Minnehaha Falls: trail, height and access near Lake Rabun
Minnehaha Falls drops about 100 feet over a stepped rock formation near Lake Rabun in Rabun County, one of the shorter hikes in our waterfalls in Georgia guide. This is the Georgia waterfall of that name; a better-known Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota shares the name but nothing else.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Rabun County, Georgia, near Lake Rabun, in the Chattooga River Ranger District of Chattahoochee National Forest |
| Height | About 100 feet, dropping in a stepped rock formation rather than a single sheer plunge |
| Access | 0.4-mile trail from Bear Gap Road, about 62 feet of elevation gain |
| Fee | None posted |
| Legal status | Public land, U.S. Forest Service, Chattahoochee National Forest |
| Season | Best from late winter through spring; a dry summer cuts the flow noticeably |
Trail and access
A short trail off Bear Gap Road near Lake Rabun leads about 0.4 miles to Minnehaha Falls, with roughly 62 feet of elevation gain, an easy walk by the standards of this guide. There's no fee station or permit here; it's Forest Service land inside the Chattooga River Ranger District. The falls sit close enough to Lake Rabun that visitors already staying or boating in that area can add it as a short stop rather than a dedicated trip.
The falls
Minnehaha Falls drops around 100 feet in a series of steps down a rock face rather than one continuous plunge, giving it a tiered look closer to Amicalola Falls' cascading style than the single-drop falls elsewhere in this guide, though on a much smaller scale. The creek behind it is modest, and the falls show it across the year: late winter and spring bring the full, layered curtain the photos promise, while a dry August can reduce it to thin streams tracing the same steps.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from published Forest Service and Rabun County recreation information and the Chattooga River Ranger District's public trail data. 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 tall is Minnehaha Falls in Georgia?
About 100 feet, dropping in a series of rock steps rather than a single plunge.
Is Minnehaha Falls free to visit?
Yes, there's no fee station and no permit on this trail.
How long is the hike to Minnehaha Falls?
About 0.4 miles from Bear Gap Road, one of the shorter hikes in this guide, with roughly 62 feet of elevation gain.
Is this the same Minnehaha Falls as in Minnesota?
No. This Minnehaha Falls is in Rabun County, Georgia, near Lake Rabun. The Minneapolis, Minnesota waterfall of the same name is a separate, unrelated site.
Is Minnehaha Falls near Lake Rabun accessible for a quick stop?
Yes. At 0.4 miles each way with modest elevation gain, it's one of the easier add-on stops in this guide for anyone already near Lake Rabun.
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.