In researching our trip to Dahlonega we came across Amicalola Falls. We love a beautiful waterfall, but we aren’t hikers and prefer one that is easy to get to and not one that you have to trek through the woods to get to. So Jeff found that this one we shouldn’t have to trek through the woods to get to.

It was about 25 miles from Dahlonega. We decided that we would stop on the way home. So we drove out to the state park, paid $5 for admission and our first stop was the welcome center. We looked around the welcome center and start seeing aquariums with snakes and other wildlife from the area. We asked the lady there how to get to the falls. She tells us that we can go out the back door and get on the trail and it is about a 2.2 mile loop to get to the falls and will take a couple of hours. We ask if we have to take the entire loop or can we just turnaround and come back the way we go, she says only if you want to do ALL OF THOSE STAIRS AGAIN there are 604 stairs from the top to the bottom of the falls, 604!!! Remember that we have stopped for what we expected to be a quick visit, we weren’t planning for a few hours here as we had read that it was easy to get to and we still have a few hours drive to get home. She offers no other option so we go out the back and find the start of the trail. Did I say we aren’t hikers??? We took these pictures as we contemplated our visit.

We decided to study the map and to take a picture of it so that we can see what the route is and if we decide we are going to walk it we will have a picture of the map. Well, as we are contemplating this hike we get to studying the map and see that there is a parking area at the top of the falls. So hold up, we can drive to the top and not hike through the woods??? So we decide that this is our first option. We’ll drive up and see if we can see the falls and if not then maybe we’ll do the hike. So we drive up to the parking lot, along the way I notice a sign that had said at one point handicap accessible, but it had been covered over. So we thought maybe it was closed or something so we go on to the top. (I’ll come back to this in a minute.)

We get to the top and get parked. There are people everywhere along the top. We see a sign that says Difficulty…STRENUOUS 425 Steps!! We should have heeded the warning. But we decide we are here and we are going for it, what’s 425 steps?? So going down wasn’t so bad. We get to the bottom and make it over to the viewing area and see the most BEAUTIFUL waterfall that I think we have ever seen.

There is a lower pool that is another 175 or so steps down to. Well we decided that this was beautiful enough we don’t need to go any further. It also was so green in the area that we aren’t sure that you would have had any better of a view than what we had at this point.

Now we remember that those 425 stairs we just came down that now we have to go back up them!! So 850 steps later we made it back to the top. I thought I was just going to have live there, that I wasn’t going to make it back to the top. There were platforms and benches along the way where you could stop and catch your breath. I made use of just about every one of them on the way back up!!!

Been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt to prove it! LOL!

So you remember that handicap parking lot I mentioned? Well when we were walking around the area at the bottom of the stairs I noticed that the ground was covered in a rubbery substance, apparently if you park there which is about halfway up the hill you don’t have to take the steps and will have an easier visit!!! So if you don’t want to take the stairs see if you can get parking in that area, bet you have an easier walk in to see these beautiful falls!!! Want to make it more difficult take the stairs down and BACK UP!!! They don’t sell a t-shirt that says I conquered 850 steps, although they need one for those of us that think we are taking the easier route than the 2.2 mile loop!!