Updated July 2026
Hemlock Falls
Hemlock Falls is a roughly 15-foot block waterfall on Moccasin Creek near Lake Burton, reached by a trail that follows the creek upstream through rhododendron and hemlock forest. The trailhead is just off GA 197 near Moccasin Creek State Park in Rabun County.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Moccasin Creek State Park / Chattahoochee National Forest for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemlock Falls drops about 15 feet. That makes it the 643rd-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 7% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Hemlock Falls Trail reaches it about 2 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 246 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Clarkesville. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Moccasin Creek State Park / Chattahoochee National Forest for closures and current conditions.
Spring (Mar-May). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Georgia waterfalls
- Amicalola Falls · 729 ft
- Angel Falls · 50 ft
- Anna Ruby Falls · 153 ft
- Cochrans Falls · 600 ft
- DeSoto Falls · 200 ft
- Dukes Creek Falls · 150 ft
- Helton Creek Falls · 100 ft
- High Shoals Falls · 50 ft
Sources
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