LUla Lake falls

Happy Fall! One of my favorite seasons has arrived and it brings with it weather that makes being outside much more bearable than the summer heat. I recently set out with my husband to explore something new, Lula Falls. The Lula Lake Land Trust consists of over 8,000 acres of protected land, with selective visiting dates each year. They are only open May-November on the first and last weekend of each month. This helps to preserve the area according to their mission statement per their website:

"The Lula Lake Land Trust preserves the natural and historic landscapes surrounding Rock Creek and Bear Creek, and their tributaries, through conservation, education, and low impact recreation."

From Metro Atlanta, the drive is about 2.5 hours. The route we took actually took us into Tennessee, through Chattanooga for a bit, then back down into Georgia. The entry feee to the Park is $10 per vehicle. This cost goes towards property restoration. The entrance we used took us right to a gravel parking lot.


After you leave the parking lot and pay the entry fee, the trail starts right there. They have maps available to show you all the different trails throughout the property. We took the route that leads directly to the waterfalls. It’s about 3.2 miles round trip to the falls and back, not bad at all! This route is also well shaded by the surrounding trees most of the way. The pathway is wide enough for people to pass one another comfortably.

Along the way to the falls there are a couple stops you can make. One is a detour to the right that leads to a mini nature trail over a creek. Further up the main trail, there’s another path that dips down and takes you right to the base of a river. Not long after that back on the main trail, you come to a bridge that takes you over what leads to the smaller of the two falls we saw that day. This view was the first wow factor we came across on our path. We went from a path of shaded trees to this vast opening and rushing water.

As we made our way across this bridge, we continued to trek along in search of the large waterfall.

This viewpoint looks back towards the previously mentioned bridge

Just past these tree-lined rock walls, was the path that led down to see the first waterfall from the other side. It cascaded down into a gorgeous pool of turquoise water. I’ve never seen such beautiful water here in Georgia!

At this spot there is sort of a rock "bench" where you can plant yourself and take in the serene sound of the water. After enjoying this spot for a little while, we went back up to the main trail to head to the large waterfall. It wasn't much further until we got our first peak of it. Then we came to the top of the stairs that led down to the base of the waterfall where the best views of it are. If you plan on visiting, be aware that these steps are steep, rugged and uneven. It’s also narrow in some parts, especially when passing others going the opposite direction.

Looking back at some of the steps while heading down.

Once we reached the bottom, the view was even better than we expected. A powerful flow of water was rushing over the 100+ foot falls and it was simply breathtaking! There’s a nice open area at the base where visitors can hang around for a while, take pictures, explore a bit and take it all in. It was such a calming atmosphere. We stayed for a while soaking up the scenery as the cool mist from the waterfall gently sprinkled over us.

If you live here in Georgia or are just visiting, consider visiting Lula Lake for a nice afternoon. I’m already planning our next outdoor adventure. If you live elsewhere, I encourage you to explore your own backyard and spend some time in nature. It’s nourishing for your soul and you’ll add in some great physical activity too!