Hurricane Falls is one of six major waterfalls along the Tallulah River located within the two-mile gorge.
The suspension bridge spanning the gorge was originally constructed in the 1990s to provide pedestrian access to the falls.
The gorge is home to the rare persistent trillium, a plant species that grows primarily in the shaded, moist environments of the canyon.
Water flow in the falls is controlled by the Tallulah Falls Dam, meaning the appearance of the waterfall changes based on hydroelectric release schedules.
The canyon reaches depths of nearly 1,000 feet, making it one of the deepest gorges in the eastern United States.
Hurricane Falls is the signature cataract within Tallulah Gorge State Park, featuring a dramatic 96-foot vertical drop. The waterfall is accessed by descending over 300 steel stairs from the gorge rim to a suspension bridge that spans the river 80 feet above the water. The site is part of a series of six cascading falls that plummet through a two-mile-long, 1,000-foot-deep chasm carved by the Tallulah River. This geological formation exposes ancient metamorphic rock layers dating back hundreds of millions of years. The area is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a protected state park. Access requires a gorge floor permit, which is limited to a specific number of visitors daily to preserve the ecosystem. The falls are most visible during scheduled water releases when the river volume increases significantly.
The mid-point of the suspension bridge for a direct, eye-level view of the cascading water.
Wear sturdy hiking boots with aggressive tread, as the stairs and rocky paths are frequently slick.
If you intend to reach the gorge floor, secure your daily permit at the park office immediately upon arrival.
Bring more water than you expect to need, as the climb back up the steep staircase is physically demanding.
Attempting the gorge floor hike without appropriate physical conditioning or failing to check the current permit availability.
Gorge floor access is restricted during inclement weather; check with the interpretive center for daily permit status.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive erosion-prone slopes and obey all permit restrictions regarding river access.
