Tallulah Gorge State Park

Reg Tomlin

2024-04

Great park, tons of amazing views points and great trails. The entry fee was $5 per car and they accept cash at the booth or card inside their gift shop, which was a huge plus if you forgot to bring cash! Make sure you come prepared to walk if you actually want to get down close to the waterfalls, the overlook point one however did not take very long to walk at all and the views are amazing from there I think it was a quarter mile walk to it. There are lots of benches all over the park to take a break when you need as well as free water fountains. They have nice clean restrooms at the beginning of the trail. I also noticed on my way out that they had chargers for electric vehicles in a couple of parking spots within the park which may come in handy for those with electric vehicles visiting the park.Restrooms: Lots of stalls and clean bathrooms during my visit.

Ryan Holman

2024-04

Beautiful place to visit and take it all in. If you’re afraid of heights, you will love it. Definitely gets the heart pumping. Stairs, stairs and more stairs! Steep and great views. Did I mention stairs? The suspension bridge was awesome, except the part where my kid started shaking it… ha. Love this place and the staff is great!

Fred Spivey

2024-03

My Nephew and I went this weekend and had a great time. The State Park store and interpretive center are extremely nice and have clothing, food, drinks and other essentials you might need besides life support after the stairs. Did I say stairs? Yes, there's over 1099 if you do the entire trail and yes you will definitely know you did those stairs. A 5 mile hike is easy compared to those stairs lol. That being said we completed the rim trails and have some great pictures of the suspension bridge above the falls and of the falls themselves. I loved this State Park. Georgia got this one right.

Robert Maxwell

2024-02

Tallulah Gorge was absolutely beautiful. We chose to come on a Sunday morning and had most of the park and trails to ourselves. It rained most of the weekend we visited so the falls were absolutely roaring. It took us about 2 hours (with an almost 3 year old) to hike the north rim trail down to the suspension bridge, back up to the south rim and then around the dam back up the north rim. Beautiful views but VERY many steps. Roughly 35 floor levels according to my fit bit. Wish we had the time and energy for the Hurricane Falls loop which was another 250 or so steps.The interactive center was one of the most impressive I've seen for a state park, with a nice little gift shop we picked up a few items for memories.10/10 experience, great state park.

Advencharests

2024-03

What a great location to just walk right over and hike the gorge trails, lovely views along the way! The campground is in a great location, well kept up, a nice clean laundry on premises. No camp store to speak of, just a small booth. The campsites are spacious enough, but not private at all. We had a long pull through site, but it was very open to the sites above and below so as to give no one any privacy. We would go again as it's a perfect spot to visit the gorge.

Kyle Zeiger

2024-02

This place is amazing! There are quite a few walking trails that lead to overlooks to see different views of the gorge. There's also a massive set of stairs that go down to the bottom by the river. So if you plan on going down, be prepared to go back up over 1000 steps haha. But it's for sure worth the hike

Clarence Holmes

2024-04

I want to first start off by saying that the actual park and falls both deserve 10 stars! The hike was beautiful and everyone inside the interpretive center was very helpful and very pleasant! I will definitely be back to hike again.But i will camp somewhere else. The campground is right off of the main highway and there are cars whizzing by all night. The camp sites themselves were fine and the water and electrical hookups were very nice. But it’s not a peaceful camping environment like at other state parks.My biggest complaint was the management. I’m including photos for reference. I camp using a rooftop tent setup. The tent itself doesn’t take 2 minutes to setup but i overland so i have to set up my shower, kitchen, and awning. It literally took me almost two hours to setup everything while also welcoming in other camping guests. I found the one perfectly level spot on the campground where i wouldn’t have to use my recovery boards to level. It involved me driving on a pile of dead leaves by like a foot or so.While i was setting up, the park ranger must’ve ridden by and saw me setting up and noticed where i was parked. Instead of her stopping me before i got too far into my setup, she waited until i was done and then sent over one of the younger rangers to inform me that I had to move my truck because all 4 tires need to be on gravel. That doesn’t bother me as a rule but i literally wasn’t parked on grass or anything living for that matter. I begged the campground host (who was extremely helpful) to have the lady call me so i could explain why i parked where i did and to explain that it really isn’t that big of a deal and that it took me hours to setup. I didn’t realize that at that point SHE herself had been by already. It wasn’t until she responded and told him that she saw it herself and that i needed to move that i got upset. She never called me. So i had to break my setup down, move back 1.5 feet in my truck, fight to level it, and reset up all my stuff. Thankfully i was with a group and that made it easier. What was further frustrating is i walked around the campground after and counted at least 15 cars that were parked COMPLETELY on “grass” and no one said a word to them.This was completely ridiculous and i (nor my camping group) will not be visiting this park to stay in again. Again, i don’t blame the campground host or the first ranger that said something to me (they actually both said that they understood my frustration when they saw where i was actually parked because they wouldn’t have asked me to move). I blame the lady (never got her name) that made this decision because she could’ve said something while i was setting up and saved me hours of work. She could’ve also ruled with some common sense after realizing i was on nothing alive. She could’ve refunded me my whole payment as i had only been there a couple of hours when i asked because i was considering breaking all my stuff down and going back home. Pictures attached for reference. (The red line is where i was asked to move my truck back to).

