Spring at Tallulah Gorge State Park

Tallulah Dam

To close out our trip, last Sunday Luc and I set out back to our Orlando home via a more scenic route (taking two days to get there). I had planned the trip so that Tallulah Gorge State Park was along the way. Located in Tallulah Falls, GA, the park has several trails, most of which allow dogs (except for those on the gorge floor). There is a $10 fee for a day pass to the park.

Luc and I walked the North Rim Trail. Although it is only about 1.5 miles out and back, we spent about an hour walking, including several stops for views and photos. The trail is a combination of rubberized mulch, wood mulch, bare ground, asphalt, and boardwalks. There are some relatively mild grade changes and several areas with steps.





There are six overlooks on the North Rim Trail (including #1 and #1A). Luc and I stopped at most of them except for one that had metal steps that I did not want to try to negotiate with Luc.





Overlook #1 features the North Wallenda Tower (now on its side), where in 1970 tightrope walker Karl Wallenda successfully walked across the gorge to the South Rim.



The gorge is quite massive, as can be seen by how small people look across the gorge in the photo below. 



While it's certainly a dogwalking option, I think the next time I visit will be on my own so that I can explore more freely. I felt skittish approaching the overlooks - even though they are fenced, I felt the need to grip Luc extra tightly. Definitely make sure your dog's leash and collar or harness are very secure as small dogs could easily pass through the fencing if they wanted. I also would like to see it in fall to catch the color changes, and perhaps even winter as views of the gorge may be less obstructed by deciduous trees. There are so many trails and amenities that one could easily spend hours here exploring. Find out more about the park, including a trail map, here.

Mountain laurel in bloom


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