The Drive Up
On this particular trip, we settled on DeSoto Falls located just north of Dahlonega, GA and the night before we laid out meticulous plans, packed a lunch, checked the weather, and we were determined to be on the road by 8 am. The next day we were on the road promptly at 11:30 am…..what’s the saying about the best-laid plans….anyways, we’re off!
Northside of ATL
As we fight the congestion of the mid-week grind in Atlanta, the hustle and bustle begins to fade a bit as we enter the northern suburbs of Atlanta. It is not long before the city is behind us and the outlines of the beautiful North Georgia Mountains begin to appear. Before you know it two hours have flown by and we begin to enter the lovely town of Dahlonega. My wife has family in the area so we are in this area quite a bit and if fate every puts you near hear, make sure you visit the old town square and its quirky shops. My favorite is Crimson Moon Coffee House. I’ve consumed many many ml of caffeine at this odd bohemian establishment and relish every chance I get to go back!
Gold dome on University of N. Georgia building
Part of the old town square
Exiting the square
As we leave Dahlonega, we begin the twisting and turning roads that run through the mountains to the falls. The mist is heavy in the mountains and adds a dreamy quality to the trip. There are very few places to stop for snacks or facilities along the way, so if you see a place you take it!
This place saved our life with a bathroom and some very, very hot cajun boiled peanuts!
Just your everyday mountain cows laying in a field
Who doesn’t love some roadkill bbq or some hot smokin butts…lol
Finally the Walk With Me Part
We arrived at the recreation area, but after our delayed morning start and meager breakfast, we decide to eat our picnic lunch first before we begin the hike. Although the recreation is fairly small in comparison to some of the others in the area, it makes up for it with charm and beautiful scenery. There is ample picnic spaces as well as numerous camping spots for overnight or weekend stays. Once lunch is gobbled down, we begin!
Starting at the trailhead
Upper Falls section closed…bummer
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We were a bit disappointed the upper section was closed, but honestly, with the wet conditions and treacherous clay, it was probably a blessing in disguise. The trail guides have this listed as short and easy, but for a chubby guy like me those terms are relative and meaningless in most cases…lol. For the most part, it is fairly easy going and most people would have no issues whatsoever on the lower falls trail as long as they watched their step in wet conditions.
Flat section along side Frogtown Creek
Frogtown Creek runs through the entire recreation area and has stocked and native trout
Smaller falls section as we gain elevation on the trail
After numerous slips and near death experiences for myself, we reach the lower falls section and take some time to thoroughly enjoy this amazing, natural work of art. Legend has it that a piece of armor dating back to the 1500’s was found at this location and belonged to some of the DeSoto expedition.
Lower Section of DeSoto Falls
Misty mountain top opposite view of the falls
You can tell I definitely married out of my league! I’m a very lucky man!!!
The humidity from the falls was causing my selfie cam some grief
So after taking a break at the falls and meeting a cool younger couple who we assisted with some photos, we began the slippery trek back down to the trail head. For whatever reason, I struggle much more going downhill than uphill. I guess if you get this much mass moving in one direction the momentum is a bear to stop on a dime…lol
At least this section had some much needed handrails!
Cool little boulder sticking out with some unusual moss and lichen growing
Another shot of the Dogwood Creek running through the area
Couldn’t pass up the chance to try a bit of fly fishing to prove the tales of trout infested waters!
Thanks for taking the time to follow me on this journey. My wife and I adore the mountains and waterfalls and we hope we were able to share a bit of that joy with you all! Check out some of these other #walkwithme posts!
Originally posted on Steemit. Reprinted with permission.
Photos courtesy of the author.
