Waterfalls & Trails of Gerogia (2023)

I managed to visited numerous Waterfalls & Trails of Georgia in 2023. For comparison, all State Parks have an entrance fee, something that's not up North. But in the South, we can visit all year round without freezing off, atleast when not slippery. Here are my notes on 7 of these places.

(1) Amicalola Falls & Trails

There are 3 major overlook points for Amicalola. If with family, its faster to drive up to each of those points.

Trails between these points are completely uphill with safe steps built in. I am yet to explore the trails. Someday.

Beautiful view from the Lodge, of Fall sunset.

(2) Anna Ruby Falls & Unchoi State Park

Anna Ruby falls is somewhere near Helen. It has ample parking area with all facilities. Then a walk up to the falls. Though they have a closing time of 5pm - something that brings out a shrug & surprise.

Next, drive down to Unchoi State Park beach. Great place on a hot day.

(3) Tallulah Gorge State Park

Now this was a unique experience. Rec center is at the top of the mountain. There are numerous overlooks giving gorgeous views of the Gorge from different angles. 

Then its the thousand steps taking down to the bridge and further down the Gorge. 

We went here during the Thanksgiving week. There are campgrounds here too, I want to explore camping here someday.

(4) Sweet Creek Trails

What a fun day it was ! Went there impromptu with a friend. Turns out a lot of Hunger Games & other  movie shooting happened in this park.

We picked the White Trail 5M loop, as that was the only open one that day. Most beautiful woods.

At exactly the mid-point, there is water; stream with lot of stones. Perfect for pictures.. 

We stopped every few meters for pictures. That's why it took nearly 2 & half hour to complete the 5 miles.

(5) Cauley Creek

Address: 7255 Bell Road

It was a bit hard to find. GPS doesn't take us to the entrance of the park, to its parking lot, let alone to the walking trail. But when I eventually found it, oh what a perfect trail it was.

The route was exactly 5K loop. The trail was made of soft rubber material; extremely gentle on treads & knees. Took through lovely varying views, including a bridge with enchanting river view.

(6) Jones Bridge Trail - part of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Address: Jones Bridge Unit Access Rd, Jones Creek, GA 30022

Went in Nov 2022 and again in February 2023. In the Fall, the drive through the Reserve was gorgeous fall colors. And in Spring, the driving route to the Reserve was lovely, with multiple trees with white Dogwood flowers.

One of the first trails I went to. It has a $5 entrance fee. The very beginning has a lovely step down to the river. It was briming that day, after a week of rain.

The path then takes through heavy overgrowth and almost slippery clay path. Then at a mile point, goes through woods, a sort uphill, to cross-over to the other side of woods. 

Fun path.

(7) Indian Seats, Suwanee Mountain

Address: 2500 Bettis Tribble Gap Rd, Cumming, GA 30040. 

Went in Oct 2022 and then again in February 2023 on a warm afternoon and was greeted with a magnificent view at the top of the mountain.

It has the perfect parking lot.

This trail is marked strongly by incline. The path winds up the mountain, but gradually so. Its completely clay path. This trail is the one that convinced me to buy dedicated hiking shoes - the ones with spikes on sole for grip.

This is the trail that got me into Hiking Georgia; so I love it so.

Georgia more of it

Now that I have completed 2 years in Georgia, it does feels like home. I have familiar favorite driving routes, favorite stores for particular items, and familiar strangers who are almost friends.

My initial experience posts are here and here.

Exploring the waterfalls of the state one by one. Every trail I went to and peeped at the woods, it reminded me of Hunger Games movie. Turns out, woods of District 12 in all 4 Hunger Games movies were shot right here in Georgia.

Lot of cultural outings. Atlanta Bunts Sangha organized a showing of Tulu movie Circus. Was a good outing and unique one for kids.

I don't think I have attended Carnatic Concerts live. Here I got to attend the Devotional Carnatic concert by Dr Vidyabhushana with Sitar Symphony.

And one by S Aishwarya & S Saundarya.

Yet I am still wide-eyed at some things uniquely Georgia.

There are ice-cream stores, which are one strip mall size with luxurious car-parking real-estate, then the eaters get to eat in open-air. No seating arrangements too. That's unique I would say. Make sense to gobble ice-cream in the heat.

And this state is truly multi-lingual. I did get a hint that this is a hub of immigrants. Once you are immune to the diverse faces, nothing highlights the diversity more than the smattering of languages you hear in a crowded places. There is always some Russian, Czech, Spanish, Chinese, Telugu, Punjabi, Gujrati, Arabic to be heard everywhere.

Anytime there is hurricane or low pressure in Florida, it will definitely be rainy monsoon here. Or mild windy day here, means storm in Florida. That's how much GA & FL are linked.

Fall ! Leaves ! Oh the never ending horror of it. Got a glimpse of it last year and full force this year. And then , there was a day in November, where it rained Acorns - yes a windy day blew all acorns from the tree. It hurt us & hurt the car. I chased and parked car far away.

The mosaic of shade & sunlight filtering through the trees onto the winding roads. As poetic as it sounds, its a driving hazard. Sunglasses can't handle that frequent light shifts. Even without one, its feels scary you might run someone over. And this in a country where almost no one almost jaywalks. 

