Waterfalls near a city
Waterfalls near Atlanta, Georgia
Amicalola Falls is the nearest falls in this guide, 57 miles from Atlanta in a straight line, so this list reaches 100 straight-line miles. The park and Wikipedia give its height as 729 ft, and every vehicle needs a $10 Georgia State Park Pass. Its East Ridge Trail is closed. Raven Cliff Falls and Helton Creek Falls come next at 75 straight-line miles. Helton Creek is a 0.2-mile walk; Raven Cliff is a 5.2-mile round trip.
10 waterfalls within 100 miles of Atlanta
Distances are straight-line miles from the US Census Gazetteer internal point of Atlanta, GA, not driving distances, so check a route before you go. Each card links to a full guide with fees, parking and current status.
A 729-ft falls, which Wikipedia calls Georgia's tallest, with a 604-step staircase or a paved overlook path.
Amicalola Falls57 mi straight-line · HardPartly open729FT
Dodd Creek splits an 80-ft cliff at the end of a 2.6-mile wilderness trail near Helen.
Raven Cliff Falls75 mi straight-line · ModerateOpen60FT
Two falls on Helton Creek near Vogel State Park, a short, easy walk from a roadside pullout.
Helton Creek Falls75 mi straight-line · Easy, abrupt grade changesOpen100FT COMBINED, 100+
Twin falls of 153 and 50 ft at the end of a short paved trail near Helen.
Anna Ruby Falls80 mi straight-line · Easy, some steep bitsOpen153FT
Free 45-ft falls at the AL-35 bridge; ADA boardwalk, lot often full on summer weekends.
Little River Falls82 mi straight-line · EasyOpen45FT
Five falls in a north Georgia scenic area, with decks at two of them.
High Shoals Falls83 mi straight-lineOpen
A 186-ft free fall on a university campus, 100 yards from the gift shop.
Toccoa Falls84 mi straight-line · EasyOpen186FT
A 104-ft plunge near Mentone, AL; $5 parking and about 50 steps to a railed overlook.
DeSoto Falls86 mi straight-line · ModerateOpen104FT
A 3.5-mile trail to a falls with a popular pool; the rec area is closed for Helene.
Panther Creek Falls86 mi straight-line · HardPartly open70FT
A 90-ft falls in a Gadsden city park, with a paid Gorge Trail that passes under it.
Noccalula Falls94 mi straight-line · ModerateSeasonal90FT
Map of waterfalls near Atlanta
Map loads as you scroll. Open in OpenStreetMap
OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
Compare the waterfalls near Atlanta
| Waterfall | Distance | Status | State | Height | Trail | Difficulty | Fee / permit | Swimming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amicalola Falls | 57 mi | Partly open | GA | 729 ft | Paved path or 604 steps | Hard | $10 / vehicle | No rule posted |
| Raven Cliff Falls | 75 mi | Open | GA | 60 ft | 5.2 mi round trip | Moderate | $5 / vehicle | Popular; no rock climbing |
| Helton Creek Falls | 75 mi | Open | GA | 100 ft (combined, 100+) | 0.2 mi, easy (USFS) | Easy, abrupt grade changes | No fee shown (USFS) | No rule found; stay on trail and deck |
| Anna Ruby Falls | 80 mi | Open | GA | 153 ft | 0.8 mi round trip | Easy, some steep bits | $6 / person (16+) | No |
| Little River Falls | 82 mi | Open | AL | 45 ft | Boardwalk, a few minutes (NPS) | Easy | Free | Not banned; deaths have occurred |
| High Shoals Falls | 83 mi | Open | GA | Not listed | 1.2 mi (direction not stated) | Free | No rule found; FS warns of danger | |
| Toccoa Falls | 84 mi | Open | GA | 186 ft | 100 yd | Easy | $2 | None listed |
| DeSoto Falls | 86 mi | Open | AL | 104 ft | About 50 steps to the overlook | Moderate | $5 parking per vehicle | No rule found for the base |
| Panther Creek Falls | 86 mi | Partly open | GA | 70 ft | About 7 mi round trip (rec area lot closed) | Hard | $4 / vehicle (unconfirmed) | Popular (Recreation.gov) |
| Noccalula Falls | 94 mi | Seasonal | AL | 90 ft | Gorge Trail under the falls | Moderate | $10 adults | Park pool in summer |
Where to stay near Atlanta
Base yourself in Atlanta, GA for a waterfall day. Open the map to compare hotels, cabins and rentals, or switch to tours and activities.
Or open the full stays map in a new tab
Affiliate links and map: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. The map loads from Stay22 only when you open it. Partners do not see or change our waterfall facts. Disclosure.
How the list breaks down
The 10 falls split into two groups. Seven are in the north Georgia mountains. Three are in northeast Alabama: Little River Falls, DeSoto Falls and Noccalula Falls. Lists of falls near Atlanta often include spots inside the city, such as Cascade Springs. We don't have pages for those yet, so this list covers only the falls in our guide. See our Georgia waterfalls guide for more of the state.
Three falls on the list have limits right now. At Amicalola, the West Ridge path is open but the East Ridge Trail is not (park lodge site, checked Oct 27, 2026). Hikers bound for Panther Creek Falls will find the rec area's lot, restrooms and picnic area closed for Helene repairs (Forest Service, updated April 17, 2026). Noccalula Falls Park ended its 2026 day season on October 31.
North Georgia or northeast Alabama?
