Waterfalls near a city
Waterfalls near Helen, Georgia
Anna Ruby Falls is 4 miles straight-line from Helen, the closest falls in this guide. Its paved path runs 0.4 mile each way to twin falls. FIND Outdoors charges $6 per person aged 16 or older. Raven Cliff Falls, 5 straight-line miles out, is a 5.2-mile round-trip hike with a $5 vehicle fee. Helton Creek Falls, 10 miles as the crow flies, is an easy 0.2-mile walk, per the Forest Service.
12 waterfalls within 50 miles of Helen
Distances are straight-line miles from the US Census Gazetteer internal point of Helen, GA, not driving distances, so check a route before you go. Each card links to a full guide with fees, parking and current status.
Twin falls of 153 and 50 ft at the end of a short paved trail near Helen.
Anna Ruby Falls4 mi straight-line · Easy, some steep bitsOpen153FT
Dodd Creek splits an 80-ft cliff at the end of a 2.6-mile wilderness trail near Helen.
Raven Cliff Falls5 mi straight-line · ModerateOpen60FT
Five falls in a north Georgia scenic area, with decks at two of them.
High Shoals Falls8 mi straight-lineOpen
Two falls on Helton Creek near Vogel State Park, a short, easy walk from a roadside pullout.
Helton Creek Falls10 mi straight-line · Easy, abrupt grade changesOpen100FT COMBINED, 100+
A 3.5-mile trail to a falls with a popular pool; the rec area is closed for Helene.
Panther Creek Falls19 mi straight-line · HardPartly open70FT
A 186-ft free fall on a university campus, 100 yards from the gift shop.
Toccoa Falls22 mi straight-line · EasyOpen186FT
A 729-ft falls, which Wikipedia calls Georgia's tallest, with a 604-step staircase or a paved overlook path.
Amicalola Falls31 mi straight-line · HardPartly open729FT
Three cascades southwest of Highlands; downhill on the way in, uphill all the way back.
Glen Falls36 mi straight-line · ModerateOpen70FT
A 75-ft waterfall you can walk behind, steps from US-64 near Highlands.
Dry Falls37 mi straight-line · EasyOpen75FT
The old drive-under waterfall on US-64; now you walk behind it instead.
Bridal Veil Falls38 mi straight-line · EasyOpen45FT
A 411-ft falls with a paved walk to the upper overlook and 154 steps to the lower.
Whitewater Falls46 mi straight-line · EasyOpen411FT
A 90-ft falls you can see from the bridge on Tellico River Road, open again after a long closure.
Bald River Falls50 mi straight-line · Roadside viewOpen90FT
Map of waterfalls near Helen
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Compare the waterfalls near Helen
| Waterfall | Distance | Status | State | Height | Trail | Difficulty | Fee / permit | Swimming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Ruby Falls | 4 mi | Open | GA | 153 ft | 0.8 mi round trip | Easy, some steep bits | $6 / person (16+) | No |
| Raven Cliff Falls | 5 mi | Open | GA | 60 ft | 5.2 mi round trip | Moderate | $5 / vehicle | Popular; no rock climbing |
| High Shoals Falls | 8 mi | Open | GA | Not listed | 1.2 mi (direction not stated) | Free | No rule found; FS warns of danger | |
| Helton Creek Falls | 10 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 |
| Panther Creek Falls | 19 mi | Partly open | GA | 70 ft | About 7 mi round trip (rec area lot closed) | Hard | $4 / vehicle (unconfirmed) | Popular (Recreation.gov) |
| Toccoa Falls | 22 mi | Open | GA | 186 ft | 100 yd | Easy | $2 | None listed |
| Amicalola Falls | 31 mi | Partly open | GA | 729 ft | Paved path or 604 steps | Hard | $10 / vehicle | No rule posted |
| Glen Falls | 36 mi | Open | NC | 70 ft | 1-2 mi | Moderate | No fee listed | Swimming hole at the third falls (Forest Service) |
| Dry Falls | 37 mi | Open | NC | 75 ft | 0.2 mi | Easy | $3 / vehicle | No |
| Bridal Veil Falls | 38 mi | Open | NC | 45 ft | Roadside | Easy | No fee listed | No |
| Whitewater Falls | 46 mi | Open | NC | 411 ft | About 0.5 mi round trip | Easy | $3 / vehicle | Stay on trails |
| Bald River Falls | 50 mi | Open | TN | 90 ft | Roadside; Trail #88 is 5.6 mi one way | Roadside view | No fee listed | No rule listed |
Where to stay near Helen
Base yourself in Helen, GA for a waterfall day. Open the map to compare hotels, cabins and rentals, or switch to tours and activities.