Round-a-bouts - they are standard feature in Georgia. And very genius idea too. They are more efficient than 4-way STOP signals. They keep the traffic flowing.

Did I complain about Georgia's greenery enough ? Below is a view on the side of road undergoing expansion. The mountains of tree roots & stumps. After few weeks, there was a new realization and respect for the Georgia Road construction workers and companies. And for those from the past who built those single lane roads winding through forest between cities. They really cut through mountains and intense vegetation, to put it mildly.

Peachy Georgia

More on Georgia after the initial experience after we moved.

Atmospheric pressure in Georgia is different from Minnesota. A pleasent surprise in the first week. Food was boiling hot in 1-minute-Microwave. Any kind of microwave; anywhere. And then the food stayed hot outside microwave. My Tea water boiled up even before I could leave the table. In MN, I could leave the kettle for boil & could enjoy a Spa visit before it started boiling. Made my tea breaks real zippy.

There are trees everywhere. Did I mention the greenery ? Trees, dense growth. 

The frequency of Landscaping/Lawnmowing vehicles in Minnesota is matched with vehicles ready to do Overgrowth management in Georgia. There was a truck with a very humorous poster; totally distracted me while driving. 

And like we talk of the weather in MN, topic of trees is the prime small talk here. Neighbors welcome the newcomers with topic of trees. "Hey welcome. Do you plan to trim your trees ? It's coming to my side." That's how ever-present trees are in Georgia. My kids told me the story of how one group of friends ate in the outside-cafe everyday and their table had a huge tree for shade in summer and rains. Suddenly the school chopped that tree down and now those school kids eat in inside cafe. So parent-kids talk about trees too.

One time we both were driving through a very dark lonely stretch of McGinness Ferry road, and it seemed unfamiliar. My kid felt so too. I could see places I had never seen before. I was worried I took a wrong turn at this time of dark night. Then we realized that acres of trees had been chopped off for the new exit to 400. That's why it looked bare and new.

More pollution than MN. Maybe its the annual Fall increase when the cold fog forms a dome & traps all smoke. Or the one where Canada wildfires throw smoke southward. It was showing 70-90 AQI while it was 30-40AQI in MN. Either way I had a terrifying weak questioning (again) why did I move ?

Plus why not ? Every kind of car exists here. All roads are always packed. And I am talking of non-highways. There are so many routes and you can survive without taking the highway. In MN , I felt like I zipped the 494 everyday.

Highways have some epics stories about rush hour traffic. Its purely crawl traffic, I have heard.

There is no chance of driving from one place to another, as the crow flies. There are no parallel or perpendicular roads. Every route is like an oval. Going from any point A to point B, is like driving the circumference of an oval or sphere. Getting out from any place involves driving around something, to get out of a place. We do see loads of people walking and there are bus in the suburbia.

Gorgeous Georgia

 We dilly-dallied, researched, analyzed, talked, debated, slept-over and finally in June decided to hurry & move to Georgia. We made it on-time to start school in first week of August.

The first week flew by. By second week, I was cursing the narrow roads and the greenery.
"Why does it have to be so thick green everywhere ? I can hardly see the upcoming traffic signal or any curve up ahead. So much greenery."
"Why do they have to landscape every single road island ? Couldn't they use that part to expand the road. Its like being in Mahabaleshwar - atleast the 90s one"
I would excuse those cribs as backed by home-sickness - of missing Minnesota, you know. Because it's really Gorgeous in Georgia. Yes. Don't need hoodies. People are nice. Diverse, really diverse people and all fairly nice.

Plants are on steroids. My money plant/Pothos, which grew leaf by leaf in Minnesota. Pothos node sprouting a branch was a yearly event. Those same money plants are growing in volume like bush-fire. I haven't done anything to the soil or even watered them. Its like they are soaking things from air itself.

Traffic pattern is definitely very scientifically designed everywhere. 
Right turns are without pause or Stop; not even a Yield. Yeah, Brilliant !!!
Multiple lanes in most roads. Except in some interior places, where it's single lane. So it's go-big-or-nothing attitude. 

Cars get a car-wash every night. Condensation is such that every morning cars are drenched in dew. Hence always clean. And in daytime, WE are drenched and smelly. I have been sweating from pores I did not know existed. Yet you will see walkers everywhere, all day long. The 90F in Georgia is different from 90F in Minnesota.

There are a million schools in my county alone. But there is only one trail that I know of. Alpharetta Greenway. To be fair, there are multiple entry points; hence car parking spots. But it's just one trail and with small distance on each branch too. First few weekends, I did back & forth repeatedly to meet my mileage. This weekend, the closed part showed open and I kept on going. Was so thrilled to get my long-run in one go of to-and-back.

The Greenway in itself is epic. Wide, cement trail. Creek running by the side, throughout. And covered in tree canopy throughout the stretch. Even on a humid morning, its air-conditioned. Absolutely don't need a cap, if running within the trail.

Speaking of trails, Spiderwebs are epic. EPIC. As thick as textile material. The comedy scenes of TV - where someone runs into the webs and run blind swiping at the webs, is a real life happening here.