Here’s what to do for fun!
There are three lakes, hiking trails, waterfalls, and a
One Thousand Foot Deep Gorge all within the Town of Tallulah Falls!
Bluegrass at the Opry:
The Tallulah Falls Bluegrass at the Opry on Main Street runs from the first Saturday in April through the last Saturday in October from approximately 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, weather permitting. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and come listen to Bluegrass music. Enjoy the bonfire and roasting marshmallows. Bring your instrument and join in if you like. Admission is free- donations are appreciated
Fishing:
Shore and boat fishing on all three lakes: Tallulah, Tugaloo, & Yonah. Please note the enforced horsepower limit on each lake: Tallulah- 5hp; Tugaloo & Yonah- 25 hp. There is also a public dock on River St for fishing and picnicking (no swimming allowed) as well as a fishing pier at the Terrora Day Use Area of Tallulah Gorge State Park.
Boat Access:
Tallulah Lake — the public dock on River St. near Town Hall. Boat launch at this location is by hand only, Not accessible to trailers. Feel free to unload at the dock, but please park across the road from Town Hall
Tugaloo Lake — *This is a four-wheel-drive only access road. DNR does cite vehicles in violation of this rule* To get there, turn East at Jane Hurt Yarn Road. Follow Jane Hurt Yarn and stay left at the two stone pillars (the entrance to the Interpretive Center). You are now on Rock Mountain Road. Pass the town cemetery (on right) and be prepared to transition from pavement to gravel road. Follow signs to Stone Pile (not Old Stone Place).
Lake Yonah —Take Tugaloo Village Road to a gravel road at the end. Follow the gravel road down the mountain to the Lake Yonah Campground. There is a public access boat ramp there, and two-wheel-drive vehicles are acceptable.
Hiking and Biking Trails:
There are six hiking trails in Tallulah Gorge State Park open to the public.
North and South Rim Trails — The North and South Rim Trails are two trails that follow the rim of the Gorge, are approximately three-quarters of a mile each, and offer spectacular overlooks into the Gorge with views of the Falls. The best place to start the rim trails is from the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center at the State Park.
Sliding Rock and Hurricane Falls Trails — A Gorge Floor access Permit must be obtained from the Interpretive Center. This is a two-and-a-half mile round trip, very strenuous hike with swimming allowed only at Sliding Rock.
Hurricane Falls Suspension Bridge Loop — A three mile round trip along both Rim Trails as well as the four-hundred plus steps into the Gorge with a suspension bridge above Hurricane Falls. Highly recommended. Be sure to take the additional steps on the south side down to the viewing platform of Hurricane Falls. No permit required as long as you stay on the rim trails and the steps.
Stoneplace Trail — A trail for hiking, mountain biking, and back-country camping. Five miles one-way with a one-and-a-half mile loop. Moderate to difficult. Permit required.
Shortline Trail — A three mile paved trail following the Old Tallulah Falls Railroad Bed for hiking, biking, and rollerblading. Easy.
Terrora Trail — One mile loop trail, moderate.
Detailed information and a map, plus free, required permits are available at Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center, Tallulah Gorge State Park. 706-754-7970
Adventure Activities:
Whitewater Kayaking — available five weekends out of the year when Georgia Power Company releases more water over Tallulah Dam. These occur, the first two weekends in April and the first three weekends in November. For experienced kayakers only. Call 706-754-7970 for more information.
Rock Climbing — Allowed in Tallulah Gorge but only with a permit issued from Tallulah Gorge State Park. Unavailable during Peregrine Falcon nesting season.
Outdoor Recreation:
Waterfall & Gorge Viewing — Trails along the North and South Rims of Tallulah Gorge offer several spectacular overlooks. No permit necessary. Also steps on south side of Gorge to viewing platform at base of Hurricane Falls. The overlook porch at Tallulah Point Overlook on Scenic Loop 15 offers the only free, roadside view of Tallulah Gorge. www.tallulahpoint.com
Picnicking — Terrora Beach Day Use Area of Tallulah Gorge State Park and the Georgia Power Picnic Area on Tallulah Lodge Rd.
Tennis — Courts located at Tallulah Gorge State Park on Terrora Circle.
Swimming — Public beach on Georgia Power’s Tallulah Lake at the Terrora Beach Day Use Area. Tallulah Gorge State Park. Swimming also allowed in the Gorge at Sliding Rock. Permit required to hike to Sliding Rock.
Playground — A public playground is located at the Day Use Area of the Terrora Beach Day Use Area.
Camping — Tallulah Gorge State Park provides a fifty-site campground with full hook-ups or, for the more adventurous, back-country camping is also available. Open year round, reservations can be made by calling 706-754-7979 or visit gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge