1/27/2015 Rabun County Waterfalls Hike – GA

Today was a waterfall hike on three trails in Rabun County, GA. First was the Hemlock Falls Trail at Moccasin Creek State Park on Lake Burton. Second was the Minnehaha Falls Trail at Lake Rabun and third was the Angel Falls Trail near Rabun Beach Recreation area to Panther Falls and Angel Falls.

HIKERS – Joe Collins, Pam Euliss, Tim Hale, Bill Hunt, Bob Magee, Dick Metzgar, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Sandy Robson, Vic Robson, and Carole Wintle.

TRAIL INFORMATION – The waterfalls in Rabun County are abundant and provide a real treat for the hiker. These waterfall trails today are beautiful and relatively easy to get to. There are many other nice waterfalls in Rabun Co. that we enjoy on various other hikes.

We rate the hike mostly easy with the Angel Falls trail having a bit more strenuous terrain near the upper falls.

DIRECTIONS: Hemlock Falls – From Clayton take Hwy 76 west 11 miles. Turn left on GA 197 and go 3.7 miles to the turnoff for Hemlock Falls Trailhead. This is just across the road from the Fish Hatchery.

Minnehaha Falls – Take US 23/441 north from Tallulah Falls for three miles to the Rabun Beach Recreation Area sign. Turn left onto Old 441. Go 2.5 miles and take a left on Lake Rabun Road. Go one mile past Recreation Area. Take a left on Low Gap Road at Flat Creek Community sign. Follow Bear Gap road which forks to the left. Go 1.5 miles to the sign marking the trail on the right side of the road.

Angel Falls – Take HWY 441 toward Clayton. After crossing the Tallulah Falls Bridge, go 1.7 miles and turn left onto Old HWY 441. Proceed 2.5 miles and turn left onto Lake Rabun Road. Travel 5 miles to Rabun Beach Campground on the right. If hiking in Winter, the campground is closed but there is an alternate trailhead on Lake Rabun Rd about a quarter mile before the campground.

Another great day for a hike! Sunny and cool with temperatures ranging from 32 to 42 degrees F. Total Hiking distance today – 6 miles.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: None

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Chickadee, Crow, Blackbird, Carolina Wren, Junco and Wild Turkey.

OTHER FAUNA: White-tailed Deer

Parking at the Hemlock Falls trail-head.

Engraved boulder at the start.

Noisy rapids all along Moccasin Creek.

Don’t do this!

Beautiful Hemlock Falls!

We also hiked this nice nature trail.

Next, we travel over to Lake Rabun and hike to beautiful Minnehaha Falls.

A very nice beautiful hike along Fall Branch.

Spectacular Minnehaha Falls.

This is the trailhead for our final hike today.

This trail follows Joe Branch up to Panther Falls and Angel Falls.

We arrive at Panther Falls!

On up the trail we come to Angel Falls.

The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Bill Hunt, Dick Metzgar, Tony Presley, Tim Hale, Bob Magee, Vic Robson, Joe Collins, Sandy Robson, Joe Raguckas, Carole Wintle and Pam Euliss. .