Tallulah Gorge State Park
Encyclopedia
Tallulah Gorge State Park is a 2689 acres (1,088.2 ha) Georgia state park adjacent to Tallulah Falls, Georgia
along the county line between Rabun
and Habersham Counties
. The park surrounds Tallulah Gorge
, a 1000 feet (304.8 m) deep gorge formed by the action of the Tallulah River
, which runs along the floor of the gorge. The major attractions of the gorge are the six waterfalls known as the Tallulah Falls, which cause the river to drop 500 feet over one mile (150 m over 1.6 km).
Although Tallulah Gorge State Park was not established until 1993 under Georgia governor Zell Miller
as a result of cooperation with Georgia Power
, there were discussions as early as 1905 regarding the establishment of a park at Tallulah Gorge. Tourism intensified in 1882 with the completion of a railroad later called the Tallulah Gorge Railroad which brought thousands of people a week to the area. Additionally, when Georgia Power began building a series of hydroelectric dams along the original course of the Tallulah River, efforts to establish a park intensified. Helen Dortch Longstreet
, widow of Confederate
General
James Longstreet
, led an unsuccessful campaign in 1911 to have Tallulah Gorge protected by the state.
Tallulah Gorge is bounded upstream by a hydroelectric dam operated by Georgia Power
. Normally, the river flows much lower than the historical flow. Large releases of water are typically scheduled for kayaking
and whitewater rafting on the first two weekends of April and the first three weekends of November. Additional aesthetic water releases are scheduled for weekends in the spring and fall to allow visitors to see what the natural flow of the river would look like in the gorge.
Tallulah Falls, Georgia
Tallulah Falls is a town in Habersham and Rabun counties in the U.S. state of Georgia near the Tallulah River. The population was 164 at the 2000 census...
along the county line between Rabun
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
and Habersham Counties
Habersham County, Georgia
Habersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
. The park surrounds Tallulah Gorge
Tallulah Gorge
The Tallulah Gorge is a gorge that is formed by the Tallulah River cutting through the Tallulah Dome rock formation. The gorge is approximately long and features rocky cliffs up to high. Through it, a series of falls known as Tallulah Falls, drop a total of in one mile...
, a 1000 feet (304.8 m) deep gorge formed by the action of the Tallulah River
Tallulah River
The Tallulah River is a river in Georgia and North Carolina. It begins in Clay County, North Carolina, near Standing Indian Mountain in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness and flows south into Georgia, crossing the state line into Towns County. The river then travels through Rabun County and ends in...
, which runs along the floor of the gorge. The major attractions of the gorge are the six waterfalls known as the Tallulah Falls, which cause the river to drop 500 feet over one mile (150 m over 1.6 km).
Although Tallulah Gorge State Park was not established until 1993 under Georgia governor Zell Miller
Zell Miller
Zell Bryan Miller is an American politician from the US state of Georgia. A Democrat, Miller served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975 to 1991, 79th Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as United States Senator from 2000 to 2005....
as a result of cooperation with Georgia Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
, there were discussions as early as 1905 regarding the establishment of a park at Tallulah Gorge. Tourism intensified in 1882 with the completion of a railroad later called the Tallulah Gorge Railroad which brought thousands of people a week to the area. Additionally, when Georgia Power began building a series of hydroelectric dams along the original course of the Tallulah River, efforts to establish a park intensified. Helen Dortch Longstreet
Helen Dortch Longstreet
Helen Dortch Longstreet , known as the "Fighting Lady," was the second wife of Confederate General James Longstreet. She earned her nickname from being a champion of causes such as preservation of the environment and civil rights...
, widow of Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
, led an unsuccessful campaign in 1911 to have Tallulah Gorge protected by the state.
Tallulah Gorge is bounded upstream by a hydroelectric dam operated by Georgia Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
. Normally, the river flows much lower than the historical flow. Large releases of water are typically scheduled for kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
and whitewater rafting on the first two weekends of April and the first three weekends of November. Additional aesthetic water releases are scheduled for weekends in the spring and fall to allow visitors to see what the natural flow of the river would look like in the gorge.
Facilities
- 50 tent, trailer, RV campsites (operated by Georgia PowerGeorgia PowerGeorgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
) - Backcountry Adirondack shelter
- Interpretive center and film
- Gorge overlooks
- Suspension bridge lake with beach (seasonal)
- 2 picnic shelters
- Tennis courts
- Pioneer campground
- Gift shop
Activities
- Whitewater paddling - first 2 April weekends and first 3 November weekends
- Aesthetic water releases (spring and fall; click here for the dates of the 2006 water releases)
- Hiking and mountain biking - more than 20 miles (32.2 km) of trails
- Bicycling - 1.7 miles (2.7 km) paved "Rails to Trails" path
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Interpretive programs