Cochran Mill Park to Henry Mill Falls

Hike to the beautiful Henry Mill Falls in Cochran Mill Park southeast of Atlanta, visiting a tumbling waterfall on Bear Creek and exploring a scenic forest.

Set in a gently rolling forest, the Henry Mill Falls waterfall cascades over a broad, colorful rock outcrop, tumbling into a shallow pool below. It’s one of several stunning waterfalls at Cochran Mill Park, and the most remote of the falls, offering some mid-hike solitude and tranquility.

Cochran Mill Park is located southwest of Atlanta near Chattahoochee Hills. This adventure to Henry Mill Falls crosses several streams on the way to the site of a former mill. The trail rolls gently, following the tranquil flow of Bear Creek on this just-under-five-mile round trip to the waterfall.

NOTE: This extensive park features a vast network of trails. Check out the trail maps at the trailhead for current routes, and consider tracking a GPS route help with wayfinding. Check out the park’s official site for current trail maps, official GPS tracks, and closure information.

Henry Mill Falls at Cochran Mill Park: the hike

The adventure begins at the park’s yellow trailhead (view maps and driving directions). The yellow trail meanders through a mixed pine and hardwood forest. The tree canopy towers above the fern and needle-filled forest floor, dappling the forest with sunlight. The hike descends steadily, meeting a gravel road at a third of a mile. This route turns right, following the gravel road westbound to a bridge spanning the shallow, smooth-flowing Cedar Branch Creek.

After crossing the bridge, a number of yellow-blazed trails depart to the right. This hike follows the Old Swamp Trail (#9) roughly northbound to Bear Creek and a connection to the park’s red-blazed trail network. (Check out the official trail map for details. And a warning: the park’s extensive trail network can be very confusing. Multiple trails are blazed the same color, making it really easy to get lost.)

The hike crosses Bear Creek, connecting to the red-blazed trails on the other side. Depending on the creek’s flow and depth, the crossing can be moderate to difficult.

The hike turns left after crossing the creek, following the Bear Creek Trail (#14) northwest toward Henry Mill Falls. The trail crosses a small tributary, winding through a young forest dotted with lichen-covered boulders and smooth rock outcrops, gently rolling elevation along the creek banks.

Large stone slabs dominate the creek’s bed as the sound of rushing water becomes audible on the trail. The hike reaches Henry Mill Falls, catching wide-open views of the waterfall on the vast rock outcrops and sandy shores just below the cascades.

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The return

The sandy banks below the waterfall make a great spot for a mid-hike break, and to soak in the beauty of the forest. Departing Henry Mill Falls, the route doubles back to the trailhead on its outbound route. The hike finishes at just under five miles, reaching the Cochran Mill Park trailhead and completing the adventure.

Note: slippery rocks and fast moving water can be extremely dangerous! Please don’t climb, stand on, swim near, or jump from any waterfall.

This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route.