Tallulah Gorge Hike

I went hiking today with my father-in-law, Don Hartsfield. We went to Tallulah Gorge State Park. We had a great time. We hiked down into the gorge and crossed the suspension bridge and then walked on around the gorge covering the north and south rim trails and all the scenic overlooks.

Tallulah gorge is considered one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia” and is approximately two miles long and nearly 1000 feet deep. A series of five or six waterfalls occur as the Tallulah River races through the steep rocky cliffs.

Some interesting side notes include the fact that in 1970 Karl Wallenda walked across the gorge on a steel cable (the steel cable platform is still there), stopping twice to stand on his head. Sadly, Wallenda died eight years later in a fall in San Juan, Puerto Rico as he tried to walk between two 10-story buildings. Also, several river scenes from the movie Deliverance starring Burt Reynolds were filmed in the Gorge (yikes! Do I hear banjos?).

Anyway, it was fun. I always enjoy hiking with Don. We also did a little sightseeing after our hike. We ate at Oinkers Barbeque near Clayton for lunch then drove through Lakemont, GA and by Lakes Rabun, Seed, and Burton. We stopped at the old Sautee store and drove on through the scenic Sautee-Nacoochee valley and then on down through Cleveland and back to Cumming. Everything was green and very spring-like. It was good to get away and relax.