High up on the mountain top, Tray Mountain in this case, is one of North Georgia’s most popular locales. Anna Ruby Falls are part of the Unicoi State Park in the Chattahoochee National Forest. 

My song for this entry is “High on a Mountain Top” by Loretta Lynn:

The twin waterfalls mark the junction of Curtis and York Creeks, which merge to form Smith Creek. Curtis Creek (left) drops more than 150 feet and York Creek (right) drops about 50 feet right past the viewing platform at the end of the trail.

Smith Creek eventually flows an unbelievable distance into the Chattahoochee River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico out of Florida. 

To access Anna Ruby Falls you must drive through the Unicoi State Park, and each site is managed by separate government entities. There is a small fee to enter Unicoi State Park unless you are just driving straight through to the falls.

Once you reach Anna Ruby Falls, there is a/another $3 fee to enter there. Several websites indicate that anyone 15 years of age and younger, and senior citizens may enter for free. I am not certain which category the park representative placed us in when we visited but we were waved on in. 

The trail to the falls is a paved, half-mile route that you could comfortably traverse in around 30 minutes. It is very steep at times but there are several benches and resting places on the way. 

The Lion’s Eye Trail is a 0.15 mile trail that offers a more supportive environment for the visually impaired and those with limited mobility to experience nature, complete with Braille signs. 

The strenuous 4.6-mile Smith Creek Trail would be a challenge for even the fittest among us, and it leads from the falls back into the Unicoi State Park.

Anna Ruby Falls is open 9 am- 6 pm each day during the months of March- December. It closes an hour earlier in January and February, and is closed completely on Tuesday and Wednesday during those two months. Free parking is available near the start of the trail.

The visitors center has free public restaurants, a gift shop, and picnic areas. Signs boast that this trail is stroller-friendly and dog-friendly but it is rather steep, so take your dog’s health and your physical ability to steadily hoist a stroller up a mountain into consideration before packing them all in. 

For more information, check out the USDA Forest Service site. 

In the area for a while? Follow me to Brasstown Bald, Blairsville, Helen, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, or McCaysville!

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