Georgia Natural Wonder #94 - DeSoto Falls. 604

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #94 – DeSoto Falls

Now the North Georgia Mountains gets crossed by three roads

1) GA. Hwy 17-75 over Unicoi Gap near the old Unicoi Turnpike from Helen to Hiawassee.

2) Ga. Hwy 129 over Neel’s Gap near the old Logan Turnpike from Cleveland to Blairsville.

3) Ga. Hwy 60 over Woody Gap from Dahlonega to Blue Ridge.

You could make cases for other roads, I – 575 or I-75, GA. Hwy 411 or I – 985, but they follow valleys rather than climbing the peaks.  We have already explored Blood Mountain GNW #12 on Hwy. 129. We have explored the Upper Chattahoochee River GNW #77 (Part 1) and did a tangent on White County GNW #77 (Part 2). We even dug deep across the street from today’s wonder to explore Boggs Creek GNW #82. We will cross Neel’s Gap for tomorrow’s wonder, but today, we pull off the Hwy 129 to dip into DeSoto State Park and Falls.


Hendrix at Middle Falls.

Now I have been to the first two falls in this State Park many times, I present my photos. But I never had the drive to hike all the way up to the third falls. I saw them from Hwy. 129 once early spring still not much leaves, must have been a lot of water for me to notice. Anyway let’s dig through some sites for hike descriptions, no need for tangents today. I have been busy filling in the personal photos on my Forum Wonders. I am up to GNW #30 with personal photos.


Hendrix at Lower Falls. (Too much flash)

A sign at the trailhead explains the name is based on the discovery of a plate of armor in the 1880's, about the time lumber companies began over-foresting the area. Until 1983 scholars mocked the idea of finding a breastplate intact after 300 years, until an intact sword from De Soto's expedition was found on the King site near Rome, Georgia. Men under Hernando De Soto are known to have been in this mountainous area in 1541.



We have discussed De Soto on many prior Wonders. How his men brought European diseases to the native Indians and about wiped them out as large numbers perished.



Here is a timeline of his travels through present day Georgia.

March 30, 1539 - Six ships with 350 men land on the coast of La Florida to prepare a camp for Hernando DeSoto and his men

May 18, 1539 - Hernando DeSoto leaves Havana and sails for La Florida

May 30, 1539 - Hernando deSoto arrives in the vicinity of Tampa, Florida.

October 27, 1539 - DeSoto arrives at Anaica Apalache (Tallahasse).

March 7, 1540 - Hernando deSoto reaches the Capachequi River (now called the Flint River) in the general vicinity of Bainbridge

March 29, 1540 - After passing through a swamp, De Soto crosses a river, probably in Sumter County

April 4, 1540 - DeSoto passes through the Indian town of Altamaha

April 20, 1540 - After crossing the Achese River (Ocmulgee River) DeSoto's expedition rests in the vicinity of Dublin, GA

May 7, 1540 - DeSoto sees Indians near the Savannah River with crosses who did many things the way they are done in Spain. They surmised they were near the site of the ill-fated Ayllon expedition

May 15, 1540 - DeSoto arrives at Xualla, probably the Nachoochee Valley in White County

May 31, 1540 - DeSoto arrives at the headwaters of the Oostanuala River in present Murray County, at a site occupied by Moundbuilders.

June 4, 1540 - DeSoto enters Chiaha (present-day Rome, Georgia)



We have been hiking De Soto Falls Trail since the early 1980's, when the hike extended to a third falls on a tributary to Frogtown Creek. "The Storm of the Century" a snowstorm that occurred in the Easter United States in March, 1993, a super-cell of tornadoes generally called "The Palm Sunday Killer Tornadoes" and Hurricane Opal in 1995 created serious problems at the former upper end of the trail. The Forest Service now has the old trail marked as being under natural restoration, so the highest falls are unreachable and it appears they will not be reopened. Damn, main reason I did this post today was to get some photos of the upper falls, now all the sites are saying the middle falls are the upper falls. Can't find any photos of upper falls.


Sometimes the two lower falls are just a trickle.

All three falls are on tributaries to Frogtown Creek, which begins near Mountain Crossings at Walasi-yi in Neel's Gap. The original name, Frogtown Gap, was eliminated by the state of Georgia to honor the engineer who map out the route through the gap for Highway 129, replacing the antiquated Logan Turnpike. The Cherokee believed that a great frog, Walasi (or Walesi) guarded Blood Mountain, which the Cherokee considered to be holy.


Lots of camping in here since you can’t camp at Boggs Creek anymore. Be careful of bears.

Desoto Falls Trail Narrative

Water flow over either falls is heaviest in the spring, especially after a rainstorm. This, combined with some wildflowers and lots of rhododendron, makes this a good hike from mid-April to late May. From the brown-roofed kiosk in the parking lot, the gravel-covered trail drops as it curves left, quickly swinging back to the right through an area of picnic tables, some with grills. On the left is Frogtown Creek, a clear mountain stream with some scenic riverbank views in between waxy-leaf dog hobble. About 0.1 mile into the trail the path turns left on a paved road that curves around to the right with a bridge crossing Frogtown Creek on the left at the campground host site.



After crossing the wooden structure with hand rails, the trail splits at a sign describing the origin of the name. Turn left and begin a .25 mile, easy-to-moderate switched-back climb to the Lower Falls. After a large rock outcrop the trail turns right and climbs the final 50 feet to a viewing platform almost directly underneath the falls, which combines free-falling water and steep cascades to careen some 35 feet into a small pool. Although they cannot be seen, the river continues to cascade sharply down the mountain after the falls. Retrace your steps to the bridge.


Lower DeSoto Falls

Continue straight on what was once an old logging road as it meanders through a wide floodplain of the river, which is on the right. After a tributary joins Frogtown Creek on the right side, the path begins the first of three easy climbs as the trail begins to "roll" in a manner similar to the AT in Virginia. Massive stands of rhododendron cover the path at times, and the occasionally visible waterway continues to make a pleasing gurgle throughout the hike.


Dogs appreciate the falls too.

Just over 1.4 miles into the hike the trail crosses a bridge and you can see the falls on the left. Stepping off the bridge the Forest Service sign that indicates the trail to the upper falls is closed is straight ahead. Turn left and make the easy ascent to the viewing deck. The falls begin as a straight drop from the center of a ledge, three times hitting ledges which only briefly slow the inevitable trip to a small clear pond at the bottom. After viewing the falls, retrace your steps to the car.



DIRECTIONS:

Blairsville

From Blairsville take U.S. 129 south, past Vogel State Park. Shortly after the Walasi-yi Center is a right turn for the park. As you descend the mountain, the entrance is on the right.

Dahlonega

From Dahlonega travel north on US 19 for 13.5 miles to Turners Corner. At this intersection, turn left and proceed on US 129 for 4.2 miles. The park and sign are on your left.

Cleveland

Take US 129 north from Cleveland for 15 miles to the De Soto Falls Recreation Area (left turn).

Our GNW gal today Splish Splash.