's a short, easy walk (just watch out for the roots!) to the falls, but it was a little more advanced after the bridge at the falls. We had lots of rain so the mud was slippery. Must-do hike if you're near!

COVID-19 has done a number on my body! I've gained a lot of corona-pounds over the last few months…read moreand decided it's time to get back to doing what I love to do, hiking! I'm much happier burning calories in the woods than I am in the gym! One thing I've noticed for certain as a direct result of COVID-19, hiking trails are a lot more populated now than in the past. I used to be able to hike to North Georgia waterfalls in relative peace prior to lockdowns and social distancing protocols. NOW, everyone and their gosh dang mama are on the trails... which has forced me to look for more off the beaten path activities! Well, I found the website of a guy who does the type of hiking I've always wanted to do! His name is Mark Oleg and in many of his hiking reports, he machetes' his way to waterfalls that have no official trail + gives full GPS coordinates of his routes as well as helpful tips & elevation gain expectations! My first official test of his directions was at Sarah's Creek back in March. I convinced my hiking buddy Jamarcus it would be a fun adventure to try roads-less-travelled and he regrettably agreed! Jamarcus doesn't like to get his feet wet you see, and Sarah's Creek was a wet hike! Fast forward 7 months and I get a call from Jamarcus asking if I wanted to go hiking! Mill Shoals & Big Shoals have been on my bucket list for almost a year, so yet again I convinced him to give another offbeat trail a try! Thank God he has a short memory... LOL! HERE ARE THE DETAILS: ~ THE EXPERIENCE We set our navigation to Wolf Creek Church Road, when I used a map I predownloaded from Mark Oleg website. I CAN NOT STRESS ENOUGH these are not hikes for beginners or even casual hikers. You MUST download directions and maps to your phone prior to getting in your car to drive. I would also recommend studying the directions/notes prior, because you will feel much better studying them at home than on the trail! *** HIKING DIRECTIONS: Approximately 0.8 miles past Wolf Creek Church you will see a dirt road fork off to your left. Take it approx. 735 feet to a small gate & turnaround where there is a niche for about 2 cars. Once parked, walk around the gate down the old forest service road. The road is easy to follow! However, when you come to a fork, stay to the right. Next you will come to a clearing where the road will soon get narrower and curve left. This is where the elevation will begin to rapidly descend to Stekoa Creek. The closer you get to the creek, the steeper the decline, but doable for most people in decent shape. The return trip back however will be a calorie burner! Once you reach the creek, you will easily hear Mill Shoals Falls [approx. 18' tall]. You will need to climb over a large downed tree and navigate your way as best you can to the falls. The pools of water around the falls appear to be fairly deep, at least 7' or better. But Stekoa Creek is known to not have the cleanest water, so a swim would probably not be wise. You can either follow your path back out or attempt to reach larger Big Shoals Falls further upstream. I've included the map I used from Mark's website, but I warn you, it is not easy to follow. The trek to Big Shoals requires a steep uphill, then downhill climb with ABSOLUTELY NO PATH to guide you! The map also navigates you around a parcel of land marked private property, although there is nothing on it. Jamarcus decided to forego the hike to Big Shoals Falls [approx. 30' tall] and waited near Mill Shoals as I made my attempt. It was difficult, but I trusted the map and my ears to guide me to the falls. I emerged back where Jamarcus was waiting, scarred from fighting through forest growth and heavily sweating but satisfied at my conquest! ~ FINAL THOUGHTS READ THIS REVIEW thoroughly and try to visit Mark's website before attempting to hike to these falls, and please don't go alone! It's a great adventure for the daring, but don't be stupid! This trail is best hiked with a companion if for no other reason but for help in case of an injury. I would also recommend telling a family member or friend your hiking plans just in case. I seriously doubt this trail gets many visitors (we saw no one), so a bad injury could leave you stranded for days without help. ENJOY! LENGTH: 3.2 miles round trip DIFFICULTY: 3 out of 10 to Mill Shoals / 6 out of 10 to Big Shoals ELEVATION GAIN: 795+ feet WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS: 6 / 8 2020 / 78

