Adventures await travelers to the north Georgia mountains

Clayton & Rabun County

Connecting Trail and Town

Rabun County sits geographically poised in Georgia’s northeastern most corner and plays a perfect host to Appalachian Trail hikers as they pass by Dicks Creek Gap. The nearby town of Clayton is located 20 minutes east of the trail and boasts a full selection of restaurants, shops and hotels, offering hikers an array of resources away from the trail. Featuring some of the finest outdoor recreation opportunities and natural resources in Georgia, there are miles of clear-running streams and rivers, two major trail systems: Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail, dozens of campgrounds, picnic areas, and more, these lands are rich in natural scenery, history and culture.

Plan Your Visit

With over 150,000 acres of National Forest located in Rabun County, individuals can experience a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities just minutes from the City of Clayton. Whether it is trail running /hiking on the Appalachian Trail or Bartram Trail, horseback riding, exploring waterfalls, enjoying world class trout and bass fishing, white water paddling on the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, mountain biking endless miles of single track, flat water kayaking on a number of lakes, or rock climbing in the Tallulah Gorge, there is something for everyone. Rabun County is also the only county in the state of Georgia that features 3 state parks; Tallulah Gorge State Park, Moccasin Creek State Park and Black Rock Mountain State Park, which is the highest state park in Georgia.

As the Farm-to-Table restaurant capital of Georgia, Rabun County offers some of the best food experiences in the south. Explore main street, which features a wide selection of retail and antique shops, play a round of golf at a first-class rated golf course, and stay at a boutique hotel or B&B. Experience cultural venues such as the Hambidge Center for the Arts and the Foxfire Museum & Village, which has had a significant impact on documenting Appalachian culture and the history of Rabun County. Then choose from a number of local distilleries, wineries and breweries to visit while in Rabun County.

To learn more about all the great places to go and stay in Rabun County and Clayton, as well as find out about upcoming events and get additional information to help plan your visit, check out explorerabun.com or visitclaytonga.net.

VISIT LOCAL TRAIL BUSINESSES

These businesses support the Trail by taking part in the A.T. Community Supporter program.

