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Long Creek Falls Trail is an almost 2 mile round trip trek that offers an easy-to-moderate climb along the combined Appalachian, Benton MacKaye and Duncan Ridge Trails to a beautiful waterfall that flows fully even in the middle of the summer. For through hikers the falls are only a short distance from the main trail making this side trip well worth the few minutes (and steps) to the falls.
Any trail that ends in a waterfall is a great trail, by definition, and Long Creek Falls is no exception. Well known to through hikers, in the past few years these wide, full falls have become a destination for day hikers as well, frequently filling the parking area near Three Forks. In fact, this portion of the trail and the parking lot is so heavily used that we strongly recommend a trip to the falls on a weekday.
To the west from the parking area at Three Forks is the bridge spanning Chester Creek. To the east the trail will take you to Long Creek Falls. The footpath begins a gradual rise in elevation along Long Creek. This creek, along with Chester Creek and Stovall Creek join at Three Forks to form Noontootla Creek, a tributary of the Toccoa River. The trail passes through a wide plain of grass, ascending gradually with the creek nearby. A few feet in is a sign indicating that Long Creek Falls is 1 mile (at this point it is actually less than that and on our GPS we measured a total one way length of .96 miles).
Shortly after the sign is a break, sharpened stumps intended to prevent motorized vehicles, mountain bikes and horses from accessing the hiking path. It has long been a problem in this area, specifically with mountain bikes. The Forest Service is aware of the problem and routinely patrols the area.
The path follows Long Creek throughout the journey to the falls, only once moving away from the creek a short distance into a cove to cross an unnamed, frequently dry stream that empties into the creek. The path is a favorite of ours because it does parallel Long Creek; the flowing stream lends a comforting sound to the hike. As the path climbs the drop to the stream reaches 80 feet at one point and cascades along the way are so loud that they can mislead a hiker into thinking they have reached the falls.
Just before the Duncan Ridge and Benton MacKaye Trail leaves the Appalachian Trail, the path to Long Creek Falls is marked by a trail sign. A few steps leads you to these wide, almost always full falls. The sound can be overwhelming, especially after a rain. Long Creek tumbles over some small rocks, then widens over a single large rock, fanning out and dropping to a clear, shallow pond beneath the falls.
There are no facilities on or near the trail.
Long Creek Falls is also the name of a trail and falls that permits access to the Chattooga River
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Long Creek Falls
Long Creek Falls maps and directions
Trail reports for Long Creek Falls
Historic reports for Long Creek Falls
