The echoing of a thundering waterfall drowned out the noise of my footwear scuffing alongside the path. However I nonetheless couldn’t see it. My tempo quickened. Just some extra steps. I got here round a bend within the path, and there it was – the dual waterfalls of Anna Ruby Falls.
Curtis Creek cascaded 153 toes whereas York Creek freely fell for 50 toes. On the backside, the newly fashioned Smith Creek flowed away alongside the path I had simply hiked, dumping into Smith Lake I handed driving to the waterfall.
Anna Ruby Falls will not be precisely a secret, nevertheless it’s additionally not the simplest waterfall to seek out. Right here’s all the things it’s essential know to plan a mountaineering journey to the majestic waterfall within the north Georgia mountains.
Anna Ruby Falls is in Chattahoochee-Oconee Nationwide Forest
Chattahoochee-Oconee Nationwide Forest covers 867,000 acres in northern Georgia, abutting Nantahala Nationwide Forest in North Carolina and Cherokee Nationwide Forest in Tennessee. The nationwide forest boasts over 800 miles of mountaineering trails, the favored Chattooga River District, and dozens of recreation areas and campgrounds.
The Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Space is situated within the Chattooga Ranger District, however it’s operated by FIND Outside, a non-profit group serving to individuals uncover the good open air.
READ MORE: The Full Checklist of All Nationwide Forests within the U.S. (and the Ones I’ve Visited)
Do you know? FIND Outside operates the amenities at Brasstown Bald, the very best level in Georgia, the Cradle of Forestry in America on the website of the nation’s first forestry college, and the Northwest Buying and selling Put up on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Unicoi State Park
A part of the confusion of discovering Anna Ruby Falls is that it’s operated by a non-profit based mostly in North Carolina, situated within the Chattahoochee-Oconee Nationwide Forest, and you must drive by means of Unicoi State Park to get there. Did you get all that?
Unicoi State Park is certainly one of Georgia’s premiere resort parks. The park options zip traces, paddleboarding and kayaking on the lake, and dozens of mountaineering trails, a few of them main on to Anna Ruby Falls. Spend the evening – or just a few nights – on the lodge or one of many park’s fascinating historic barrel cabins.
Anna Ruby Falls Tickets
Luckily, there is no such thing as a admission to drive by means of Unicoi State Park. Nonetheless, you’ll should pay when you attain the ticket sales space on the Anna Ruby Falls Recreation space entrance.
Admission to Anna Ruby Falls is $5 per grownup 16 and older and free for anybody youthful.
The Interagency Entry Go, extra generally often known as the America the Lovely Park Go, will get you free admission to the nationwide recreation space.
READ MORE: 12 Issues to Do in Helen, GA – The Alpine Village of Georgia
Anna Ruby Falls Hours
Anna Ruby Falls is open from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. all year long, however the day by day schedule adjustments with the seasons. No admission is allowed after 4 p.m.
From March 1 – December 31, the recreation space is open 7 days every week. However throughout the winter peak from January 1 – February 28, the recreation space is barely open from Thursday – Sunday.
Anna Ruby Falls Customer Middle
Anna Ruby Falls Highway ends on the customer heart for the nationwide recreation space. There may be loads of parking for private vehicles and RVs.
The customer heart has a pleasant assortment of native arts and crafts, souvenirs, and books. You’ll discover restrooms and water fountains, that are good earlier than a protracted hike. Choose up a map of the Anna Ruby Falls Path – you would possibly wish to try another trails when you’re there.
3455 Anna Ruby Falls Highway, Helen, GA | 706-754-6221 | https://gofindoutdoors.org/anna-ruby-falls/
Mountain climbing the Anna Ruby Falls Path
The 0.4-mile Anna Ruby Falls Path is misleading. It’s a paved path, which is odd to see slicing by means of a nationwide forest to a waterfall. However simply because it’s paved doesn’t imply it’s straightforward.
From the parking zone, the path ascends about 200 toes in elevation. It’s a gradual climb, by no means greater than about fifteen levels, however a gradual climb nonetheless. At the least which means you’ll have a downhill hike to sit up for on the best way again.
The path is paved and large, however that doesn’t essentially imply it’s handicap accessible. A motorized wheelchair may probably make it to the waterfall, nevertheless it’s not beneficial. And it’s undoubtedly not beneficial to strive in a guide wheelchair.
