Anna Ruby Falls: hours, fee and what to expect
Anna Ruby Falls is really two waterfalls dropping side by side: Curtis Creek falling 153 feet and York Creek falling 50 feet, meeting the trail at a single paved viewing platform near Helen. Unlike most of the U.S. Forest Service land in this guide, the site is run under a Forest Service lease by a nonprofit operator, which is why it charges its own admission rather than a standard forest parking pass. Its paved trail also makes it one of the most accessible stops in our waterfalls in Georgia guide.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34.763°N, 83.712°W, White County, per the USGS Geographic Names Information System (Tray Mountain quad) |
| Height | Curtis Creek Falls, 153 feet; York Creek Falls, 50 feet, meeting at a shared viewing platform |
| Nearest town | Helen, Georgia |
| Access | Paved 0.4-mile trail from the visitor center, steady uphill grade with handrails |
| Fee | $6 for visitors 16 and older; free for ages 15 and under, per FIND Outdoors |
| Hours | 9 a.m.–6 p.m., last ticket 5 p.m., in the main season; 9 a.m.–5 p.m., last ticket 4 p.m., in winter |
| Legal status | Public land, U.S. Forest Service site operated under lease by the nonprofit FIND Outdoors, fee required |
Trail and access
Anna Ruby Falls sits inside the Chattahoochee National Forest a short drive from Unicoi State Park and downtown Helen. The visitor center at the recreation area's entrance sells tickets and has a gift shop; from there, a paved 0.4-mile trail climbs a steady grade to the platform where both falls come into view. Because the Forest Service leases the site to FIND Outdoors rather than running it directly, standard America the Beautiful and Northwest Forest passes don't cover the admission here, it's a separate ticket sold on-site. Hours run later in the main season (9 a.m. to 6 p.m., last ticket at 5) than in winter (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last ticket at 4), and both can shift around holidays or weather, so it's worth a quick check before driving out.
The falls
The two creeks that form Anna Ruby Falls both trace back to the same source high on Tray Mountain but follow separate courses down before meeting just below the viewing platform, which is what gives the site its "twin falls" framing rather than a single named drop. Curtis Creek's 153-foot fall is the taller and more prominent of the pair, with York Creek's shorter 50-foot drop visible just to its side. The paved surface and handrails make this one of the more accessible waterfall hikes in north Georgia, a steady uphill walk rather than a technical scramble, though it's still a real grade, not a flat stroll.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from FIND Outdoors' official Anna Ruby Falls site pages, the USGS Geographic Names Information System, and the Chattahoochee National Forest's public recreation information. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Fees and hours change seasonally; verify current pricing and hours with FIND Outdoors before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
How tall is Anna Ruby Falls?
It's two falls: Curtis Creek Falls drops 153 feet and York Creek Falls drops 50 feet, both visible from one platform at the end of the trail.
Is Anna Ruby Falls free?
No. Admission is $6 for visitors 16 and older; anyone 15 or younger gets in free. The site is Forest Service land but leased to a nonprofit operator, so standard forest passes don't apply here.
What are Anna Ruby Falls' hours?
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 5 p.m., during the main season; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last ticket at 4 p.m., in winter. Hours can shift for holidays and weather.
Is the trail to Anna Ruby Falls accessible?
The 0.4-mile trail is paved with handrails, one of the easier waterfall walks in this guide, though it's a steady uphill grade rather than flat.
Are Anna Ruby Falls actually two separate waterfalls?
Yes. Curtis Creek and York Creek each carry their own fall and meet the trail at the same viewing platform, which is why the site is described as twin falls rather than a single drop.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.