Anna Ruby Falls is actually made up of two waterfalls. The upper falls is over 150 feet and the lower falls is about half that height. The path to the falls is paved and is nearly handicap accessible except for a few stairs. It’s one of those quick hikes that draws huge crowds. There are a lot of elderly and children on the path, so it’s relatively easy but slow going. If you go in peak tourist season, it will seem like you’re waiting in a long line for a ride at Disney World, only the ride is just a waterfall and the view is obscured by countless strangers posing with their selfie sticks. Still, it’s an enjoyable jaunt if you’re in the area and you get there as soon as the park opens to beat the crowds and the Georgia heat.
Oddly enough, the entrance to Anna Ruby Falls is through Unicoi State Park even though it’s technically in the wholly separate Chattahoochee National Forest, which demands its own fee of $3 per adult. If you’re just driving to hike the .7 mile path up to the falls, then you don’t have to pay the Unicoi State Park access fee. But that doesn’t mean they don’t try to double-charge you anyway.
If you’re up for a longer hike, there’s a 10-mile loop at the base of the falls. It could be fun, but I haven’t done it. There is a lot of wildlife in the area. I saw lots of deer and a 3-legged black bear I named Bearnard. If you’re close to the area (Helen is only 1.5 hours north of Atlanta), you should check out Waterfall Hikes of North Georgia.
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