very nice! Mill…read moreShoals and Big Shoals falls were the hiking destination for one of my rare days off during the height of Covid times. This hike was way back in October 2020, but i'm just now posting it (sorry, my reviews have been behind!). At any rate, I had a day, needed to get outdoors and Richard had these hikes in mind and wanted to check them both out. The Trail is easy to miss. We drove right past it, back tracked, and then found the small dirt road fork that was found on the left. When I say small dirt road, again, you're not sure if that's the path. Keep an eye on your mileage because it's just shy of a mile past the wolf creek church. We parked in a small opening and the trail becomes a bit more easy to follow here. Note, very early in the trail you'll see a small yellow sign nailed to a tree. This is not the path to the trail. The trail continues to the right of that sign. You should continue to descend down in what seems to be a gradual decline at first. This is tougher to get out of on the way back, so make sure you can handle getting out of this place! You'll hear the waterfall before you see it, but ultimately you're gonna find sandy areas past a few downed trees and plants that were pushed in what appears to be the water from the falls when the waters were really flowing. If you don't appreciate the power of this thing, seeing Mill shoals off in the distance should change your mind. Not the tallest waterfall, but it was full when we went, and it is possible to get yourself around these areas without getting your feet wet. It just requires a few hops and path choices! From here, that's where my experience ends. Richard and I did go up a steep incline to search for Big shoals falls. For one of my first hikes in months, I could tell I was running on fumes and wouldn't make it out if I continued to search anymore for Big Shoals, so I sat and waited for Richard to return. Just a note that if you're not still bursting with energy at this point and don't have the stamina, getting to Big Shoals is a challenge that can wipe you out....and there's the point of getting back out of the trail altogether. End of the day, I really enjoyed the hike, the waterfalls, and while this did turn into the first hike that I did not finish from start to finish, I still was able to enjoy a great waterfall, and maybe in a few months i'll be able to head back and finish this trail off! This is an isolated trail. I wouldn't recommend doing it alone, nor would I recommend doing it if you're not prepared for a hike that can and will challenge you. From what I can tell, this is a pet friendly hike, at least until you reach Mill shoals falls. Have fun!

Maxie Lee Wright Duke was an avid waterfall hunter and good friend to Sidney Holmes Ballenger, Jr.,…read morea man who loved waterfalls so much that he literally wrote the pioneering book on finding them in Oconee County, South Carolina. When he died @ age 73, Maxie wanted to honor him by petitioning the U. S. Department of the Interior in hopes of naming an UNNAMED local waterfall in his honor. While her 1993 petition was denied, the effort didn't end. In late 2014, Renee Hattenstein reapplied to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to have the falls officially named Sid's Falls and in April of 2016, the name Sid's Falls was accepted by the board. Sadly I found an online obituary stating Maxie Lee Wright Duke passed away in December of 2020. But Oconee County residence wanted to honor her by unofficially naming a waterfall after her in close proximity to Sid's Falls. As a matter of fact, Maxie Duke Falls shares most of the same trail and parking that you would use to visit Sid's Falls. [ THE EXPERIENCE ] I WANT TO GIVE FAIR WARNING right up front that while 95% of this trail is super easy, the final leg of the trail to the base of the falls is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART or anyone not capable of using BOTH HANDS during the descent. You will absolutely need to posses basic skills in climbing and some upper body and leg strength. The trail to the bottom at minimum fits the CLASS 3 hike rating and the breakoff trail to Maxie Duke is practically CLASS 4 as ropes are available to assist climbers on the steep, steep terrain. PARK at the small area off Damascus Church Road between Damascus Baptist Church and Cool Springs Road (State Route S-37-797). Walk around the gate and enjoy approx. 1.4 miles of easy hiking on a wide old road that passes two open grassy fields along the way. The grade varies, but typically stays within a 5% differential. However, once the trail enters into the woods and narrows, it becomes steeper. You will reach a point where the trail forks right or left. RIGHT is to Sid's Falls and LEFT is to Maxie Duke Falls. Here is where either trail gets noticeable difficult as the grade to Sid's can exceed -34% (according to AllTrails). Maxie Duke's trail is even steeper and may require the assistance of a preinstalled rope for most of the descent. Once you reach the creek you will need to wet cross over to the right side in order to achieve the best view of the falls. I ducked under a large fallen tree and discovered a dry trail leading to the base of the falls. I walked right out onto the stone ledge of the falls through the water and did not find the stones to be particularly slippery. In fact, I had good grip but I still remained very cautious. