Tallulah Gorge State Park is one of North Georgia’s most popular destinations for outdoor adventure. The gorge, a giant two-mile-long gash in Georgia’s rolling terrain, drops nearly 1000 feet deep over near-vertical walls to the remote canyon floor below.
Peer into the gorge’s depths from the rim’s dizzying heights. Catch sight of Tallulah Falls, the gorge’s series of six spectacular rushing waterfalls. Plummet to the canyon floor via a seemingly never-ending series of stairs to cross a swaying suspension bridge that towers 80 feet over the rushing river below. Catch an up-close view of the Hurricane Falls waterfall from an observation deck deep within the gorge. Score a gorge floor permit (limited to 100 per day and not available on dam release days; check the park’s schedule) to cross the tumbling river and scramble over the boulder-filled Sliding Rock Trail. Or venture upstream from the gorge for a run, bike or nature walk on the Shortline Trail, where the Tallulah River, which flows from headwaters on Standing Indian Mountain in North Carolina, flows quiet, calm and serene.
The hiking, biking, and trail running options at the park are plentiful – and the sights are simply stunning. It’s one of three canyons in Georgia, and undoubtedly one of our state’s most beautiful, rugged places. From the river’s barely-perceptible flow upstream from the dam to the tremendous, tumultuous, powerful waterfalls deep within the gorge, there’s a whole lot of outdoor adventure to be found in this Georgia State Park.
Tallulah Gorge State Park: our favorite trails
These trails are our favorites – the trails we’ve loved and hiked year after year, season after season, enjoying their beauty with newfound awe on every visit. Explore them all, to get a full dose of the gorge’s beauty – and overnight at the park’s campsites, backcountry campsites or pioneer camp for an amazing multi-day adventure.
![Hike the Hurricane Falls Trail at Tallulah Gorge State Park, descending stairs deep into the gorge and crossing a suspension bridge for up-close views of the Hurricane Falls waterfall]()
CROSS A DIZZYING SUSPENSION BRIDGE
Hurricane Falls Trail
2.25 MILES
It’s the hands-down most popular trail at the park. The Hurricane Falls Trail descends a pulse-raising number of stairs to the park’s suspension bridge, crossing the 80-foot high bridge over the roaring Tallulah River. Descend more stairs to visit the base of the thundering Hurricane Falls waterfall before making an epic stair climb back to the rim. It’s a great workout!
VIEW TRAIL INFO & MAPS![Hike the Sliding Rock Trail at Tallulah Gorge State Park to up-close views of waterfalls deep in Tallulah Gorge]()
SLIDING ROCK + SWIMMING HOLE
Sliding Rock Trail
3.4 MILES
The Sliding Rock Trail is anything but easy, and due to its difficulty, requires a gorge floor permit from the park’s ranger desk. But it’s by far the most scenic, making a deep descent into a remote section of the gorge floor to visit Bridal Veil Falls and a deep swimming hole that’s perfect for a mid-hike chill.
VIEW TRAIL INFO & MAPS![Hike the North Rim and South Rim Trails at Tallulah Gorge State Park for stunning canyon and waterfall views]()
STUNNING GORGE VIEWS
North Rim & South Rim Trails
2.5 MILES
Hike a two-trail combo, the North Rim Trail and South Rim Trail, to peer deep into the gorge’s depths and catch sight of the Tallulah Falls waterfalls from towering heights. It’s the relatively easy and fairly level way to see Tallulah Gorge’s most magnificent sights without scaling hundreds of steps or scrambling over a boulder-ridden trail.
VIEW TRAIL INFO & MAPS
Hit the pavement for a great trail run
Shortline Trail
2.8 MILES
Unlike most of the other trails at Tallulah Gorge State Park, this former rail trail follows a nearly-level, paved path that’s perfect for a shady, scenic run, walk or bike ride. And unlike the dramatic, tumbling waterfalls downstream, the Tallulah River flows calm and serene along the Shortline Trail – a beautiful contrast to the river on the park’s other trails.
VIEW TRAIL INFO & MAPS
NOTE: Before you go, be sure to check the Tallulah Gorge State Park dam release schedule. Hiking in the gorge is not allowed on water release dates.
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.
