Atlanta TrailsbyTrailful Outdoor Co
Hiking Trails in Georgia

Minnehaha Falls Trail

Hike the Minnehaha Falls Trail, a short, easy, kid-friendly hike on Lake Rabun in North Georgia, to a beautiful, towering, cascading waterfall.

georgia hiking trails: 0-2 miles .4 miles
(round trip)
? Your mileage may vary! Accuracy of your GPS device, weather conditions, and stops along your route will affect your own recorded distance.
georgia hiking trails: easyeasy to
moderate
?Our difficulty estimate, based on distance, terrain, elevation change, & ease of wayfinding. May vary daily due to weather, trail reroutes, downed trees, etc.
georgia hiking trails: dog-friendly Dog-
friendly
?Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. We’ve loved hiking this route with our trail-loving Labrador Retrievers! Check out more of our favorite dog-friendly trails in Georgia for a great hike with your pup.

LOCATION:Rabun County, east of Hiawassee, Georgia

PACK:our Osprey day pack and our hiking gear list

OFFICIAL MAP: Nat Geo 778 Trails Illustrated Map (find it at Trailful Outdoor Co.)

Near the banks of Lake Rabun, Falls Creek cascades down into a beautiful forest, forming one of North Georgia’s most popular waterfalls. Minnehaha Falls spills over a cliff in a gorgeous, multi-tiered cascade before continuing downstream to the Lake Rabun shore. The trail is exceptionally short, and an easy one as well. But it’s well worth a visit on a warm spring or summer afternoon to catch views of this outstandingly beautiful waterfall.

Hike a short, kid-friendly trail to the stunning Minnehaha Falls waterfall in North Georgia

The waterfall’s unique name derives from the Dakota (Native American) word for ‘waterfall.’ (No, it doesn’t translate as ‘small laugh’ – but it is often misspelled ‘minihaha.’) It’s also a common place name in Minnesota, and the state has its own Minnehaha Falls: a single-drop, 50-foot waterfall in Minneapolis. The beauty of this taller, multi-tiered North Georgia waterfall, despite the trail’s short length, makes it well worth a visit. It’s especially kid-friendly, too.

Hike the Minnehaha Falls Trail, a short, easy, kid-friendly hike on Lake Rabun in North Georgia, to a beautiful, towering, cascading waterfall. #hiking #atlanta #georgia #travel #outdoors #adventure

Minnehaha Falls Trail: the hike

The hike departs the trailhead, marked with a green diamond and the number 147, located off the unpaved Bear Gap Road near Lakemont, Georgia (view maps and driving directions). The hike ascends a wooden staircase, trekking southwest toward the waterfall.

The hike gently rolls elevation, trekking on a well-worn trail beside Falls Creek. Gnarly-branched rhododendron cover the landscape; their blue-green leaves a contrast to Georgia’s iron-rich, orange-tinged soil. The rhododendron’s thick, leathery leaves are evergreen, making the hike green and color-filled hike in any season. The waterfall quickly becomes audible, thundering down into the creek valley. Several smaller waterfalls form the waterfall’s lower falls, visible from the trail between thickets of dense rhododendron.

The hike reaches Minnehaha Falls at just under .2 mile, entering a clearing below the waterfall. Several enormous, scattered boulders dot the landscape below the falls. The crest of the waterfall towers overhead, Falls Creek spilling from down over sharply angled terraces.

Minnehaha Falls: explore a stunning waterfall on this short, kid-friendly trail in North Georgia

After admiring the falls from a distance, the hike retraces its outbound steps, reaching the Bear Gap Road trailhead at just under .4 mile 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.



More North Georgia waterfall hikes

Up for some more waterfall-chasing adventure in North Georgia? Hike our top ten favorite North Georgia waterfall hikes, or check out our full list of Georgia’s top trails to waterfalls.


 
Leave No Trace: Atlanta Trails, Asheville Trails and Trailful are official Leave No Trace partners

Please Remember

Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out.

Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Please always practice good trail etiquette. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions.

Minnehaha Falls Trail Map, Directions & Details

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.

Love the trail?

This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Please support them by making a donation or joining a volunteer day. Let's work together to keep these fantastic trails maintained and open for use!

Driving Directions



Parking

Limited (and free) parking is available at the USFS trailhead, located off the gravel Bear Gap Road on the banks of Lake Rabun.


GPS Coordinates

34.749633, -83.479083     //     N34 44.978 W83 28.745

Elevation Profile

Minnehaha Falls Trail Elevation Profile
 

Eric Champlin is a creative director and photographer who loves to explore southeast. He's the co-owner of Trailful Outdoor Co, a locally-owned hiking outfitter shop in Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. His mission? To inspire others to get fit outdoors and explore the South’s incredible scenic beauty.