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] When returning, you could also continue your adventure and follow the trail right of the split to Sid's Falls. But again, BE FOREWARNED the trail to Sid's is only slightly less steep, and you will absolutely need both hands and a lower center of gravity to remain balanced! Plan on getting your feet wet @ both falls to attain the best vantage for photos. Proceed with caution, respect the power of nature and know your own ability. It took us about 2 hours 20 minutes to hike from parking to both falls and back, which included rests and about 25 minutes of picture taking. ~ Round trip length to both: 3.3 miles ~ Elevation Gain: UNKNOWN (but probably 600+ feet) OVERALL this is a wonderful hike that will fool you into thinking it's easy for its majority... But do not choose to visit this trail casually! You're gonna get dirty, you're gonna be very tired, but the payoff is well worth the effort to see these two 50 foot beauties! NOT RECOMMENDED for young children, dogs, anyone with balance issues or solo hikers because it is not a popular trail (yet) and injuring yourself would make the return ascent very difficult. 2022 / 73

It is my honor to introduce Sid's Falls to the yelp community…read more [ THE STORY BEHIND THIS WATERFALL ] It is named after Sidney Holmes Ballenger, Jr., a man who loved waterfalls so much that he literally wrote the pioneering book on finding them in Oconee County, South Carolina. He died @ age 73 and a 1993 petition was sent to the U. S. Department of the Interior in hopes of naming one of the local UNNAMED waterfalls in his honor. By his side on many adventures was his friend Maxie Duke, who actually helped discover and officially name the waterfall currently known as Sid's Falls. While her 1993 petition was denied, the effort didn't end. In late 2014, Renee Hattenstein reapplied to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to have the falls officially named Sid's Falls and in April of 2016, the name Sid's Falls was accepted by the board. *** I absolutely love chasing waterfalls despite TLC's song warning otherwise, so this story of friendship and determination to honor all he had done for Oconee County touched me deeply. I simply couldn't, as an avid hiker and purveyor of waterfall adventures, pass on the opportunity to visit Sid's. During my research of this waterfall duo I discovered a third member of their hiking team, a man named John Danner. Sadly I found an online obituary stating Maxie Lee Wright Duke passed away in December of 2020. Both her & John have waterfalls unofficially named in their honor in close proximity to Sid's Falls. As a matter of fact, Maxie Duke Falls shares most of the same trail and parking that you would use to visit Sid's Falls. [ THE EXPERIENCE ] I WANT TO GIVE FAIR WARNING right up front that while 95% of this trail is super easy, the final leg of the trail to the base of the falls is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART or anyone not capable of using BOTH HANDS during the descent. You will absolutely need to posses basic skills in climbing and some upper body and leg strength. The trail to the bottom at minimum fits the CLASS 3 hike rating and the breakoff trail to Maxie Duke is practically CLASS 4 as ropes are available to assist climbers on the steep, steep terrain. PARK at the small area off Damascus Church Road between Damascus Baptist Church and Cool Springs Road (State Route S-37-797). Walk around the gate and enjoy approx. 1.4 miles of easy hiking on a wide old road that passes two open grassy fields along the way. The grade varies, but typically stays within a 5% differential. However, once the trail enters into the woods and narrows, it becomes steeper. You will reach a point where the trail forks right or left. RIGHT is to Sid's Falls and LEFT is to Maxie Duke Falls. Here is where either trail gets noticeable difficult as the grade to Sid's can exceed -34% (according to AllTrails). You will absolutely need both hands and a lower center of gravity to remain balanced, but the payoff is fantastic! Sid's is a beautiful 50+ foot natural wonder. NOTES: Plan on getting your feet wet to attain the best vantage for photos. I walked all the way to the base through the water and did not find the stone ledges to be particularly slippery. Still, proceed with caution and know your own ability. See pics to determine the water level during my hike. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] When returning, you could also continue your adventure and follow the trial left of the split to Maxie Duke Falls. But again, BE FOREWARNED the trail to Maxie Duke is even steeper than to Sid's and may require the assistance of a preinstalled rope for most of the descent. Here you will also need to wet cross the creek to the right side of the falls in order to achieve the best view. It took us about 2 hours 20 minutes to hike from parking to both falls and back, which included rests and about 25 minutes of picture taking. ~ Round trip length to both: 3.3 miles ~ Elevation Gain: UNKNOWN (but probably 600+ feet) Overall a wonderful hike that will fool you into thinking it's easy for its majority... But this sweet thang goes GUANO LOCO on you the final 500 feet and leave you contemplating the foolishness of your life choices! LOL NOT RECOMMENDED for young children, dogs, anyone with balance issues or solo hikers because it is not a popular trail and injuring yourself would make the return ascent very difficult. 2022 / 72