Fatih Y

2023-12

Tips:1-) Park to the interpretive center and take a map.2-) You start from 1A on the map. Turn left and go to 1 if you can go to the inspiration point but it's a little bit hard. The highest point of the park is that maybe you can see the eagles.3-)Turn back and go to 2 and 3 after that go down to the hurricane bridge. It's amazing. Go through the bridge4-) After the bridge, turn left and down to the Hurricane waterfall. See the waterfall and turn back. Don't go through back to the bridge! Climb to the other side. To the south rim trail.5-) After steps turn left and go to 8-9-10. Point 9 is the best view. You should go there.6-) Turn back to 9-8-7-6 and go through the highway bridge and then 5-4-3-2-1A Finished.😊Notes:1-)For the best view there shouldn't be sunlight directly. The best times are cloudy days, beginning of the daylights or last period of the daylights.2-) Take enough water, the North and the South rim are pretty easy but down and up to the bridge and the Hurricane waterfall is very hard.3-)Before or after the tour go to the lakeside picnic area on the map and have a picnic on the tables.4-)You can take a coffee and sit to rest in the 1882 Coffee shop which is close to the park. Very cozy place.5-)Check water release days on the website. Hurricane waterfall will be closed these days but The bridge, the North and South rims will be open. If there is a water release you can see crazy kayaking and boating people.Restrooms: Clean Restrooms in the picnic area.Picnic area: Lake side picnic area. Have picnic tables

mariyag24

2024-04

A great hiking park.Prepare for a hectic day with some serious strenuous exercise. A hike with pretty views of waterfalls. There is an option to climb up and down almost 1000 steps.

Zemin Hu (old skool boy)

2023-12

The entrance fee to the park is $5 cash💰 as parking fee, no credit card is accepted. Tourists usually walk from the north rim of the interpretive center to the bottom of the valley, cross the suspension bridge, and then climb up from the south rim to take a loop, so-called Rim to Rim. The difficulty is that you have to go up and down 620 steps. I've seen people have difficult halfway, so there is a warning sign at the starting point marked it as strenuous . It’s actually not that hard as it sounds, for those who exercise regularly won’t have a problem.Something unexpected happened today. Since I have been to this place many times, so I went down to the suspension bridge at the bottom of the valley directly. However, someone blocked the walk up stairs to the south rim. When I asked, I found out that now is the 10-day white water rafting season. The stairs at the southern rim are opened only to white water rafters, allowing them to carry their kayaks down the stairs to the starting point of the rapids. I was told that more than 290 people were rafting yesterday, so tourists could only go back the same way. After going back up, I still insisted on walking to the south rim to see these rafters. It looks like these enthusiasts is so happy that it feels like a rafters festival, some one even did it twice or three times today. According to some of them, the rapids level here is 3 to 4, and may reach level 5. Outlook 9 is best spot to look, I could clearly see how they entered the rapids, it is fun just watching them.

Josh Yates

2024-04

Campsite 36 is highly recommended. It is located next to the bathrooms, which were very clean and also just far enough away from the road with traffic. This campsite is also one of the first upon entrance to the campground. In the evening/night time, the cars driving by are louder for campsites 5 through 22. Overall, this was one of the best campgrounds I have visited in a few years.

Dollie Larson

2023-11

This campsite was amazing! The trails were exhilirating. Only complaint was we were excited to see all these waterfall, but apparently you have to schedule this trip around their " water release dates " to view the waterfalls. We hikes all the strenuous trails to see waterfalls but we didn't see any. Only dry rocks where the waterfalls should have been. Other than that it was a wonderful place to camp for 3 days.Playground: The playground was lovely with a big picnic area with a fireplace.Restrooms: Clean restrooms with hot shower.Dog-friendliness: Very dog friendly.

