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We took a steep trail that led down to High Shoals Creek. Walking downstream about another mile, we came to Blue Hole Falls. A little bit further brought us to High Shoals. Both of these falls were dramatic. The only part of the trip that was the trails. At my age and poor physical conditioning I tired pretty quickly. However, the walk was worth the effort, as you can see in the pictures.

Anna and I decided to drive along the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway (also known as Forrest Service Road 348), which is about 3 or 4 miles from Helen. It can easily be found by making a left/right jink just a bit north of the city. Once on the highway, there is a Dukes Creek Recreation Area sign about two miles to the north.

There is a half-mile trail that switches back and forth three times leading to a set of three different observation decks. This trails drops down about 400 feet from where it begins, but is a relatively easy walk. We both made the walk with no difficulty. The falls are fairly nice, but not as dramatic as some of the others that we have already mentioned. However, the total drop of this falls is about 300 feet, so it is not insignificant. As with all of the other falls, we certainly enjoyed the outing.

Anna and I went up to Unicoi Gap along highway 75 North for about 8 miles from Helen. There, Forrest Service Road 44 turns off to the west.We drove 5.4 miles to an open camping area. There we took the dirt road to the right for .2 mile to an iron gate. Then tarvelling the old woods road, left fork, and we followed the trail's blue blaze signs.

An open area for parking allowed us to take an easy hiking trail to see the falls. The hike on this one was easy, but the road was mostly dirt and rocks. I'm not certain how good it was on my car. This would be a great place for offroad vehicles, and there are signs that this might be one of the popular activities.

After leaving this area, we decided to go back to Helen and get a couple of beers and relax for the evening before we finally headed home.

This falls is 19 feet higher than Niagara (186 feet), although it doesn't put out the volume of the other. Still, it can be deadly. There are articles in the area which mention a rainstorm in 1977 which caused a dam to collapse above the falls. This caused the death of 35 or so people.

The short path to the falls is relatively easy to walk. It is possible to get down near the base of the falls via another path. You need to be in a bit better shape to use it, though. I took several photos, then headed on to another adventure.

I travelled to the falls to show my wife what they were like. I had once lived about 30 miles from them, and visited them regularly, but I wanted to show my wife the things that I enjoyed seeing and doing. We arrived at the parking area, at the base of Blood Mountain, and paid $3.00 to park our vehicle. The parking area was almost filled with cars of sightseeing visitors. Across the parking area and picnic grounds the trail to the falls begins. The trail leads you around the falls so that you can get several different views of it. There is about 2 miles of trail that you can take. If you really like adventure, and have the physical durability for a steep climb, there is a separate trail that leads near the top of the falls. We started on that trail, but gave up part way. I just don't have the endurance that I did 15 years ago.

Legend tells us that a piece of armor found near the falls belonged to one of the soldiers under the leadership of the Spanish explorer Hernan DeSoto. Thus, the name for the falls.

DeSoto Falls really consists of five waterfalls. Three of the five waterfalls are along the hiking trails. The lower falls cascade about 20 feet. The middle falls drop 80 feet and is considered to be the most scenic. The upper falls drop 200 feet down a granite rock incline. I cannot wait to get back this summer.

There are more than 12 miles of hikig trails available, but the two best are the trail from the lodge (at the top of the falls), along the crest of the ridge to the falls and the path from the parking area to the observation deck at the base of the falls. Both of these trails are relatively easy to navigate. The scenery from either of these venues is breath-taking. A recent addition has been the winding staircase from the base of the falls to the top. The stairway was not there when I first went to the park, but was added before I returned last summer. There are observation platforms along the way up the staircase which provide majestic views of the falls and the surrounding countryside. A word of warning, though. Remember that if you start at the top and go to the bottom, you still have to return to the top!! I chose the opposite. We went from the base to the top, then our descent was less strenuous.

The easiest way to get to the park is to start in either Dawsonville or Dahlonega. Highway 9 runs between the two cities. The road intersects with GA-52. If you get on 52 and go north (or is it west?), the entrance to the park is on the right about 1 mile before Burt's Pumpkin Farm.

I will continue to return to this spot because of its majesty and grandeur.

This waterfalls is actually two falls in one. There are two creeks, Curtis Creek and York Creek, which meet together at this spot. The geography of the area allow both creeks to have waterfalls at the exact spot that they join, one of 50 feet and the other of 153 feet. They meet at the base of the falls, flow into Unicoi Lake, and eventually into the Chattahoochee River.

My wife is named Anna, so she ws thrilled to see the waterfalls that has her first name. It was almost as if she had adopted the falls for herself. We travelled in and out via the trail, which was easy to moderate in difficulty. There were other trails which intersected, one leading to Unicoi State Park, but we did not take the time to go on them.

After some photos, and time to enjoy the beauty, we went back to Helen and had a nice meal at one of our favorite restaurants. Enjoy!!