Horsetrough Falls — Local services in Hayesville

I've been on the upper access road (Wilkes Rd) just down from Unicoi Gap off Hwy 17/75 twice (as recent as 3 weeks ago)...The road is in rough shape from all the rain, gutted out in several sections and is dangerous. Avoid it. You'll make it as far as the Martin Branch Road connect, and then both roads are gated closed...The safest access to the Falls is to take Poplar Stump Rd off Alt 75 just north of Helen( at the church) then turn right to keep following it north until you reach Low Gap Campground...The forestry road is narrow at times, but is in pretty good shape. Above Low Gap Campground you'll drive 5 more miles to the north.The road will curve around to the right at an intersection and both roads will be gated. Follow the road around to the right and park. From here, beyond the gate, continue walking down the road for about 1.1 miles. It's an easy grade. After crossing a bridge over a the creek, the road curves around to the left and the Upper Chattahoochee River Campground lies ahead. At the campground sign follow the road around to the left up to the gated entrance. Take the roadway behind the gate to the rear of the campground. From here it's about another .5 mile. The campground is deserted and overgrown because the storms and tornados from a few years back ripped through the ridgelines here and on over to Lake Burton. The connecting forestry roads to the campground were severely damaged and washed out in sections with many fallen trees across the roads. When you reach the back area of the camp, the road circles around to the left in a turnaround. You'll notice a trail entry with a sign #173. Follow the trail and cross a wooden bridge over a creek. After crossing the bridge, follow the trail around to the left and soon HorseTrough Falls will emerge, visible through the trees. The Falls are immense and truly a North Georgia treasure.They remind me of the King's Creek Falls in SC, only the HorseTrough waterfall is twice as large. There is a viewing platform, and you can walk around the platform towards the foot of the Falls. Take care, the rocks are slippery and keep an eye out for snakes. For photography, I would recommend arriving here later in the afternoon, because during the morning/mid-day, the sun is hot in the water. As far as the hiking/walking part, it's effortless, but the drive in on the forestry road is an adventure all into itself. Make sure your tires have ample tread and your brakes are in...

We had an absolutely beautiful adventure traveling to this waterfall. When you first turn on the road that heads to the campground it can be a bumpy ride but you really don’t need a 4x4 whatsoever to get there. If you’re in a low profile vehicle you’ll want to drive slowly but you won’t have problems riding the 5 miles or so in.

In your way to the campground entrance which is how you get to the main waterfall you’ll see a smaller waterfall right away that worst stopping at for a few minutes. I’ve included photos of that in the beginning of my review.

Eventually you’ll hit a parking lot where you can’t go any further (gate) when you go in the winter months and the campground is closed. You can park right there and there are a good number of parking spots there.

When you cross the gate it’s a few minute walk down a rock covered path to get there. You’ll see some beautiful nature (see my pics) and then you will hit a bridge over a creek which is also beautiful (pics included). Then you’ll be able to see the waterfall soon after.

There is an observation deck where you can view the entire falls but if you walk around that on the right you can walk right up to the falls. It wasn’t difficult to cross from rock to rock to get right up to it.

It was so beautiful and majestic in person. We loved how lucky we were to be the only people there at the time we arrived.

When we left we took the road that curves to the right and followed that Forest Service Road out about 7 miles where you pass Jesus campground and another campground. It follows along the Chattahoochie River and it’s such a beautiful drive where you’ll see another small low waterfall (see my pics) and then another. The mountains views on this way out were also a site to stop for!

I included a video so you can see what the Forest Service Roads are like while driving.

Definitely make the drive to this beautiful area!! It’s so worth it. Would be awesome in the summer to hang at the waterfall...

Cool waterfall accessible through the Upper Chattahoochee Campground. The drive in after turning off the Unicoi Turnpike is a little over 4 miles on a pretty narrow and sometimes bumpy gravel/dirt road. Don’t need 4x4 to traverse but if traffic coming from opposite direction, you will need to find a spot to pull over to let traffic pass if you’re lucky enough to be near a wider portion, or back up until you reach one which can be interesting.

Once to the campground it’s a really easy walk through the campground to the waterfall. There’s a small wooden deck there for observation or you can go past it and walk right up to the base of the fall. Warning, the rocks are very slick, our daughter took a short fall slipping on a rock. We watched another group walk further up and a gentleman in that group took a big slip and fell completely in the water. Potential for injury and no phone signal to call for help so be very careful. Great place to explore with the kids, probably nice spot to dip your feet in during...