Kathleen E Gray

2023-11

Wow! Beautiful views! The weather was perfect for our trail walk. Well maintained paths. Wouldn’t call this a hike, it’s more like a walking trail so it’s great for beginners. Lots of seating through if you need to stop and rest. Plenty of overlooks!No pets allowed to suspension bridge.Didn’t care for the highway walk, appeared very dangerous with the busy highway.I am terrified of heights so I didn’t venture to the suspension bridge, my husband did.I got some amazing photos! True glory of Gods Country!Dog-friendliness: Pet Friendly but not allowed to suspension bridgePicnic area: Lots of picnic areas

Velinda Ivie

2023-11

Very crowded, but the scenery was spectacular. We waited in a line of cars for 20 minutes to enter, so giving 4 stars out of 5. I don't know why the wait, except a guide was stopping people. 😕 The museum was nice and had snacks and drinks. They don't sell real meals and there is a lack of picnic tables. We had to make sandwiches and eat on the tail bed of our truck. The place was way more crowded than we thought it would be, so we felt rushed. But the views were spectacular. We went to overlook 1-4. We didn't do the stairs or suspension bridge, but we could see it from overlook 1.Restrooms: Clean. No bathroom at overlooks, only at the museum.Dog-friendliness: There were people out there with dogs. I don't understand why people would bring dogs in strollers on the trail though. Seems like the dogs would have benefited from walking. Strange Also one family had 2 yapping dogs who barked at everyone. Kind of annoying after the 2nd time I saw them and the dog startled my child by yipping, and snapping at my daughter once.Picnic area: Not enough picnic tables at the museum area. 🙄 We had to assemble and make sandwiches on our tail-bed of our truck.

Kinga Ochenduszko

2023-11

Amazing hike! Took the gorge floor trail and it is no joke, 4h of climbing rocks, crossing river, including a hips deep dive. Would recommend, but be prepared to get wet! It’s the one that you need permit for, and they only give 100 a day and probably not on rainy days. We came at 9:15 and we were golden. Fall foliage only makes it more beautiful.

Joe Canova

2023-11

Westayed up in Clayton, GA, for a few days and checked out the falls. Beautiful scenery and everything was kept up very nice. The walk down the falls includes over 550 stair steps, so if you can walk them down and back up, its best you not try. Bring some water as well and know there are no trash cans on the way up and down. The view of the falls is somewhat hard to see as the platform doesn't go all the way out, so you don't have the best view of falls. If you apply for a permit, you can walk down in the Gorge below the falls and then have the best view! Also, if I remember correctly, pets aren't allowed down the stairs and such.Restrooms: I believe the restrooms are only available at the Inpsiration Center.

Nikki D

2024-01

Parking fee $5 accept cash at enterance, it wasn’t that busy day so found parking and purchased parking fee at visitor center inside the gift shop.Overall the trek was good not that difficult for me personally and I have met families who have there parents and children’s taking stairs along definitely a high heart rate trek but it’s fun beautiful scenaries around good for photographyPrepare yourself with water and some snacks along the way and just have fun..!Restrooms: Restrooms available at visitor center onlyDog-friendliness: It is dog friendly park so that’s good 😊I don’t have dog myself but it’s always cheerful to find them on a way on treksPicnic area: Couple of picnic areas around the state park it’s beautiful over the summer and fall season

Bill Golden

2023-11

Gorgeous outdoor mountain venue! We visited in October, a beautiful time of year in northern Georgia. We hiked down and up some 600+ steps to cross the suspension footbridge. The views are awesome! There’s a history center on site as well! $5 to park

Sarma Vedula

2023-12

Beautiful place. Difficult to find parking in the weekend. Free entry into the park. Car parking ticket is $5.When I visited, dam gates were open and class 4 warning issued due to the heavy water current.Hence we are allowed to go up to the end point of the suspension bridge. Not allowed to go beyond the suspension bridge. Little disappointed but it's good control in terms of security of the visitors.Able to view Fall Colours.Overall good experience.Playground: Can't say exactly a playground. But kids can play around in the entrance of the park.Restrooms: Available in the entrance. Not in the trail route.Dog-friendliness: Dogs are allowed in the trail routePicnic area: Picnic tables available in the entrance. Some are shaded. Many are open tables.

N L

2024-01

Amazing views and great waterfalls. Be ready for some stairs but it's not too bad, about 1200 approximately. Worth going to the suspension bridge and gorge floor#greatdaytrip

Vilisha

2023-11

It was a beautiful day to visit the Tallulah Gorge State Park! There were so many beautiful sights of nature. We crossed the suspension bridge which was kind of scary 😧 and descended the 1,062 steps down to the gorge floor 😅Going back up was strenuous but doable if you’re in average shape. There were quite a few benches along the way so that you could rest! This is definitely a must do 😁Restrooms: Very clean

Juno Barber

2024-04

My legs hurt from the stairs- going up hrut the most! Once you reach the suspension bridge, don't torture yourself any further, it's not worth it.Otherwise great place

Anuj Minda

2023-11

Excellent stop on the way to smoky mountains. Must stop for a quick rim hike to cover the highlights of the park.The south rim and north rim hike - both must be done. The trail will take couple of hours.The information centre is quite informative. The parking is 5$, entry is free.Restrooms: They close at 5.

