Long Creek Falls: trail, distance and what to expect
Long Creek Falls is one of the few named waterfalls sitting directly on the Appalachian Trail's southern stretch, about 4 miles from Springer Mountain, the trail's starting point. It's a free stop in our waterfalls in Georgia guide, and the hike in follows the AT's own tread rather than a separate spur path.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Three Forks, where the Appalachian, Benton MacKaye and Duncan Ridge trails meet, about 4 miles from Springer Mountain |
| Height | Published figures vary between trail guides, from about 25 feet for the main drop to around 50 feet across both stair-stepped tiers; no official land-manager measurement exists |
| Access | 1.9-mile round-trip hike on the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails, about 337 feet of elevation gain |
| Fee | None |
| Legal status | Public land, U.S. Forest Service, Chattahoochee National Forest |
| Season | Fed by a year-round mountain stream; trail reports describe fuller flow through summer than many of north Georgia's seasonal creek falls |
Trail and access
Long Creek Falls sits close to Three Forks, the junction where the Appalachian Trail meets the Benton MacKaye and Duncan Ridge trails, about 4 miles north of Springer Mountain. The hike in from the nearest trailhead runs about 1.9 miles round trip with roughly 337 feet of elevation gain, rated an easy-to-moderate walk rather than a serious climb. Because the trailhead sits right at the start of the Appalachian Trail's Georgia section, spring visits often overlap with the year's first wave of northbound thru-hikers setting out for Maine, which adds a different kind of foot traffic than at the state park falls elsewhere in this guide.
The falls
Long Creek Falls drops in a stair-stepping cascade over two main tiers rather than a single sheer plunge. Trail guides disagree on the exact height, citing anywhere from about 25 feet for the main drop to around 50 feet across both tiers, and no land manager publishes an official figure. Unlike several of the smaller, rain-dependent creek falls covered elsewhere in the Georgia guide, it's fed by a year-round mountain stream, and trail reports describe it holding a fuller flow through summer than the seasonal drops nearby. It's a modest waterfall by height, but the setting right on the Appalachian Trail corridor, with hikers passing through on multi-day trips, gives it a different character than a standalone day-trip destination.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from U.S. Forest Service and Appalachian Trail recreation information for the Chattahoochee National Forest, and published trail reports. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Trail conditions change seasonally; verify current status with the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
How far is the hike to Long Creek Falls?
About 1.9 miles round trip with roughly 337 feet of elevation gain, on the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails.
Is Long Creek Falls free?
Yes. No fee or permit is required at this trailhead.
How tall is Long Creek Falls?
Trail guides disagree: figures run from about 25 feet for the main drop to around 50 feet across both stair-stepped tiers. No official land-manager measurement has been published.
Is Long Creek Falls near the Appalachian Trail?
Yes, it sits right on the Appalachian Trail near Three Forks, about 4 miles from Springer Mountain, the trail's southern starting point.
Does Long Creek Falls dry up in summer?
Less than most of the smaller creek falls in this guide. It's fed by a year-round mountain stream, so trail reports describe it holding a fuller flow into summer.
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.