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A trail system is being developed and maintained by the Mountain Stewards organization in coorporation with the Dept. of Natural Resourses (DNR) throuthout the Wildcat Tract of the Dawson Forest as well as other public land tracts in the Dawson-Pickins County area . The area is rich in waterfalls and the Mountain Stewards web site, http://www.mountainstewards.org/, shows photographs of 43 waterfalls and gives directions to those on public property. The complex of trails is well marked and directions provided on their web site makes it fairly easy to find the waterfalls. The three falls below are on Falls Creek in the Wildcat Tract of Dawson Forest.
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| Falls Creek Falls This is the middle and largest of the three falls on Falls Creek. |
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| Top of the Upper Falls |
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| Lower Falls |
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The highest part of the trails in the Wildcat Tract is the beginning of The Tobbaco Pouch Trail off of Monument Rd. and the lowest is the Wildcat Campground on the Amicalola River off of Steve Tate Road. The total elevation change is almost 1400 feet. The easiest way to see the three falls on Falls Creek is to spot a car at the Wildcat Campground and start the 5 mile hike from Monument Road.
From Monument Rd. follow Tobacco Pouch Trail .3 miles to the junction with Rocky Ford Trail at the sign.
Turn left and go downhill for about .6 miles to Falls Creek and follow the creek downstream for about .3 miles to the creek crossing. The upper falls will be on the right soon after crossing the creek. Falls Creek Falls is another .7 miles of down and up hiking before reaching the cove below the falls. Walk up the cove a short distance on fairly level ground to this impressive falls. Continue to follow the trail down stream about .7 miles where the trail crosses over the creek once more. The lower falls will be on the left. Continue on the trail to the cove and walk up the cove a short distance on level ground to the lower falls. Rejoin the trail at the bottom of the cove. Continue on Falls Creek Trail past the junction with Tobacco Pouch Trail to the junction with Wildcat Trail. A significant creek crossing of Wildcat Creek is required before reaching the Wildcat Creek Trail. Follow Wildcat Trail 1.5 miles along Wildcat Creek to the foot bridge at the camping area. An alternative to reach Falls Creek Falls and the lower falls is to hike 1.5 miles on Wildcat Trail and then on Falls Creek Trail about 1.7 miles to Falls Creek Falls and return - a round trip of about 6.5 miles. Directions to Monument Road and Wildcat Campground Monument Road turns south off of SR 136 at the top of Burnt Mountain 13 miles east of Jasper. To reach Monument Rd. from Dawsonville go west on SR 136 and after about 12 miles SR 136 turns sharply left leaving SR 183 and continues 5.4 miles to Monument Road. After turning onto Monument Rd. proceed approximately 3.2 miles to the Dawson Forest sign and a Kiosk on the left indicating the Tobacco Pouch Trailhead. To reach the Wildcat campground from Jasper, continue past Monument Road 4.8 miles to Steve Tate Rd. on the right. To reach Steve Tate Road from Dawsonville go 1.6 miles on SR 136 after leaving Hwy. 183 to Steve Tate Road on the left. After turning on Steve Tate Rd. go 2.2 miles to the Wildcat Campground Rd. on the right at Pleasant Union Church. Follow the gravel road .8 miles to the campground on the Amicalola River. There is a foot bridge across the Amicalola River near the entrance to the campground and a second foot bridge across Wildcat Creek at the far end of the campground marks the beginning of the Wildcat Creek Trail. GPS and Topo data: |