Linda O

2023-07

Beautiful state park with spectacular views for those willing to make the challenging hikes up and down hundreds of steps. However, many overlooks are relatively easy to get to without the strenuous climbs or descents.Park is well maintained, & staff are friendly and helpful. There is an expansive and interesting Interpretive center. Permits are needed for rock climbing & for visiting the gorge floor. A military discount is available.The only thing that kept me from giving the park 5 stars was the layout of the campground. Sites are lined up right next to each other so there is very little privacy at any campsite which is a pity. Nevertheless, we plan to return again in the autumn when the leaves should be lovely.Playground: There is a large, modern playground at the campground.Restrooms: There is at least one large facility at the campground and one inside the interpretive center/gift shopDog-friendliness: Dog friendly and rim trails allow dogs on leashes. No dogs on the decent trails. The metal grate steps would not be safe for them.

Susan Schwaderer

2023-12

This is a very pretty park, but being along a gorge, it is a hilly campground - so some of the campsites are quite sloped. Ours was fairly level front to back, but we had to work a bit to get it level side to side. The sight was nice and deep giving us plenty of space and at the top of the hill, giving us a view over the lower campsites. We had a firepit and a grill - though there was a fire ban so we couldn't use either and we also had a lantern pole. We hiked the south and north rim trails of the gorge from the campground one day and the Tallulah Falls Rail Trail or Shortline Trail, now called the Bill and Dustie MacKay Trail, from the campground another day. All nice trails.

Andrew Demske

2023-08

The kids and I headed out to Tallulah gorge state park yesterday. What an incredible place. We did the Hurricane Falls loop and I was so proud of the kids for accomplishing this. I’ll tell ya at almost 45 and in decent shape, this was not easy to get to the floor and back.From the website:“Approximately 2 miles, round-trip and the trail is rated difficult. This trail has a total of 1,099 stairs (including staircase to gorge floor).Please do not attempt this trail if you have any known health condition.“The Gorge is 2 miles long and just about 1000ft deep. Definitely going back in the fall to capture the colors out there. Kids already said they’re not going back with me lol😂😂

Dawn Martin

2023-11

We planned this hike to happen first thing in the morning because rain was forecasted for after lunch.We talked about making breakfast – but convinced ourselves that our “2 mile hike” wouldn’t take tooooo long, and we’d have brunch when we got back. (foreshadowing)The first parts of the hike from our campsite are relatively moderate wide trails with gorgeous views. The trail build is set up for what seems like large crowds. There are gorgeous benches built into the trail with stone that are like art.The main goal for us was the suspension bridge...…and so begins the stairs…..down….(there are a lot)In my mind, I had Indiana Jones playing…I was preparing myself to be tad scared. No, this is a sturdy, well built bridge with impressive views of the gorge. There were very few people on the trails with us, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy it and take pictures of Hurricane Falls.After crossing the bridge, the next goal was the Tallulah Gorge State Park Interpretive Center.But first….all the stairs back UP!We came across the steel remains of the tightrope tower used by Karl Wallenda in 1970 to tightrope walk across the gorge. Beyond that was Inspiration Point, which was the perfect spot for sitting, having water and a snack.After resting and rest rooming at the interpretive center, we took the easy trail back to the camp ground. Our 2 mile hike turned into 3+ miles, and 3+ hours of hike time.It’s too pretty to do this trail quickly!

Melissa Cavallini

2023-11

The main positive is the hike and the overlooks along the north and south rim trails. The interpretive center is also nice.Campground is mediocre at best - I expected a lot more for a state park that is supposed to be one of the best in the state. Sites are close together and small. Bottom of the grill is rusted out. Campsites are right next to the park road so you hear and see traffic nonstop all day long from one side, and hear semi traffic at all hours from the other side from a major highway. Bathrooms could be cleaner. Hiking was nice and trails were well maintained but Gorge floor Hike was closed one day due to dam release, which then didn’t happen, and the next day was closed due to rain overnight. Definitely not a favorite. If you want to come see the gorge, the campground js sufficient for a night or two, but if you are looking for a getaway in a peaceful natural environment, this is not it.

Gislene B

2023-08

Loved it! Reading the reviews here was very helpful . It is definitely handy to have your license plate with you for the permit. Also make sure u have good walking shoes and a bag so they don’t get wet . Take lots of water . I got pretty sore from the walk but it was so worth it and I got to swim and slide at sliding rock. I also loved riding my bike around the dam ! so beautiful and peaceful . Loved the campground as well !I would definitely go back ❤️

Angela Bouchez

2023-06

The falls were absolutely beautiful. However these stairs were killer. We took the kids because the review says it's not that bad. Wrong! 1099 stairs were hard but we took it slow and steady. Took us over a hour to get to the bottom and back up. I was surprised with how small the rest stops were. Overall I give it a 3. We did pay to get in.