Height is the headline. At 729 ft, Amicalola Falls ranks #1 of the 30 falls whose height has passed our source check, and you feel that scale long before you see the whole drop.
Amicalola Falls sits inside Amicalola Falls State Park, so the walk in comes with the park around it: marked trails, signed junctions and, usually, other things worth a stop on the same day.
Part of the appeal of Amicalola Falls is that it rewards a little effort: the closer you get, the cooler the air and the louder the water, and the photos rarely do it justice.
Geology and background
A 729-foot waterfall on Amicalola Creek in Dawson County, the centrepiece of Amicalola Falls State Park. Its name comes from a Cherokee term meaning tumbling waters.
What makes it special
A 729-foot cascading fall, the tallest in the Southeast, in an 829-acre state park in the Chattahoochee National Forest. A hard-surfaced trail reaches a viewpoint, and a staircase climbs to the top.
Plan your visit
Getting there and parking
Address: 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road, Dawsonville, GA 30534; 15 miles northwest of Dawsonville on Highway 52.
Prices and passes
Fee: $10 per vehicle daily ParkPass, $70 annual; seniors 62+ 50% off, active military/veterans 25% off.
Facilities
Facilities: Visitor Center, Lodge and Cascades Restaurant, campground and cabins.
Best time and crowds
Hours: Open year-round during daylight hours; Visitor Center 8am-5pm daily.
Trail closure: East Ridge Trail was closed for maintenance when checked 30 Oct 2026.
How long to spend
Allow half a day — 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center to the falls, plus time at the top.
Hike: 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center to the waterfall, moderate to strenuous; a hard-surfaced trail is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs; a more challenging staircase climbs to the top.
Where to stay nearby
Stay at the park lodge, cabins, or campground, or in Dawsonville, 15 miles away.
A waterfall is a stream caught in the middle of reshaping its valley. The plunge pool at the base is scoured out by falling water and the stones it carries, and the lip retreats a little with every flood.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to Amicalola Falls yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
The trail and the viewpoint
The listed hike to Amicalola Falls is about 1.5 miles. It is rated moderate to strenuous. Trail lengths in our data can mean one way or round trip depending on the source, so confirm on the trailhead sign.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on Amicalola Falls State Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
An entry fee of $10.00 is listed. Fees change, and some parks charge per vehicle rather than per person, so confirm before you go.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Amicalola Falls
Amicalola Falls is in Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (34.5675, -84.24444) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our Georgia waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Amicalola Falls in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
For a 1.5 mile hike, allow roughly 1.3 to 2.0 hours, including time at the falls. Add more if the trail is steep, muddy or busy.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Amicalola Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Amicalola Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Amicalola Falls, Georgia located?
Amicalola Falls is in Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia. Its GPS coordinates are 34.5675, -84.24444.
What kind of waterfall is Amicalola Falls, Georgia?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Amicalola Falls?
It is 729 ft tall, a height that passed our source check.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
A fee of $10.00 is listed. Most falls are open dawn to dusk, but check the managing agency for gates and seasonal closures.
Is Amicalola Falls good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
Amicalola Falls is a 729 ft waterfall worth building a day around. Go early, check recent rain, wear grippy shoes, and give yourself time to sit and listen once you get there.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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