DO IT: Hiking - Minnehaha Falls Trail

Minnehaha Falls Trail in Rabun County is a short, family friendly trek to an amazing Georgia waterfall. If you’re in the vicinity of Tallulah Falls and want to see a waterfall without the hustle and bustle of the Tallulah Gorge State Park, this is a great sidetrack that won’t disappoint.  

To get to the trailhead, take U.S. 23/441 North from Tallulah Falls for 3 miles to the Rabun Beach Recreation Area sign. Turn left onto Old 441 and go 2.5 miles. Take a left on Lake Rabun Road and proceed 1-mile past the Recreation Area before taking a left on Low Gap Road at the Flat Creek Community sign. Bear Gap Road then forks left; continue for 1.5 miles. A sign on the right side of the road marks the trail. Limited parking is available along the road adjacent to a cove of Lake Rabun. 

The trailhead is marked with a green diamond and the number 147 and the pathway quickly ascends a wooden staircase and heads southwest toward the falls. The hike quickly finds the banks of Falls Creek, carving its way through the forest which features a host of rhododendron. The evergreen leaves of the rhododendron make the hike seem pleasant even in the stark winter months, but the environment comes alive in May when the plant is in bloom.

Minimal elevation changes and a short distance make this hike a breeze for nearly every member of the family. About 0.1 miles from the trailhead, you can hear the rolling cascade as you continue down the well-worn path. Don’t confuse the feature attraction with a smaller waterfall along the way.

As you approach Minnehaha, a side trail leads to the lower falls, visible from the rock-lined riverbank. At 0.2 miles the main trail ends at the clearing near the base of the falls. The waterfall rushes over the jagged, tiered rocks and widens as it reaches the bottom before converging back into Falls Creek.

Once you’re done soaking up the natural views, there’s good news – it’s only 0.2 miles back to the trailhead. Follow the path back the way you came and make sure to take with you what you brought in to preserve this natural resource for others.