Trail Length: 0.6 miles	Type of trail: In and out
County: Gilmer County, GA	Our rating: Moderate
Features: waterfalls, stream	Your rating:
Usage: Medium	Added on: May 25, 2001
Last hiked: May 25, 2001	Updated on: February 01, 2009
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Additional Trails Hiking trails in Gilmer County, GA

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The Benton MacKaye Trail rises from Stanley Creek Road to these beautiful falls with a viewing deck just a few feet from the trail. This relatively short hike to this tall, normally full falls offer a wide trail and easy-to-moderate leg-stretch, good preparation for a hike up Rocky Mountain or one of the other nearby trails.

Turning off Stanley Creek Road just past the bridge over Falls Branch there is a small parking area/campsite that is almost always dirty in spite of the game warden's house being just down the road. As you enter the parking area note the old road on the left. Although I have not done the research to find out what the road was, it was a major road. The banked turn 30 feet from the trail tells us that.

At this point the Benton MacKaye begins the ascent up Rocky Mountain. The path to Falls Branch bears off to the right after .25 miles (it seems like slightly more). If you come to the first switchback on the Benton MacKaye, you have passed the side trail. It did not have a marking the last time we hiked it, but the well-worn path is easily identified. From the wide BMT the narrow path leads to a deck that allows a good view of this cascading waterfall, although a recently fallen tree blocked probably the top 50 feet of this 75-foot waterfall. The area is full of wildlife. On our most recent visit we saw a wild turkey.

If you want, continue on the Benton MacKaye Trail for another 2 miles (total elevation climb of 1400' feet) for some excellent views from Rocky Mountain. (The trail actually climbs to the top of the mountain and the climb is well-done and gradual.)

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Trail Length: 0.6 miles	Type of trail: In and out
County: Gilmer County, GA	Our rating: Moderate
Features: waterfalls, stream	Your rating:
Usage: Medium	Added on: May 25, 2001
Last hiked: May 25, 2001	Updated on: February 01, 2009
About these ratings
Additional Trails Hiking trails in Gilmer County, GA

Falls Branch Falls
Falls Branch Falls maps and directions
Trail reports for Falls Branch Falls
Historic reports for Falls Branch Falls