The Georgia seven run from Amicalola, 57 straight-line miles north, to Panther Creek, 86 straight-line miles northeast. They span national forest, state park and private university land. By sourced height, the two tallest falls on the list are here. Amicalola is 729 ft, and Toccoa Falls is a 186-ft single free fall, per the university and Wikipedia.
Anna Ruby Falls, 80 straight-line miles out near Helen, has twin falls at the end of a short paved trail. Raven Cliff Falls is a longer hike along Dodd Creek in the Raven Cliffs Wilderness.
High Shoals Falls, 83 straight-line miles away near Hiawassee, is open as far as we can tell. The Forest Service listed no alert for its trail or FS Road 283 on Nov 6, 2026. Explore Georgia lists a 1.2-mile trail to observation decks at two falls.
The Alabama three lie 82 to 94 miles to the west and northwest, measured as the crow flies. Little River Falls is in an NPS preserve near Fort Payne. DeSoto Falls is in DeSoto State Park near Mentone, and Noccalula Falls is in a Gadsden city park.
Free and low-cost stops
Little River Falls costs nothing. The NPS says there is no charge for this area, and an ADA boardwalk reaches the main overlook in a few minutes. The 100-car lot is often full by 11 a.m. Central on late-spring and summer weekends.
The Forest Service page for Helton Creek shows no fee. Explore Georgia lists free admission and parking at High Shoals. Toccoa Falls is $2, paid in the Gift Shop at Gate Cottage, and a 100-yard graveled path leads to the base. DeSoto Falls charges $5 per vehicle at the picnic-area lot, and about 50 concrete steps lead down to a railed overlook.
Costs climb at the ticketed sites. Noccalula is $10 for adults when it reopens (the 2026 price), and admission includes the Gorge Trail under the falls. Its day season ended Oct 31, 2026, and the park says it is closed November to mid-February outside Christmas at the Falls. Anna Ruby costs $6 for visitors 16 and older.
Hours and seasons to check before you go
Several falls here keep posted hours. Toccoa Falls is open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends noon to 4 p.m. It may close around holidays and university breaks. Anna Ruby sells its last ticket at 5 p.m.
Noccalula Falls Park is closed for day visits now that its 2026 season ended October 31. Its Christmas at the Falls event runs evenings from November 13, 2026 to January 2, 2027. Outside that event, the park is closed November to mid-February.
Flow is the other variable. Alabama State Parks says DeSoto Falls is sometimes dry in summer and fall. The NPS lists winter and early spring as the high-flow season at Little River Falls, with low water in summer and early fall.
Waterfalls near Atlanta: FAQ
Which waterfalls near Atlanta are worth the trip?
For height, Amicalola Falls is 729 ft and the closest, at 57 miles straight-line, though its East Ridge Trail was closed when checked Oct 27, 2026. For a quick look, Toccoa Falls and Little River Falls are a short walk from their lots. For a longer hike, Raven Cliff Falls is 5.2 miles round trip.
What is the prettiest waterfall in Georgia?
Going by sourced height, Amicalola Falls leads this list at 729 ft, per the park and Wikipedia. It is partly open, with the East Ridge Trail closed (checked Oct 27, 2026). Toccoa Falls, at 186 ft, is a single drop.
Is Anna Ruby Falls worth visiting?
Judge by the facts. It sits 80 miles straight-line from Atlanta, near Helen. A paved trail of 0.8 mile round trip leads to two falls, the taller 153 ft per Wikipedia. Admission is $6 for ages 16 and up, and FIND Outdoors bans swimming. Leashed dogs are allowed.
How much do waterfalls near Atlanta cost?
Most charge something. Amicalola, partly open as of Oct 27, 2026, needs a $10 vehicle pass, Raven Cliff charges $5 per vehicle and DeSoto Falls $5 to park. Toccoa is $2, and Noccalula is $10 for adults (2026 price) when it reopens in mid-February. Panther Creek, whose rec area lot is closed, lists an unconfirmed $4. Little River Falls is free, per the NPS, and Explore Georgia lists High Shoals as free.
Can you swim at waterfalls near Atlanta?
It varies by site. At Little River Falls, swimming is not banned, but the NPS says many rescues and even deaths have occurred there. It requires you to stay at least 50 ft from the edge. Below Raven Cliff Falls, Recreation.gov notes a popular swimming area, but climbing on the rocks is not allowed. Anna Ruby bans swimming, and Noccalula Falls Park has a park pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Sources
Facts for each waterfall come from its own guide, where every source is listed. The city sources are below.
- Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge: Georgia State Park ($10 pass, Visitor Center hours, East Ridge notice)
- USDA Forest Service: Ravens Cliff Trailhead
- USFS Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: Helton Creek Falls (updated Apr 17, 2026; read Nov 3, 2026)
- FIND Outdoors: Anna Ruby Falls (hours, admission, phone)
- NPS Little River Canyon: Little River Falls
- University of Toccoa Falls: Visiting Toccoa Falls
- Alabama State Parks: DeSoto Falls Picnic Area
- USDA Forest Service: Panther Creek Recreation Area (updated Apr 17, 2026)
- Noccalula Falls Park: Park information (2026 prices and hours)
- Explore Georgia: High Shoals Falls (read Nov 4, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest alerts (read Nov 6, 2026)
- FIND Outdoors: Anna Ruby Falls FAQs (swimming, drones, ParkPass, accessibility, dogs)
- Recreation.gov: Raven's Cliff Wilderness Trailhead Pass
- US Census Bureau: 2024 Gazetteer Files (places)
State guides: Alabama waterfalls, Georgia waterfalls. More cities.
Photos: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0; TCR-III, CC BY-SA 3.0; FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo credits