Adventure Out

Desoto Falls

By: Peter McIntosh

Our adventure for March was intended to coincide with the Georgia Wine Growers “Wine Highway” event, where you purchase a passport and a special glass for tastings at 23 Georgia wineries. Well, the event has been postponed until August but we’re still visiting a lovely cascade located smack dab in the middle of Georgia wine country. (You can find out more about the wine tour or Georgia’s many fine wineries by visiting www.georgiawine.com. The vineyard photo on their homepage is by yours truly by the way.) Our destination is DeSoto Falls, named after the legendary Spanish explorer, Hernando DeSoto. It is well known that De Soto explored this area in the late 1500’s and according to a sign erected near the beginning of the trail, a plate of armor belonging to him or one of his men was found near the base of the falls. And it’s actually two separate waterfalls, the upper falls and lower falls, both accessed from one trailhead.

Peter McIntosh is an accomplished professional photographer. His photography is displayed in collections across the country. His passion for nature and the outdoors is what fuels this column. His work is available as fine art prints. Peter offers one on one and small group instruction on camera operation and photography. To see more of Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment, visit Peter’s website: www. mcintoshmountains.com

The trail begins at a parking area in the DeSoto Falls Campground, located on Hwy 129, between Blairsville and Cleveland.. (this is a fee area - $5.00 per vehicle. And there is a restroom here. There are also camping spots for tents or RV’s if you’re interested.) From the parking area, we follow a gravel trail that takes us through a picnic area and back onto a road leading to campsites. It’s about 1/4 mile before we come to a footbridge crossing Frogtown Creek. After crossing the creek, we come to the historical marker and signs pointing to upper falls and lower falls. The lower falls is okay and worth a visit but the upper cascade is what we’re here for. (Total distance to the upper falls is just under 1 mile each way.) Turning right and following alongside Frogtown Creek, the trail is gravel covered and almost level with campsites in view across the stream. After about a quarter mile, the footpath gets a little more trail like and ascends gently. There’s a nice bench at the top of the hill if you want to rest. We descend briefly and then the trail turns to the left and ascends, a little more steeply this time but it’s a small hill and there’s another restful bench at the top. (Actually there are lots of benches along this trail, just FYI.) We descend again and come to a footbridge and from here De Soto Falls comes into view on the left through the trees. Just a little bit further and we reach a nice observation platform with a spectacular view of this 200 foot cascade. And please heed the warning about climbing on waterfalls...don’t do it! I mentioned the picnic area at the trailhead. I suggest you leave your picnic in the car and enjoy a streamside snack after your hike. And do keep an eye out for wildflowers, they should just be starting to pop out at this time. Happy hiking! The springtime birds are singing, my March poem I’m bringing:

Two waterfalls in one location, A two for one deal at our March destination.

With many beauty spots to take pretty photos, As we retrace the steps of Hernando DeSoto.

Getting there: DeSoto Falls is on Hwy 129 between Blairsville and Cleveland. It’s a few miles south of Neel’s Gap where the Appalachian Trail crosses the highway. There’s a big sign reading “DeSoto Falls Campground.” De Soto Falls Recreation area: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=10524