We’ve visited Duke’s Creek Falls near Helen, GA, in all seasons. And there’s no doubt in our mind which season is the best for a visit to these water falls. Stick with us to learn more.
Before you go, know that Duke’s Creek Falls is on a trail system in the Chattahoochee National Forest in North Georgia. The parking area is just off GA route 348, also known as the Richard Russel Scenic Byway. It’s about 10 minutes west of Helen, GA, or 30 minutes south and east of Vogel State Park, where the park’s refurbished cabins are a great multi-day base. Unicoi State Park near Helen is even closer, though we prefer the rustic and more natural feel at Vogel to the glamping, lodge and resort activities at Unicoi. Hey, but you do you!
Distant View
Arriving at the trail, you can get a distant glimpse of the falls just a short walk from the parking lot. Binoculars will help you see the falls far in the distance. But if you take the 1.1 mile trail down, the payoff is a much closer and better view.
The walk down is easy, but remember that you’ll have to walk back up, too. So if you don’t have good walking or hiking shoes or an adequate supply of water, think twice before starting down. Also consider your fitness before descending as there is only one route in and out.
Our crew loves the wide dirt path, filled with switchbacks down into the valley. As you descend, you’ll get closer to the creeks which form the falls, and you’ll spot lots of small falls and rapids along the way.
Two Waterfalls
At trail’s end, you’re treated to two waterfalls. The smaller falls, to your right at the end of the boardwalk, actually is where Duke’s Creek plunges down into the valley. (That’s the photo at the top of this post!)
High up and to the left, Davis Creek cascades more than 150-feet down the mountainside.
Trees and other greenery line the mountainside, obscuring much of the falls during spring, summer and fall. Now, if we had to pick a second-best time to visit, it would be fall. The colors along the trail and in the surrounding mountains can be spectacular. Remember the highway name – Richard Russel SCENIC Byway? And with some of the leaves falling or fallen, the view of the falls is more open.
Why Winter?
But for us, there’s no time like winter to visit Duke’s Creek for the best view of the falls. With most of the leaves gone, you can really appreciate the height of the falls — and the twisting, turning, plunging route the water follows down. And without leaves to absorb some of the sound, the falls really roar into the valley in the winter.
Now, we’ve also spotted waders and swimmers in the creek in the summer – not recommended and against the rules, but it’s a thing. And you certainly wouldn’t want to do that in the winter.
One more tip. We like to get an early start, hike down before 10 am, and return to the parking lot by noon. That way, we avoid lots of other visitors, many of whom like late morning and afternoon visits.
Other Nearby Natural Treats
We often combine our visits to Duke’s Creek with other waterfall visits in the area. The twin waterfalls at Anna Ruby Falls are about 20 minutes to the Northeast past Helen. If you didn’t do the walk down to Duke’s Creek, you may want to give Anna Ruby Falls a visit. It’s a shorter and easier walk, with the slight uphill section on the way to the falls.
If you are coming from Vogel State Park, you’ll also want to check out Trahlyta Falls at the park. Our grandkids enjoyed climbing around the edges, and learned exactly how cold the water was, even in the summer. Plus, it’s easy to visit Helton Creek Falls on the way to Duke’s Creek.