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How the list breaks down
The map and table hold 12 falls, each with its own page in our guide, inside a 50-mile straight-line radius. Waterfalls we haven't written up are not on it. Seven are in Georgia; our Georgia waterfalls guide covers the rest of the state. Four are in North Carolina, near Highlands and Cashiers, and one is near Tellico Plains in Tennessee.
Two Georgia falls on the list are partly open. Panther Creek Falls is 19 miles away as the crow flies. Helene damage has closed its parking area, picnic area and bathrooms; the Forest Service page saying so was last updated April 17, 2026. The trail stays open to intermediate and advanced hikers only. At Amicalola Falls, the park lodge site lists the East Ridge Trail as closed for maintenance (checked Oct 27, 2026).
Four falls within 10 straight-line miles
Anna Ruby Falls is operated by FIND Outdoors for the Forest Service. It opens 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 5 p.m. It closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Wikipedia gives the taller of the two falls as 153 ft, on Curtis Creek.
Raven Cliff Falls is a wilderness hike along Dodd Creek, 2.6 miles each way per Recreation.gov. The gravel trailhead lot on GA 348 holds 30 vehicles and takes no reservations. Explore Georgia says it fills quickly on nice days in peak seasons.
High Shoals Falls, 8 straight-line miles north, is in the High Shoals Scenic Area near Hiawassee. Explore Georgia lists a 1.2-mile trail to observation decks at two falls. It does not say whether that is one way or round trip. Admission and parking are free, per Explore Georgia. It is open, as far as we can tell: on Nov 6, 2026, the Forest Service listed no alert for the trail or FS Road 283.
Helton Creek Falls is a pair of falls, Lower and Upper, south of Blairsville. You park at a small pullout 2.2 miles up Helton Creek Road. The trail is short, but the Forest Service warns of many abrupt changes in grade.
Fees depend on who runs the site
Anna Ruby charges by the person, not the car. A Georgia State Parks ParkPass doesn't cover it, per FIND Outdoors. Raven Cliff's $5 vehicle fee takes only America the Beautiful Senior and Access passes, not the regular annual pass.
Every vehicle at Amicalola Falls needs the $10 Georgia State Park Pass. Toccoa Falls, 22 straight-line miles away on the University of Toccoa Falls campus, costs $2 at the gift shop. Panther Creek's $4 per-vehicle figure comes from an undated Explore Georgia listing, so treat it as unconfirmed.
Over the line in North Carolina, Dry Falls charges $3 per vehicle per day. Whitewater's latest official figure is also $3, though a 2024 Forest Service proposal would raise it to $5. One $15 annual pass covers both. Helton Creek's Forest Service page shows no fee, and Explore Georgia lists its admission as $0.00. Explore Georgia also lists free admission and parking at High Shoals.
Where swimming is allowed
Anna Ruby Falls is off limits for swimming. FIND Outdoors does not allow swimming or fishing and asks visitors to stay out of the creek.
Recreation.gov calls the area below Raven Cliff Falls a popular swimming area, though climbing the rocks is not allowed. It describes Panther Creek's pool the same way. Reaching it means about 7 miles round trip, for experienced hikers only, while the rec area lot stays closed.
