Hemlock Falls
- 1.0 mi
- round trip
- 292 ft
- climb
- 2,195 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Aug–Nov
- best months
Is Hemlock Falls open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Hemlock Falls, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).
Road Maintenance: West Cowpen Road (FSR 17)
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Prescribed fire on Oconee Ranger District at Jasper County
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Muskrat Road, FS 218, Temporarily Closed
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Flash Flood Awareness
Agency closure covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Lake Winfield Scott closed except fishing pier
Agency alert covering Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Hemlock Falls is an easy out-and-back hike of about a mile in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated easy with a one-way climb of about 230 feet, from a low point of roughly 1,950 feet to a high of about 2,195 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, so it works for hikers and riders alike. October is a comfortable time to go, with typical highs around 71°F and lows near 47°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station. Spring is similar, with April highs around 70°F. Several other trails lie within a few miles, including the North Fork Trail about 2 miles away and the Parks Gap Trail at about 2.4 miles. Climbers can head to Graffiti Boulder, about 2.8 miles off, and Tate Branch Campground offers camping about 7.8 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Wildwater White Water Rafting & Zipline Canopy Tours20 mi away
- Headwaters Outfitters48 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Aug–Nov
Best time to visit Hemlock Falls
Best months: March–June and August–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
50° / 30°
11 wet
Feb
54° / 31°
10 wet
Mar
61° / 37°
11 wet
Apr
70° / 44°
10 wet
May
76° / 53°
11 wet
Jun
83° / 61°
12 wet
Jul
85° / 65°
13 wet
Aug
84° / 64°
12 wet
Sep
79° / 59°
10 wet
Oct
71° / 47°
9 wet
Nov
61° / 37°
9 wet
Dec
53° / 32°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Clayton 1 Ssw, GA, 11.7 mi away at 1,965 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Spring 2026 Forest-wide Fire Restrictions
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · Order dated April 23, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Oct 13, 2026 · Forest Service
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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