The best waterfalls near Atlanta, Georgia are Amicalola Falls, Dukes Creek Falls, Hemlock Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Amicalola Falls, about 57 miles north of Atlanta.
For more waterfalls around Atlanta, browse the nearest towns: Rockmart, Dawsonville, Jasper, Dahlonega, Calhoun, Manchester, Cleveland, Blue Ridge. You can also see every waterfall on the Georgia waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 24 publicly accessible Georgia waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Atlanta that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Amicalola Falls
57 miles north of Atlanta. Our top pick near the city 4.9 out of 5 from 465 reviews.
Dawson County, GA 30534 (GPS 34.5640, -84.2396)
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Amicalola Falls is about 57 miles north of Atlanta, near Dawsonville. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 465 Google reviews, and 91% of them give it five stars. In short: "This towering waterfall in Amicalola Falls State Park is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Georgia." Older records also call it Amicolola Falls and Armacolola Falls.
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2. Dukes Creek Falls
74 miles northeast of Atlanta. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 449 reviews.
White County, GA 30528 (GPS 34.7020, -83.7913)
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Dukes Creek Falls is about 74 miles northeast of Atlanta, near Cleveland. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 449 Google reviews, and 87% of them give it five stars. In short: "A moderate hiking trail with Mount Yonah views leads to this waterfall with a viewing platform."
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3. Hemlock Falls
88 miles northeast of Atlanta. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 69 reviews.
Towns County, GA 30523 (GPS 34.8526, -83.6109)
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Hemlock Falls is about 88 miles northeast of Atlanta, near Hiawassee. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 69 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars.
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4. Anna Ruby Falls
80 miles northeast of Atlanta. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,559 reviews.
White County, GA 30571 (GPS 34.7634, -83.7121)
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Anna Ruby Falls is about 80 miles northeast of Atlanta, near Cleveland. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 1,559 Google reviews, and 90% of them give it five stars. In short: "Picturesque waterfall with a visitor's center accessible by driving through Unicoi State Park."
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5. Keown Falls
72 miles northwest of Atlanta. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 116 reviews.
Walker County, GA 30728 (GPS 34.6134, -85.0944)
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Keown Falls is about 72 miles northwest of Atlanta, near Calhoun. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 116 Google reviews, and 80% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention overlook, salamanders, and picnic areas.
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6. Sea Creek Falls
73 miles north of Atlanta. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 137 reviews.
Fannin County, GA 30572 (GPS 34.7701, -84.0946)
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Sea Creek Falls is about 73 miles north of Atlanta, near Blairsville. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 137 Google reviews, and 80% of them give it five stars.
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7. Helton Creek Falls
75 miles north of Atlanta. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 458 reviews.
Union County, GA 30512 (GPS 34.7526, -83.8957)
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Helton Creek Falls is about 75 miles north of Atlanta, near Blairsville. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 458 Google reviews, and 82% of them give it five stars. In short: "Scenic double waterfalls in Chattahoochee National Forest with a short, kid-friendly hiking trail."
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8. Hemlock Falls
98 miles northwest of Atlanta. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 22 reviews.
Dade County, GA 30738 (GPS 34.8353, -85.4828)
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Hemlock Falls is about 98 miles northwest of Atlanta, near Trenton. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 22 Google reviews, and 91% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention stairs, hiking, and waterfall.
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9. Cascade Falls
89 miles northeast of Atlanta. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 14 reviews.
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Cascade Falls is about 89 miles northeast of Atlanta, near Clayton. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 14 Google reviews.
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10. Timpson Falls
94 miles northeast of Atlanta. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
Rabun County, GA 30525 (GPS 34.8870, -83.4846)
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Timpson Falls is about 94 miles northeast of Atlanta, near Clayton. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 6 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Atlanta
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amicalola Falls | 57 mi north | Dawsonville | 4.9 |
| Keown Falls | 72 mi northwest | Calhoun | 4.7 |
| Sea Creek Falls | 73 mi north | Blairsville | 4.7 |
| Dukes Creek Falls | 74 mi northeast | Cleveland | 4.8 |
| Helton Creek Falls | 75 mi north | Blairsville | 4.7 |
| Anna Ruby Falls | 80 mi northeast | Cleveland | 4.8 |
| Hemlock Falls | 88 mi northeast | Hiawassee | 4.9 |
| Cascade Falls | 89 mi northeast | Clayton | 4.7 |
| Timpson Falls | 94 mi northeast | Clayton | 4.8 |
| Hemlock Falls | 98 mi northwest | Trenton | 4.9 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Atlanta. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Atlanta?
Amicalola Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 57 miles north of Atlanta and rated 4.9 stars from 465 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Atlanta?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Amicalola Falls is the closest, about 57 straight-line miles north of the city, near Dawsonville.
How many waterfalls are near Atlanta?
We track 24 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Georgia within 100 miles of Atlanta. See every waterfall in the state on the Georgia waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 24 publicly accessible Georgia waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Atlanta that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
What is the tallest waterfall in Georgia?
Amicalola Falls in Dawson County is often described as the tallest waterfall in Georgia and is one of the state's Seven Natural Wonders. It is the centerpiece of Amicalola Falls State Park.
Summary
Amicalola Falls is our top waterfall pick near Atlanta, rated 4.9 out of 5 and about 57 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Georgia's mountain waterfalls flow most strongly from late winter through spring, when frequent rain systems and occasional snowmelt keep streams high. March through May also brings wildflowers, and rhododendron and mountain laurel bloom along many trails from late spring into early summer. Summer remains a good time thanks to steady afternoon thunderstorms, although popular sites like Anna Ruby, Amicalola and Helton Creek are crowded on weekends. Fall color usually peaks in the northeast mountains in late October, which draws heavy traffic to Helen, Dahlonega and Clayton, and dry autumns can reduce flow noticeably. Keown Falls and other plateau-rim falls in the northwest are more seasonal and are best visited after rain. Winter offers solitude, and hard freezes occasionally create ice formations at higher elevations.
For more Georgia waterfalls, see the full Georgia waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Georgia, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Georgia and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Georgia.