Georgia State Parks don't charge parking fees on Wednesdays so it was off to Tallulah Gorge State Park this morning. They claim Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and 1,000 feet deep.
The along the North and South Rims is only about 1.0-1.5 miles one way but it is certainly worth the time. The starts from the Interpretive Center and includes 10 scenic overlooks into the gorge.
Wallenda walked across the gorge at some time in the past. The 30 foot iron stabilizing rig is still there rusting away. Some 1 inch steel cable is still in the rig. Four large cement blocks with large bolts sticking out of the top are still there too. It must have been something to see him walk across the gorge on that little bitty wire. It's a long ways down. I'll have to admit though, I didn't see anything that went down 1,000 feet. 150-200 feet, yes! 1,000 feet...?
The Tallulah River flows through the gorge. It seems to vary between 5 and 30 feet in width for the most part at these low water levels. A 40-50 foot cement dam is located a short ways upstream under the US 23/441 bridge. My understanding is they have regular water releases on Saturdays and Sundays for the whitewater kayakers. These guys would have to be good. I wouldn't imagine there was anything under class IV or V flowing through the gorge with a water release. At that level I wouldn't think rocks would be a problem. The falls would be another story.
Hurricane Falls, Tempesta Falls and L'Eau d'Or Falls are steep multi-level falls each dropping between 10-20 feet in a very short distance. The river bed drops in elevation from 1316.6 feet just below the cement dam to 895.3 at the end of the gorge. That in itself would make for some really interesting paddling with some decent water.
The trial along the North Rim is covered with wood chips and steps and landings lead to the overlooks. This would be an ideal walk for anyone.
The continues under the US 23/441 to the picnic area. Here the loops back and you take the pedestrian walk along US 23/441 across the river. Then you go down a set of steps to go back under 441 to the South Rim.
The South Rim is a cement walkway the entire distance with flagstone steps. The sun out of the east in the morning put the North Rim pretty much in shadows. This eliminated a lot of potentially good photo opportunities.
Permits are required to go down into the gorge itself and only 100 are issued per day, first come, first served. Access is via 600 wooden steps to the bottom. I think the same 600 steps will be waiting for you on the way back. I was one of the first ones there this morning and I passed on the steps. Rock climbing is allowed on the gorge walls but only 20 permits are issued per day.