For this weekend we will be staying in the little town of Toccoa, Georgia. I chose Toccoa because it was close to the attractions and hikes that I wanted to do. I was also able to find a hotel here that was reasonably priced that allowed me to bring my dog.
Hotel: Country Hearth Inn and Suite
Day 1: Tallulah Gorge State Park, Currahee Vineyard and Winery
Drive time: 20 minutes
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Wake up early and head 20 minutes North to Tallulah Gorge State Park.
On the way, stop at the lookout point.
Lookout point on the way to Tallulah Falls State Park
Once you reach the state park, the price to enter is $5 and they only accept cash at the entrance to the park. There is also an option for paying by scanning a QR code at the visitor center and then paying through an app.
I arrived by 9:00 and had no problems finding parking. Once parked, follow the road past the visitor center and down the hill. The trailhead is on the right. Take the dirt path down to Overlook 1. Here you will see your first glimpse of the massive gorge that you will be hiking through today.
Hike #1- Tallulah Gorge Lookouts and Cascade Falls Trail
A moderate 2.5 mile heavily trafficked loop. It will take you along the rim of the gorge to the lookout points as well as down into the gorge by way of over 1100 steps (total). I will warn you, the stairs are strenuous!
The stairs going into the Gorge
After finishing the loop, venture to Inspiration Point which is the highest point in the park.
Inspiration point
Hike #2- Terrora Trail, also known as Tallulah Falls Rail Trail.
Getting to Terrora Trail/Tallulah Falls Rail Trail: Get back in your car and leave the parking lot the way you came in. Drive down the hill to the traffic light. Go straight through the light and make a right at the intersection. Follow the signs for the ‘old jail.’ You will see a small parking lot on the right, if you have not paid the $5 fee, you can pay it here. If you are all paid up, drive across the bridge and make the first right up a very steep hill to the parking lot at the trailhead.
When you enter the trail, you will see a sign for a nature trail that goes through the woods which is .7 miles and a loop around a small lake which is .5 miles. In my opinion, these are both scenic and worth a peek. The main trail is a flat and paved loop that runs along the Tullulah River. I saw a few runners and families with strollers while we walked. Before crossing the suspension bridge I decided to make my way down to the river; I couldn’t help but dip my feet into the cold water for a few minutes.
Finish the loop by walking out onto the road and over the bridge. Here you might see people playing in the water and sunbathing on the rocks. Think about bringing a swimsuit with you, this sure looked like a relaxing way to end a long day of hiking. Walk up the road until you see the first place to turn (this will be on your right). There is a gravel driveway and a gate that says “no trespassing.” Walk up the driveway just a few feet and you will see access to the beginning of the trail on your left.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Tullulah Gorge State Park. The trials are well marked and maintained. The stairs are a great leg and glute workout; My legs were screaming by the end! The Terrora Trail was a leisurely stroll through the woods with a river and suspension bridge.
Hike #3: On the way back, make a stop at Toccoa Falls.
Toccoa Falls is a 186-foot free falling waterfall; The tallest waterfall of its kind East of the Mississippi! Unfortunately for us, the falls were closed the day we were there (bummer!). It sure looks beautiful in the pictures though!
That night, we enjoyed a glass of wine at Currahee Vineyard and Winery.
Day 2: Sumter National Forest
Drive time: 30 minute. Today you will be heading across the border to South Carolina.
Hike #1: Brasstown Waterfall Series
This trail is only 0.6 miles out and back and is rated as moderate. Throughout this trail you will see 4 beautiful waterfalls ranging from 20 to 40 feet.
Getting to Brasstown Waterfall Series: (Brasstown Falls Trailhead, Long Creek, SC 29658) Before reaching the trailhead, you will drive down a one lane gravel road. When you get to the fork in the road, stay right. At the end of the road is a small parking lot. The beginning of the trail is between two boulders (pictured below). Please note that you will not have cell phone service.
The first half of the trail is an easy stroll through the woods. You can hear the waterfalls in the distance. Following this, the trail gets more technical. The trail is muddy, rocky, with lots of roots and quite steep in places. Just make sure you come prepared. A good pair of hiking boots is a must.
Hike #2: Opossum Creek Falls Trail
(Opossum Creek Falls Trailhead, Turkey Ridge Rd, Long Creek, SC 29658) This was my favorite hike of the weekend! It is a 5 mile out and back and is rated moderate.
Side note: When I put the address into the GPS, it said that it was an hour and half away. This was inaccurate. The trial was only 10-15 minutes away from Brasstown Waterfall Series and about a half hour away from our hotel.
Getting to the trail: You will again be driving down a long gravel road to get to this trail. The trailhead is before the parking lot, between two boulders. It is marked. There is another trailhead across the road from the parking lot, and we made the mistake of walking about .5 miles into this trail before we realized our mistake and had to turn around.
Opossum Creek Falls trail is much less technical than the first trail we did today. It is a leisurely, relaxing stroll through the woods. During the first 2 miles, you will be walking down about 800 feet in elevation.
At about the 2 mile mark, you will make your way across a downed tree over a small creek. This will bring you to the most beautiful beach. If I would have known, I would have brought a swimsuit to take a dip! Spend as long as you like here. When I went, there was a family and a couple who brought their two dogs. I enjoyed playing with the dogs as I had a snack and soaked in some sun.
When you are ready, walk back across that downed tree and go to the right. Follow the trail until you reach the waterfall. You will not want to miss this waterfall! It is only about .5 miles from where you were.
“What goes down, must go up!” I know that’s not how that saying goes, but it is what you will be doing on the second half of this hike. Walking up 800 feet in 2 miles is definitely the most strenuous part of this trek and probably why this trail is rated as moderate.
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to explore more of this beautiful country. I hope you will find this itinerary useful as you plan your next weekend getaway.
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