Tallulah
Gorge State Park Hiking
Tallulah
Gorge is one of the oldest geological features in North America. Being one of
the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., it is two miles long and
nearly 1,000 feet deep. Home of Tallulah Gorge, an ancient, awesome 1000-foot chasm carved over millions of years by the Tallulah River, Tallulah Falls is actually a series of six waterfalls cascading down through Tallulah Gorge.
Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks, or
they can obtain a free permit to hike down to the gorge floor (limit 100 per
day, not available during scheduled water releases). A suspension bridge sways
80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and
the top of Hurricane Falls.
The
North and South Rim Trails consist of 3 miles round-trip which will take
approximately 2 hours to hike. It is a mulched trail with exposed roots that is
a leisurely walk. From the Interpretive Center there is a recycled rubber tire
trail that accesses Overlooks 2 and 3.
North
Rim Trail – Access this trail behind Interpretive Center. It is approximately
3/4-mile one-way, moderate with some inclines and stairs. This trail has five
Scenic Overlooks described below:
Ø Inspiration
Point - Best southern view into the gorge. Oceana Falls is below with a view of
the amphitheatre / horseshoe bend rock formation. Gorge depth is 900 plus feet.
Ø View
of Oceana Falls, with Bridal Veil Falls at the far end of the gorge. Tightrope
walker Karl Wallenda walked from this overlook to his tower on the south rim in
1970.
Ø View
of L’Eau d’Or (pronounced Ladore) Falls, top of Tempesta Falls, and Hawthorne
Cascade and Pool. Gorge depth is 350 feet.
Ø View
of L’Eau d’ Or Falls, Hawthorne Pool, and remains of a water compressor plant
used in building Tallulah Falls Dam.
Ø Good
view of Tallulah Falls Dam (completed in 1913) and upper portions of the gorge.
Ø View
of upper gorge and southern view to Hawthorne Pool and Overlooks 2 and 3. Gorge
depth is 250 feet.
South
Rim Trail – Located on the opposite side of the gorge from the Interpretive
Center and is approximately 3/4-mile one-way, moderate with inclines. This
trail has five Scenic Overlooks described below:
Ø View
of Hawthorne Pool, North Rim Trail Overlooks 2 and 3, top of Tempesta Falls and
down gorge towards Hurricane Falls. Gorge depth is 350 feet.
Ø View
of Hawthorne Pool, Tempesta Falls and Pool. Gorge depth is 400 feet.
Ø View
of Hurricane Falls and Pool, “Devil’s Pulpit” outcrop below, and the
Interpretive Center is across the gorge. Gorge depth is 500 feet.
Ø View
of Hurricane Falls, Oceana Falls, Caledonia Cascade (600 feet), and North Rim
Overlook 1. Gorge depth is 650 feet.
Ø View
of Caledonia Cascade and the Wallenda north tower area. Bluff to far right is
approximately 1,000 feet high.
The
Tallulah Falls Rail-Trail (also known as the Short Line Trail) spins a short,
smooth circuit through Tallulah Gorge State Park. From its trailhead beside
Tallulah Falls Lake, the 1.7-mile paved path meanders through a beautiful
southern Appalachian forest and crosses a small suspension bridge over the
Tallulah River. You can ride out and back or combine the trail with a short
road segment to form a loop.
