Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Permit Ticket required ($2).
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Open on the posted schedule, but the falls may close on or around holidays and university breaks, and events can change hours. What the status labels mean
Toccoa Falls is a 186-foot free-falling waterfall on the campus of the University of Toccoa Falls in Toccoa, Georgia. A 100-yard graveled path leads from the gift shop at Gate Cottage to the base. Entry is $2, and the falls may close on some holidays and during university breaks.
About Toccoa Falls
Toccoa Creek pours straight off a cliff here, falling 186 feet in a single drop, according to the university and Wikipedia.
The falls sit on private university land, and the City of Toccoa does not manage them. The school was called Toccoa Falls College until July 1, 2026, when it officially became the University of Toccoa Falls, the university announced.
The university also books Christian wedding ceremonies at the falls, though the falls stay open to the public during them.
The 1977 Kelly Barnes Dam flood
The site carries a painful history. In the early hours of November 6, 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam above the falls failed after days of heavy rain. The flood swept through the campus and killed 39 people, according to the USGS.
Wikipedia says about 176 million gallons of water poured through campus within minutes, after five days of rain. Most of the victims were college staff who were asleep in the flood's path. The dam was never rebuilt.
A federal board could not name a single cause and concluded that a combination of factors was responsible, the USGS notes. The flood happened on this campus, so keep that history in mind when you visit.
Getting there and parking
Toccoa Falls is on the University of Toccoa Falls campus in Stephens County. The university lists the address as 107 Kincaid Drive, Toccoa Falls, GA 30598.
Directions to the visitor lot
The university posts the address, 107 Kincaid Drive, but no driving route. Set your map app to that campus address.
Start at the Gift Shop at Gate Cottage, which also serves as the entrance to the waterfall. You pay the $2 entrance fee inside, and the path to the falls begins there.
Discounts and questions
The City of Toccoa page lists discounts: free for children 6 and under, $1 for seniors and $6 for a family of four or more. The university page does not confirm these, so treat them as possible rather than certain.
The university's visitor page does not cover dog rules, restrooms or accessibility, so those remain unconfirmed. The City of Toccoa lists a campus phone number, 706-886-7299, extension 1234, if you need to ask before you go.
Map and nearby falls
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The walk
The walk is short: the university describes a 100-yard graveled path from the gift shop to the base of the falls. That works out to roughly 0.1 miles round trip.
For comparison with other north Georgia waterfalls, Anna Ruby Falls near Helen has a 0.8-mile round-trip paved walk, and Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville has a 604-step staircase.
No wheelchair or stroller details are posted by the university. The path is gravel, so call ahead if access matters for your group.
When to visit
Hours are Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday noon to 4 p.m., according to the university (as listed Oct 2026). Events at the waterfall may affect public hours, so plan to arrive well before 4 p.m.
The falls are open year-round but may close on or around many dates. The university's list includes Labor Day, Veterans Day, Christmas, New Year's, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day and July 4.
University breaks matter too. Fall Break lands on the second or third weekend of October. Winter Break covers the last two weeks of December, and Spring Break is the second week of March. Check before you go if your trip falls near any of these.
As of October 2026, we found no report of Hurricane Helene damage at Toccoa Falls.
| Height | 186 ftNote: single free fall, per the university and Wikipedia |
|---|---|
| Trail | 100-yard graveled path from the gift shop to the base of the falls |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Entry fee | $2 entrance fee, paid in the Gift Shop at Gate Cottage (university, as listed Oct 2026) |
| Permit / reservation | None; pay the $2 entrance fee at the gift shop |
| Parking | Campus visitor lot by Gate Cottage |
| Hours / season | Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sat-Sun noon to 4 p.m.; events at the waterfall may affect hours (as listed Oct 2026) |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Managed by | University of Toccoa Falls (private) |
Safety and swimming
The university does not post a swimming rule on its visitor page. Stay on the path and at the base viewing area, and do not climb the cliff or the rocks around the falls.
Treat any wet rock near the base as slippery. Watch your footing and keep children close.
Keep back from the water's edge, and follow posted signs and any instructions from university staff. Remember that this is a campus, so stay on the visitor route.
For general tips, see our waterfall safety page.
Where to stay near Toccoa Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Toccoa.
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Photos
Toccoa Falls FAQ
How much does it cost to see Toccoa Falls?
$2, paid inside the Gift Shop at Gate Cottage on the University of Toccoa Falls campus. The City of Toccoa lists discounts for children, seniors and families, but the university does not confirm them.
What are Toccoa Falls' hours?
Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday noon to 4 p.m., according to the university. Events at the waterfall and academic breaks can change those hours.
When is Toccoa Falls closed?
It may close on or around major holidays and university breaks. These include Fall Break in October, the last two weeks of December and Spring Break in March.
How far is the walk to Toccoa Falls?
About 100 yards on a graveled path from the gift shop at Gate Cottage to the base of the falls, or roughly 0.1 miles round trip.
What happened at Toccoa Falls in 1977?
On November 6, 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam above the falls failed after days of heavy rain. The flood swept through the college campus and killed 39 people, according to the USGS.
How tall is Toccoa Falls?
186 feet, in a single free fall over a cliff, according to the university and Wikipedia. For context, see our list of the tallest waterfalls in the US.
Is Toccoa Falls taller than Niagara Falls?
Taller than part of it. Its 186-foot drop beats the American Falls, which fall 70 to 110 feet to the rocks below. It roughly matches Horseshoe Falls, which Niagara Falls USA lists at 188 feet. The popular claim uses a 167-foot Horseshoe figure, and Niagara carries far more water.
Can you get married at Toccoa Falls?
Yes. The university books Christian ceremonies at the falls for 10 to 200 guests, starting no earlier than 4:30 p.m. and no later than one hour before dusk. The falls stay open to the public. Gate Cottage is the indoor alternative, the campus is alcohol-free, and no prices are posted, so book through the university.
Nearby waterfalls
Panther Creek Falls6 mi straight-linePartly open70FT
Anna Ruby Falls23 mi straight-lineOpen153FT
High Shoals Falls26 mi straight-lineOpen
Raven Cliff Falls27 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
Glen Falls31 mi straight-lineOpen70FT
Helton Creek Falls32 mi straight-lineOpen100FT COMBINED, 100+
Dry Falls33 mi straight-lineOpen75FT
Bridal Veil Falls34 mi straight-lineOpen45FT
Whitewater Falls36 mi straight-lineOpen411FT
Amicalola Falls50 mi straight-linePartly open729FT
Looking Glass Falls59 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
Sliding Rock59 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
City guides: Waterfalls near Atlanta, GA · Waterfalls near Blue Ridge, GA · Waterfalls near Helen, GA
On these lists: Easy waterfall hikes · Roadside waterfalls
Sources
- University of Toccoa Falls: Visiting Toccoa Falls
- University of Toccoa Falls: Gift Shop at Gate Cottage
- University of Toccoa Falls: Weddings & Events
- University of Toccoa Falls: President Dr. Robert M. Myers announces retirement (name change effective July 1, 2026)
- City of Toccoa: Toccoa Falls
- USGS: The 1977 Toccoa Flood, failure of Kelly Barnes Dam
- The Toccoa Record: Toccoa Falls College converts to university
- Niagara Falls USA: American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls, a primer
- Wikipedia: Niagara Falls
- Wikipedia: Toccoa Falls
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with University of Toccoa Falls (private) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.