Photographs of Clayton & Rabun County, Georgia

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Featured Local Hikes

Rabun County Hikes & Waterfalls

VIEW THE HIKE ITINERARY

  • Bartram Trail. This 37-mile trail extends across the peak of Rabun Bald to the Chattooga River. Parts of the hike are steep and include strenuous water crossings.
  • Coleman River Trail. Take U.S. 76 from Clayton for 8 miles. Turn right heading north on Persimmon Road and drive 4 miles. Turn left heading northwest on FS Road 70 and proceed 1.25 miles. The trailhead will be on your right.
  • Minnehaha Trail. Take U.S. 441 north from Tallulah Falls for 3 miles to the Rabun Beach Recreation area sign. Turn left on an unnumbered county road and follow the signs to the recreation area. Continue west for 1 mile past the recreation area before turning left onto Flat Creek Road, across the river below Seed Lake Dam. Follow the left fork of the road for 1.7 miles until you reach a sign marking the trail on the right side of the road.
  • Angel Falls Trail. A 1.6-mile hike that passes by Panther Falls to a lookout below Angel Falls.
  • Hemlock Trail. Begins at Moccasin Creek State Park and follows an old railroad bed for about 1 mile. The hike, which offers good fishing access, ends at Hemlock Falls.
  • Warwoman Dell Nature Trail. This 0.4-mile loop begins at the end of Warwoman Dell picnic area. The hike offers views of a waterfall and wildflowers.
  • Rabun Bald Trail. A 2.9-mile trail leading to the summit of Rabun Bald, which is Georgia’s second-highest peak. The hike up the mountain is steep.
  • Willis Knob. This 15-mile hiking and horseback riding trail features rugged terrain and views of the Chattooga River.
  • Chattooga River Trail. A 10.7-mile hike beginning where state Route 76 East crosses the Chattooga River at the Georgia-South Carolina border.
  • Bad Branch and Crow Creek Falls. Follow Low Gap Road to the right, instead of going straight toward Minnehaha. At 0.3 miles, you reach Crow Creek Road. Go right and follow the road 2.8 miles to a pull-off on the right. Trailhead is on the left across the road. Bad Branch is a five-minute hike. To get to Crow Creek Falls, stay on Crow Creek Road for another mile. Pull off to the right at telephone pole No. 41-72. Trail is across the road.
  • Becky Branch Falls. This 20-foot cascade is located just five minutes from downtown Clayton and is easily accessible. From Clayton, drive east on Warwoman Road for 2.8 miles and park on the left side of the road by the branch. Walk up the right side of the branch on the trail for about 200 yards to a bridge at base of falls.
  • Darnell Creek Falls. A pretty little waterfall that is easy to get to and not far off the main road. From Clayton, drive north on U.S. 441 to the Rabun Gap Post Office. Turn right on Kelly’s Creek Road. Go 1 mile and turn right on Darnell’s Creek Road. Continue 0.4 mile, bear left at the fork with the private Chestnut Mountain Road. Drive across the bridge and bear right for another 0.3 mile. Park at the fork and take the right fork onto the old wood road. Hike is about 0.25 mile to the falls.
  • Denton Branch Falls. From Clayton, take U.S. Highway 76 west for 8 miles to Persimmon Valley Road. Turn right and continue 4 miles to Forest Service Road 70, to the left. Look for Coleman River WMA signs. Continue down this road for 6.6 miles. Denton Branch Road is off this road to the right, just past the “Tate City Mall” and Chapple Road. This road is rough, rocky and single-lane. The trailhead is a couple hundred feet down this road.
  • Dicks Creek Falls. This waterfall is about 60 feet high and makes a sheer drop over a granite mound into the Chattooga River. From Clayton, drive 6 miles east on Warwoman Road. Turn right onto Dicks Creek Road or Sand Ford Road. Go 0.5 mile, then take a left across the creek. Go 3.5 miles. Cross second ford and park at Bartram Trail sign. Follow trail north to Dicks Creek. Follow creek to viewing area at top of falls.
  • Hemlock Falls. This 15-foot falls is on a scenic trail directly across from Moccasin Creek State Park. Children may be interested in the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery next door to the campgrounds. From Clarkesville, take state Route 17 to Alternate SR 255. When this road dead ends, turn right onto SR 255. In Batesville, turn left onto SR 197, driving past LaPrade’s at Lake Burton to Moccasin Creek State Park.
  • Holcomb Creek Falls. The Holcomb Creek Trail (1.3 miles in length) begins at the intersection of Hale Ridge Road (Forest Service Road 7) and Overflow Road (Forest Service Road 86) and follows a short loop to its end on Hale Ridge Road. The trail passes Holcomb Creek Falls (which drops and flows over shoals for approximately 150 feet) and Ammons Creek Falls, where there is an observation deck. Take Warwoman Road east from Clayton for 10 miles. Turn left on Forest Service Road 7 (Hale Ridge Road) and drive 9 miles. Park to the east of intersection with Overflow Creek Road (Forest Service Road 86).
  • Kilby Mill Falls. From Clayton, take U.S. Highway 76 west for 8 miles to Persimmon Valley Road. Go 3.2 miles past the turn for Tallulah River Road and Tate City. Park just before the bridge to the right. From the parking area, follow the trail into the woods and up the creek. You’ll pass a 20-foot fall before reaching Kilby Mills Falls.
  • Martin Creek Falls. This two-tier waterfall is 35-feet high with aquatic plants covering the weeping rock wall on the left. This 20-minute walk (0.5 mile in length) follows the Bartram Trail along the west side of the creek. From Clayton, go east on Warwoman Road for 3 miles. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 152 and drive past the Game Checking Station. Park in the small cleared camping area on the left at a sharp left bend in the road. Walk west from the camping area. Cross Martin Creek, then travel uphill about 0.4 mile to the top of the falls.
  • Minnehaha Falls. The Minnehaha Trail (0.4 mile in length) follows Fall Branch until it dead ends at Minnehaha Falls. This waterfall is approximately 100 feet high (falling and shoaling). Take Old Highway 441 South from downtown Clayton to Lake Rabun Road. Continue on Lake Rabun Road for 6.2 miles. Take a left on Low Gap Road (at Flat Creek Community sign). Bear left onto Bear Gap Road for 1.6 miles to a small pullout on the left. The trail starts on some wooden steps to the right, which lead to the falls.
  • Mud Creek Falls. Also known as Little Estatoah, the falls have a vertical drop of 100 feet and flow into Estatoah Falls in Dillard. Take U.S. 441 North to Dillard. Turn right onto state Route 246 and follow signs to Sky Valley. At Sky Valley’s entrance gate, stay left. Turn right on Tahoe Road and follow to the falls.
  • Panther Falls/Angel Falls. These falls are close to the Rabun Beach Recreational Area. Turn right into Area 2 of the recreation area. Drive back along the loop road to the sign designating the trailhead. This is an easy trail that follows Joe Branch north of the recreation area to the two waterfalls. Panther Falls is located about a half-mile up the trail, while Angel Falls is another 600 yards farther down the trail.
  • Stonewall Creek Falls. From Clayton, take U.S. 441 south for 2.7 miles, turn right onto Tiger Road. Go 1.1 miles, and turn left onto Old 441 S. Go 2.3 miles and turn right at Stonewall Falls Mountain bike trail sign. Continue on this road for 1.3 miles. Parking area is uphill to the left.

 

Get Involved

Georgia Appalachian Trail Club

Georgia Appalachian Trail Club

The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club manages, maintains and protects the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Georgia with volunteers from its membership and the interested public. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club promotes the appreciation of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and natural outdoor places through education and recreational activities, with an emphasis on conservation ethics and protection of the forests, their natural resources and wilderness areas. georgia-atclub.org.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

ATC Volunteer Program

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is always looking for dedicated volunteers to help maintain the A.T. and assist in our visitor center and headquarters. Opportunities range from greeting visitors and providing information about local hikes to joining a Trail crew for week-long maintenance trips, gaining first-hand experience in what it takes to keep the A.T. open and enjoyable for millions each year. Learn more at appalachiantrail.org/volunteer.