Georgia · Hiking

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).

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

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.

    1. Jan

      50° / 30°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      54° / 31°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 37°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      70° / 44°

      10 wet

    5. May

      76° / 53°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 61°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 65°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 64°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 59°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 47°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 37°

      9 wet

    12. 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