Bearden Falls, Dahlonega: Photos, Reviews & Location

At a glance

#6 of 7 Tourist attractions in Dahlonega #6 of 6 Hiking areas in Dahlonega

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.53

20.4 km from the center of Dahlonega

Rating breakdown

5 ★59%
4 ★26%
3 ★7%
2 ★4%
1 ★4%

Dahlonega, GA 30533

Quick facts

What is the rating of Bearden Falls?: Bearden Falls is rated 4.3 out of 5 based on 27 reviews.
How does Bearden Falls rank in Dahlonega?: Bearden Falls is #6 of 7 Tourist attractions in Dahlonega by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Bearden Falls located?: Dahlonega, GA 30533 — 20.4 km from the center of Dahlonega.

If you are expecting to arrive at a nice parking lot with a trail entrance -think again. I should have read the reviews before attempting to find this. I think if you are very committed to finding it, you can, and apparently it is beautiful.
You need to drive down a gravel road (which is surprisingly well graded with few potholes). Google maps says "you have arrived". The photo attached is the "trailhead". I walked around a bit and had no idea where it started. The road keeps going, which made it more confusing. I got out of my car to at least just have lunch in nature, but it was a mosquito fest like I have never seen before.....even wearing bug spray!
I wish better luck on others who are committed to finding this waterfall, but it didn't work out for me.
I did the drive with a Mazda CX-30 and it was fine, but I would not recommend any car that is not a compact crossover at a minimum.
Also, there is NO cell service AT ALL. Being alone, this made me a bit nervous in case of an emergency situation, so just keep that in mind.
I ended up just turning around and leaving, but it still was very scenic. There appear to be multiple open areas you can camp if you want. There is a creek along the drive with some small waterfalls. I also saw multiple tiger swallowtail butterflies in the area which were very pretty.

Seth Sorano 2023 May 09

Well you are definitely "out there" in nature when visiting Bearden Falls. There are no signs, buildings, or organized parking but I did see about 4 or 5 designated camping areas on Nimblewill Gap Rd (half of which is gravel).
GPS is spot on in taking you right to the trailhead which curves to the left. It's a wide enough trail to fit a car for the first half mile. Then, you will cross the creek no less than 8 times to get there. Rocks, branches, and fallen trees are visible for crossing but caution is advised as they can be a little unstable and slippery. I managed to come back with dry feet so it is possible...but my shoes were quite muddy!
As soon as you hear the falls, the path goes straight up, giving you a slight workout! The waterfall is majestic and one of the taller ones I've seen so far. Tree branches interfere with a perfect view during summer months but the cool myst is very refreshing.

Brian Burke 2022 Oct 27

A pleasant walk in the woods for 1.5 miles then a bit of a scramble (for ~0.5 mile) through woods and rocks to get to the base of the falls. Most of the trail is fairly easy to follow but be prepared to get your feet wet if you don't have waterproof boots!

Brad Hardman 2022 May 07

Wonderful hike but can be steep and slippery at the top

Chad Deckard 2022 May 01

If your not good with tracking or directions expect to get lost. There is no marked trail and best advice is to stay close to the stream to the right hand side of the parking area or road. You will zig and zag crossing the stream in various areas finally to increasing elevation where you begin to encroach the waterfall wall. It's a unique hike, I'd go back to explore a little more and even see what OTV action is in the area. Also many campsite areas avail without fees, but primitive.

Krista McAuliffe 2020 Dec 28

Nice trail to hike after the snow. Ended up doing some bushwhacking along the stream so we wouldn't have to cross the stream multiple times to follow the trail. Once connected back to the trail the trail was easily seen and easy to traverse. The waterfall is still flowing nicely and creating some beautiful ice sculptures. The road leading to the falls had some decent sized potholes but could be traversed in my VW Jetta TDI.

Marc C 2020 Aug 29

A 1.67 mile walk from parking and you'll arrive on a beautiful waterfall that almost feels private. Even on a nice weather day, you will only see a dozen or so people on the trail... A great secluded walk that crosses a few streams. At the end there is a very steep 200 ft accent but, the final view is worth it.

Lee Spoor 2019 Jul 16

This waterfall is a hidden gem. The trail is not marked and we were lost for a while, but eventually found our way. There are several creek crossings, and one of those is what messed us up. Once you reach the waterfall, walk up the steep trail to the big rock that appears in the middle- that’s where the best views are.