Georgia Natural Wonder #82 - Boggs Creek. 1,505

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #82 - Boggs Creek

Boggs Creek Recreation Area is a small primitive day use area south of Neels Gap, Blood Mountain, and Desoto Falls on US 19. It used to serve as more of a campsite area but due to some new regulations from the Forest Service regarding camping in flood zones (trust us, it’s complicated) it no longer serves as a campground and now is better suited to picnicking and fishing.



After being shut down for a few years for timber salvage, the area is now back open from sunrise to sunset every day of the week, but does remain closed to all camping.



This is a day use area but there is no fee for parking. About a mile in there is a parking area and then the road forks off into two separate directions. The one to the left goes off and hugs the actual Boggs Creek that runs through the recreation area while the one on the right runs off and follows another small creek.The creek to the right has a small water ford immediately after the fork. It’s pretty shallow and most cars should be able to pass even if they have a low clearance. However the actual dirt road, especially the first mile going down to the parking area, is uneven in spots where the rain has washed out parts of the road so small cars may drag a little depending on how you approach it.



The Forest Service, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, keeps Boggs Creek stocked with trout so it’s a great place for fishing. On weekdays you should have the place to yourself for fishing, but on the weekends we usually see 2-3 people fishing while we are there.



It is one of the clearest streams we have seen and it is surprisingly deep in some spots (3-4 feet) at times.



Fishing  Permit Info: Georgia fishing license and trout stamp required. Please check and review Georgia's rules and regulations on fishing at www.gofishgeorgia.com



There are many places to hike here or just lounging by the stream. Being that it is an old campsite, there are tent pads and fire circles but not much more. But there are plenty of places to string up a hammock or to picnic and as there are several waterfalls in the recreation area or places to hike, it is relatively quiet year round.



DIRECTIONS: From Blairsville, GA take U.S. Hwy. 19/129 south for 20 miles to entrance on left. Entrance is indicated by a small brown/white sign located approximately 1/8 mile before the FS 443 road. From this direction, vehicles must make a hard left turn into the recreation area. From Dahlonega, GA take Hwy. 19 north for 15 miles to entrance on right. Entrance is indicated by a small brown/white sign located approximately 1/8 mile before the FS 443 road.



Turner’s Corner is a landmark in the area. Largest stuffed black bear in Georgia was located here at one time.



Turner's Corner Diner is right on the Chestatee River.



Now American Whitewater tells us you can kayak Boggs Creek all the way back down to Turner’s Corner and the Chesstatee River. There are no photos but the link for floating this section is right here.



My attraction to the Creek and Recreation area is the the three Waterfall hikes in here. The first is Buzzard Mountain Branch Falls, park off FS 443 in the Boggs Creek Recreation Area. From Hwy. 19/129, come down FS 443 about .3 miles, passing the information board. Now this is the tricky part, you have to cross Boggs Creek at the point where Buzzard Mountain Branch flows it, and follow the small branch upstream to the falls.



On the other side of Boggs Creek is a small feeder stream. Mark Morrison calls it Buzzard Mountain Branch and so shall I. That is the stream the waterfall is on. Rock hop/wade across and head straight up the cove keeping Buzzard Mountain Branch on your left.



It looks bad but there is an old logging road up the right hand side of the stream and someone has recently cut a path through the rhododendron.


Like a mini gorge

The road forks where another stream joins and there is a piece of flagging tape where the road crosses the creek. Pay no attention and stay on the path to the right. Just stay on that road/path until it reaches a gully. At his point, you will be able to glimpse the waterfall up ahead.



Cross the gully, pick up the road again for a few yards and drop down into the creek bed. You have to cross and re-cross the creek before reaching the waterfall.


Falls on Buzzard Branch.

Tough scrambling, but nothing dangerous.



Moss covered rock outcrops, nice fall when water is flowing.



Stay Hendrix stay.



Come back to FS 443. Not only is Boggs Creek Road closed to camping but the last ( "last" meaning farthest from US 129) official parking area is at 1.1 miles; a full 0.7 miles before the trailhead to Little Ridge Creek. Park on the left just before the gate. Begin your hike by walking on down FS 443 and around the gate. Good little fishing holes going up Boggs Creek beside the road.



Trailhead to the Waterfalls on Little Ridge Creek is on the left, just before the ford of Little Ridge Creek. Before the Forest Service's budget slashing, you could ford the creek and drive another 0.3 mile.



Immediately, the creek begins to tease with small drops and pools.



Downfalls block the trail.



There are several small, picturesque drops along the way but the first significant waterfall looks like this.



This is the second waterfall about 300 feet above.


Horizontal Panoramic second fall Little Ridge Creek.


Vertical Panoramic second Fall Little Ridge Creek.


Second Fall Little Ridge Creek.

Right on top of the second waterfall is a third fall that drops 300 feet.



It is 600 feet above the second fall. Man I got carried away with the panoramas on this wonder.



This would be a great water slide if not for the leg breaking boulders at the bottom.



And, the fourth waterfall.



Vertical image 4th Falls.


Weak that I could not get to the base of these falls. I mean I was right there.

Although the low water level and the fallen trees diminish the attractiveness of the waterfalls a bit, nothing can diminish the beauty of the forest and the solitude . Based on the well worn trail, I imagine there are times there are a lot of people around. However, today, there was no one. Priceless!



Waterfalls all around in Boggs Creek Recreation Area on these hikes. How many times you pass Boggs Creek on way to Neels gap, without a second thought.

 
This panoramic would not stitch right, but you can see what I was trying to capture.

There is one last waterfall, a disappointment after Buzzard Branch and the 4 falls on Little Ridge Creek. Return to the road, turn left and cross Little Ridge Creek on a wooden pedestrian bridge. To see Upper Cowrock Creek Falls, follow closed FS 443 from the gate. The wide distinct road eventually ends at a gate alongside Boggs Creek. From here, follow the more overgrown old road along the creek as it turns to Cowrock Creek. It becomes steadily harder to follow as it crosses the creek several times. Eventually, you'll come to a fork in the creek near its headwaters. Follow the left fork for a short distance upstream to the falls.



If you don't stop for too many pictures, fifteen minutes brings you to a smaller stream. Cross and find a faint path leading up the stream you just crossed.


This is my photo of Cow Creek falls years ago. Damn tree in way, rainstorm, cold. 1st visit to Boggs Creek was a letdown.

The path he refers to is the remnants of an older logging road and is completely over grown. I found it easier to go up the left side of the creek and cross to the other side when the left bank gets too steep.



Stay in the creek bed and work up stream. You will have to cross the creek again and scramble around a huge rock before reaching the waterfall. No trail, strictly bushwhacking up the creek.Most of the time, the trail is easy to follow. Although sometimes you have to search around, just continue to work up stream.


I back tracked a bit and bushwhacked up the ridge on the right side to get above the waterfall. There is more falling water above what you can see from the bottom.


Some one else got this photo. Wow, my viewing of these falls did not look like this.

Well you can’t camp here no more but there is a private campground just south on the main road 19/129. Great place, worth a top 100 spot, Boggs Creek.



Well I could do a tangent on Lumpkin County but there are so many Georgia Natural Wonders in this county, I am sure we will be back shortly for that tangent. Rounding out the top 100 Georgia Natural Wonders these next few days.


Today’s GNW Gals love waterfalls.