Handicap-Accessible
North Georgia Adventures!
Accessible Waterfalls in Georgia
Toccoa Falls
One of the more spectacular waterfalls in Georgia is also one of the more easily accessible for the handicapped. A level, 100-yard path leads to Toccoa Falls on the grounds of Toccoa Falls College. The public is welcome to visit the falls, which make a beautiful 186-foot plunge into the stream below. Visitors must pay a small admission fee in the gift shop before embarking on the short pathway. The college is in the town of Toccoa in the foothills of northeast Georgia near the South Carolina border.
Amicalola Falls
One of the highest falls east of the Mississippi has many trails leading to different overlooks, but one of the best views of 729-foot Amicalola Falls is from the wheelchair-friendly West Ridge Falls Access Trail. These high, cascading falls tumble down the mountain in different sections inside Amicalola State Park. It’s impossible to take in all of the falls from one vantage point, but this .3-mile trail is one of the easiest and considered one of the finest viewing spots for the falls. You’ll likely encounter crowds on the weekends inside this state park, as it’s a popular day-trip destination for Atlantans and also contains the approach to the Appalachian Trail. Amicalola is one of the few Georgia state parks with a full-service lodge, in case you’d like to make it an overnight visit.
Anna Ruby Falls
A different kind of handicap-accessible trail is part of the Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest near Helen. The .10-mile Lion’s Eye Trail is an interpretive trail for the visually impaired. A cable handrail guides users along the level path to stations with signage written in braille and regular text explaining the nature and ecology of this important watershed containing the twin falls that make up Anna Ruby Falls. On this trail you can hear the sound of the tumbling waters. Another .4-mile paved trail leads to an observation deck at the base of the falls. While this is a relatively easy trail to walk, those in wheelchairs will encounter a couple of short, steep sections and should have someone accompanying them in case assistance is needed.
Dukes Creek Falls
Also in the national forest near Helen, and along the the Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Highway, Dukes Creek Falls Recreation Area has astounding mountain vistas to go along with a view of the falls. A 1.25-mile trail leads from the parking lot down to these falls, with the first tenth of a mile being wheelchair-accessible. An observation deck at the of of this first section provides a nice view of the falls. A small vehicle entry fee is required to visit recreation areas on national forest land
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has partnered with the Aimee Copeland Foundation to provide free, high mobility all-terrain wheelchairs at 10 state parks, historic sites and a wildlife center. The initiative encourages those with mobility impairments to reconnect with nature, explore nature trails, go fishing and attend adaptive hunts. Action Trackchairs are designed with safety in mind, giving Georgians who otherwise might not be able to navigate more difficult types of terrain the ability to hit the trails and easily navigate through mud, water, sand and snow. Qualifying park visitors can experience a sense of freedom that can be difficult to have in an everyday wheelchair. The chairs can be used for hiking, hunting, fishing and other outdoor education and recreational activities.
How To Reserve an All-Terrain Chair
Reservations are required. Chair reservations are done through All-Terrain Georgia. Visit the below links for more information.
- Get Certified
- Reserve an All-Terrain Chair
- All-Terrain Georgia – an initiative of Aimee Copeland Foundation