Nevertheless it’s a simple hike with your individual toes.
READ MORE: 20 Spectacular Waterfalls in Ohio You Must Go to
The paved path crosses Smith Creek on a sturdy wood bridge only a tenth of a mile from the parking zone. The path by no means wanders removed from the creek, offering a number of stunning vistas of miniature cascading falls alongside the best way.
After a few twenty-minute hike, the echoing sounds of a thundering waterfall fill the air. It drowned out the noise of my footwear scuffing on the path and brought about me to quicken my tempo. I used to be wholly unprepared to see Anna Ruby Falls for the primary time.
A Decrease Remark Deck on the path’s finish has a reasonably good view of the dual waterfalls. It’s a superb place to loosen up if a gaggle of individuals is crowded on the opposite deck. However individuals have a tendency to maneuver on rapidly, so it didn’t take lengthy for me to work my approach as much as the Higher Remark Deck.
From right here, I had a commanding view of the waterfalls. To the left, the 153-foot cascading waterfall from Curtis Creek left a advantageous mist within the air. To the proper, the 50-foot free-falling waterfall from York Creek crammed the air with a reverberating cacophony.
Constructed-in benches on the statement deck had been the proper place to benefit from the view.
Insider Tip: Extra adventurous hikers might benefit from the 4.6-mile Smith Creek Path that begins close to the lake at Unicoi State Park and follows the route of the creek to Anna Ruby Falls.
Lion’s Eye Path to Smith Creek
Though the Anna Ruby Falls Path will not be handicap accessible, the Lion’s Eye Path is – and it was particularly constructed for that function. The attention-grabbing path options braille signposts detailing factors of curiosity within the nationwide forest. The Lion’s Eye Path is a few tenth of a mile lengthy and results in Smith Creek from the Customer Middle.
Waterfalls Close to Helen, GA
There are 10 incredible waterfalls to discover close to Helen within the north Georgia mountains:
- Amicalola Falls
- DeSoto Falls
- Helton Creek Falls
- Raven Cliff Falls
- Minnehaha Falls
- Tallulah Falls
- Panther Falls and Angel Falls
- Toccoa Falls
- Holcomb Creek Falls
- Anna Ruby Falls
FAQ
Anna Ruby Falls is situated within the Chattahoochee-Oconee Nationwide Forest, 4 miles north of Helen, Georgia.
Anna Ruby Falls is 4 miles from downtown Helen, Georgia. It takes about ten minutes to drive there.
You possibly can drive so far as the Anna Ruby Falls Nationwide Recreation Space customer heart. From there, it’s a half-mile hike to the waterfall.
Parking at Anna Ruby Falls is free. Nonetheless, you will want to pay admission to go to the waterfall.
Anna Ruby Falls opens at 9 a.m. seven days every week from March by means of December after which at 9 a.m. on Thursday – Sunday in January and February.
Anna Ruby Falls closes at 5 p.m. seven days every week from March by means of December after which at 9 a.m. on Thursday – Sunday in January and February. The final entry is allowed at 4 p.m.
Whereas horseback driving, Accomplice Basic John Nichols found the dual waterfalls. He named each waterfalls after his solely daughter, Anna Ruby Nichols.
From the customer heart, it’s a 0.4-mile hike to Anna Ruby Falls that takes about twenty minutes at an off-the-cuff tempo.
Anna Ruby Falls is a reasonably straightforward hike with a gradual climb and an elevation change of about 200 toes.
No, Anna Ruby Falls will not be wheelchair accessible.
No, Anna Ruby Falls is a part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee Nationwide Forest.
No, Anna Ruby Falls will not be a nationwide park.
No, you can’t swim on the base of Anna Ruby Falls.
Anna Ruby Falls is 2 waterfalls. On the left, the cascading waterfall from Curtis Creek is 153 toes tall. On the proper, the freefalling waterfall from York Creek is 50 toes tall.
No, Anna Ruby Falls and Ruby Falls usually are not the identical. Anna Ruby Falls is an out of doors twin waterfall within the Chattahoochee-Oconee Nationwide Forest close to Helen. Ruby Falls is an underground waterfall beneath Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee.