Tallulah Gorge waterfalls: permit, fee and what to see
Tallulah Gorge State Park holds not one waterfall but a series of named falls dropping through a two-mile, nearly 1,000-foot-deep canyon, more named waterfalls visible from a single trail system than anywhere else in our waterfalls in Georgia guide. Most visitors see the falls for free from rim overlooks; reaching the gorge floor itself requires a separate permit.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Tallulah Falls, Georgia; the gorge runs about 2 miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep |
| Named falls and heights | L'Eau d'Or Falls, 46 feet; Tempesta Falls, 81 feet; Hurricane Falls, 96 feet, per the New Georgia Encyclopedia (published figures vary between sources); the Tallulah River drops roughly 500 vertical feet total through six named falls in the gorge |
| Access | Rim overlooks free via the North and South Rim trails; gorge floor requires a free same-day permit from the Interpretive Center, limited to 100 per day |
| Fee | Georgia State Parks' standard $10-per-vehicle daily ParkPass applies to park entry (doubled from $5 on January 1, 2026); the gorge-floor permit itself is free |
| Legal status | Georgia state park, public land |
| Notes | Gorge-floor permits are unavailable on days with a scheduled whitewater release; the descent to the floor is a long metal-and-stone staircase of several hundred steps each way |
Do you need a permit?
Only if you want to reach the gorge floor. More than ten overlooks along the North and South Rim trails give free views of the canyon and its waterfalls without any permit, just the park's standard vehicle entry fee. Going all the way down to the river itself, past Hurricane Falls, requires picking up a free same-day permit at the Interpretive Center. Georgia State Parks caps gorge-floor access at 100 permits per day, and none are issued on days with a scheduled whitewater release from the upstream dam, so a floor visit isn't guaranteed even with an early start.
The waterfalls
Six named falls step down through the gorge, with L'Eau d'Or (46 feet), Tempesta (81 feet) and Hurricane Falls (96 feet) among the most visible from rim trails and the gorge floor. Together the Tallulah River loses roughly 500 vertical feet of elevation across the full length of the two-mile canyon, a corridor of moving water and sheer rock walls that's earned comparisons to Niagara for its scale, if not its volume. The gorge floor trail to Hurricane Falls, reachable only with a permit, descends a long metal-and-stone staircase of several hundred steps each way, a serious climb back out that's the harder half of a floor visit for most people.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from Georgia State Parks' official Tallulah Gorge and ParkPass pages, the New Georgia Encyclopedia, and published visitor guides. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Permit availability, whitewater release schedules and fees change; verify current conditions with Tallulah Gorge State Park before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
Do you need a permit to hike Tallulah Gorge?
Only for the gorge floor. The rim overlooks and trails are open with just the park's standard entry fee; reaching the river itself, past Hurricane Falls, requires a free same-day permit from the Interpretive Center, capped at 100 per day.
Is Tallulah Gorge free to visit?
Rim views are covered by Georgia State Parks' standard $10 per vehicle daily ParkPass. The gorge-floor permit itself is free, but limited and not guaranteed on any given day.
How tall are the waterfalls in Tallulah Gorge?
The named falls range from about 46 to 96 feet individually: L'Eau d'Or is 46 feet, Tempesta is 81 feet, and Hurricane Falls is 96 feet, per the New Georgia Encyclopedia, though published figures vary between sources. The Tallulah River drops roughly 500 vertical feet total through the gorge's six named falls.
How many steps does it take to reach the gorge floor?
Several hundred each way on a metal-and-stone staircase, with the climb back out described in visitor reports as harder than the descent.
Can you always get a gorge-floor permit?
No. Georgia State Parks issues only 100 per day, and none on days with a scheduled whitewater release, so arriving early improves your odds but doesn't guarantee one.
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.