Post - Everyday Travel Guides

by Rebecca Hollman
updated October 3, 2019

DeSoto Falls - Blairsville, Georgia

North Georgia is full of deciduous forests, rolling hills and tons of waterfalls. Although Georgia doesn’t have massive, powerful waterfalls, it is full of smaller waterfalls and rivers everywhere you look. One of the easiest trails to see a set of two different falls is the DeSoto Falls Trail in Northeast Georgia, close to Helen. There is also a DeSoto Falls in Alabama but this DeSoto Falls is located in the Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest. DeSoto Falls gets its name from Hernando DeSoto, an expeditionist and explorer, who allegedly explored this area. Apparently a piece of armor was found from his expedition in Georgia in the mid 1500s in this location, hence the name DeSoto Falls.

Table of Contents

About the Hike:

This is an extremely easy 2 mile total trail that is great for families and children. It is almost completely flat the whole way, especially to the Upper Falls, and so is accessible to most people. It’s an easy and quick way to see two pretty Georgia waterfalls - both the Upper and Lower DeSoto Falls.

Trail Info:

This is a 2 mile out and back hike that splits into two forks, each leading to a different waterfall. It follows a creek and rhododendron plants through a young forest from the parking lot until you reach the split in the trail. Follow the shorter trail to the left to reach the Lower DeSoto Falls. This trail has a quick ascent through switchbacks and reaches the falls in 0.25 miles. This waterfall is taller than the upper falls and tumbles into a field of big, mossy boulders below. Head back the same way you came and then follow the trail to the right to the Upper DeSoto Falls. You will cross a bridge and walk about 1 mile until you reach the multi-tiered cascades of the upper falls. There is a viewing platform that gives you views of the last tier of the upper falls. There is a small trail that snakes around to the higher up layers of the falls but it is technically off limits, even though people regularly go up there. If you follow this trail you will be able to see two more tiers of the upper falls.

Getting to the Trail:

Getting to the trailhead is extremely easy. The parking lot is located directly of Georgia 19 - which is what Georgia 400 turns into if you keep following it north. Stay on 19 N until you reach the DeSoto Falls Recreation Area. There will be a wooden sign on your left of 19 right where it’s marked DeSoto Falls USFS Campground on Google Maps. If you turn left here, there is a day parking lot and then also campgrounds and parking to the right. Stay on the asphalt day parking lot and park here. The trail goes through the campgrounds on gravel following the river until it branches away and becomes dirt. After a little bit longer of walking, you will see the split in the trail where you can either go to the upper or lower falls.