Go Take A Hike
Georgia’s amazing Tallulah Gorge, is a 1,000-foot deep canyon carved out of the North Georgia landscape. The town of Tallulah Falls was once a popular resort area that rivaled Niagra Falls. Located two hours northeast of Atlanta people from all over came to view the natural beauty of Tallulah Falls. The falls is a series of six waterfalls cascading down through Tallulah Gorge.
Operated by Georgia Park Service visitors can hike the two mile long gorge area along rim trails, several overlooks, the sliding rock trail, and Hurricane Falls staircase to the suspension bridge. They can obtain a permit to hike to the gorge floor (100 per day issued and not available during water releases). A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and waterfalls. A paved path follows an on old railroad bed, that’s perfect for strolling and biking. Mountain bikers are also allowed to use a challenging 10 mile trail within the park. The park’s Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center provides exhibits telling the history of the nearby Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged gorge and its ecosystem. A film takes viewers through the gorge, with scenes of rock climbers and kayakers. A gift shop provides water, snacks, walking sticks, t-shirts and more.
History In Tallulah Gorge
Today the Georgia Power Company, that operates the hydroelectric dam on the Tallulah River, times water releases to provide enough water for kayakers to paddle the Gorge, along with aesthetic releases to enhance the beautiful waterfalls keeping them comparable to what they were like before the River was dammed in 1912.
Tightrope walkers have twice crossed the gorge, and visitors can still see towers used by Karl Wallenda.
Two famous movies, Deliverance andThe Great Locomotive Chase were filmed in and around the gorge. Many of the action scenes from Deliverance, based on James Dickey’s novel, were filmed at Tallulah Gorge, and downstream from Tallulah Falls. Also Disney’s The Great Locomotive Chase was filmed in 1955 on north Georgia’s 57-mile-long Tallulah Falls Railroad which wound its way through the north Georgia mountains. It told the story of the Andrews Raid of April 1862, when a band of Union spies and soldiers commandeered a Western & Atlantic train in Big Shanty, Georgia. It was filmed
intend2travel.info 