In North Carolina, the Forest Service says the third falls on the Glen Falls trail has a family-friendly swimming hole. It also warns that the areas around the falls are very slippery. Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are not swimming spots. Before you wade anywhere, read our waterfall safety guide.
Over the state lines: North Carolina and Tennessee
Four North Carolina falls sit 36 to 46 miles from Helen as the crow flies. Glen Falls, Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are near Highlands. At Dry and Bridal Veil you can walk behind the water. Whitewater Falls, near Cashiers, drops 411 ft in its upper falls, by the Forest Service figure.
Bald River Falls in Tennessee is right at the 50-mile straight-line edge. The Forest Service gives it 90 ft, and you see it from a bridge on Tellico River Road (FR 210) with no hike. On Nov 3, 2026, its Forest Service page said the falls are now open. The site had been closed from August 2023 for repairs and a bridge replacement.
Waterfalls near Helen: FAQ
What is the closest waterfall to Helen?
Anna Ruby Falls, which sits 4 miles from Helen as the crow flies. The visitor center lot at 3455 Anna Ruby Falls Rd is included with admission, per FIND Outdoors. The operator suggests planning at least 2 hours for the visit.
How much are the waterfall fees near Helen?
They range from nothing to a few dollars. Anna Ruby is $6 for ages 16 and up, and kids 15 and under get in free. Raven Cliff charges $5 per vehicle and Toccoa $2. High Shoals is free, per Explore Georgia. Amicalola, which is partly open, needs a $10 Georgia State Park Pass per vehicle.
Which waterfalls near Helen are an easy walk?
Toccoa Falls is 100 yards on a graveled path from the gift shop. Helton Creek Falls is 0.2 mile, rated easy by the Forest Service despite abrupt grade changes. Anna Ruby's paved route is 0.8 mile round trip, with a few short steep sections, per FIND Outdoors.
Can you swim near Helen, GA?
Yes, at a few places, though never at Anna Ruby. Recreation.gov names the water below Raven Cliff Falls and the pool at Panther Creek as popular for a swim. Panther Creek's rec area is closed for Helene repairs. Across the North Carolina line, Glen Falls' third falls has a family-friendly swimming hole, per the Forest Service.
How long is the hike to Raven Cliff Falls?
Recreation.gov lists 2.6 miles each way, or 5.2 miles round trip, inside the Raven Cliffs Wilderness. Atlanta Trails and Explore Georgia rate it moderate. The falls are 5 straight-line miles from Helen.
Sources
Facts for each waterfall come from its own guide, where every source is listed. The city sources are below.
- FIND Outdoors: Anna Ruby Falls (hours, admission, phone)
- FIND Outdoors: Anna Ruby Falls FAQs (swimming, drones, ParkPass, accessibility, dogs)
- USDA Forest Service: Ravens Cliff Trailhead
- Recreation.gov: Raven's Cliff Wilderness Trailhead Pass
- USFS Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: Helton Creek Falls (updated Apr 17, 2026; read Nov 3, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: Panther Creek Recreation Area (updated Apr 17, 2026)
- Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge: Georgia State Park ($10 pass, Visitor Center hours, East Ridge notice)
- University of Toccoa Falls: Visiting Toccoa Falls
- USFS: Glen Falls Trail #8 (updated Aug 15, 2025; read Oct 28, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: Dry Falls (last updated Sept 11, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: Cullasaja Gorge (Bridal Veil Falls)
- USDA Forest Service: Whitewater Falls (last updated Jan 5, 2026; Site Open)
- USFS Cherokee National Forest: Bald River Falls (updated June 10, 2025; read Nov 3, 2026)
- Explore Georgia: High Shoals Falls (read Nov 4, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest alerts (read Nov 6, 2026)
- US Census Bureau: 2024 Gazetteer Files (places)
State guides: Georgia waterfalls, North Carolina waterfalls, Tennessee waterfalls. More cities.
Photos: Washuotaku, CC BY-SA 4.0; ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0; TCR-III, CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo credits