High Falls State Park: Tranquil Trail (Blog Hike #208)

Trail: Tranquil Trail

Hike Location: High Falls State Park

Geographic Location: north of Forsyth, GA (33.17622, -84.01663)

Length: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: November 2006, December 2013, June 2023

Overview: An easy to moderate hike atop the ridge west of the Towaliga River.

Park Information: https://gastateparks.org/HighFalls

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=720641
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: Between Atlanta and Macon, take I-75 to High Falls Road (exit 198).  Exit and go east on High Falls Road.  Just before crossing the bridge over the Towaliga River, turn right to enter the campground.  After 0.2 miles, notice a small dirt parking area on the left next to the canal for the old powerhouse.  Park in this area.

The hike: For my general comments on High Falls State Park, see the previous hike.  What this trail lacks in waterfall splendor it more than makes up for in beautiful forest and serenity.  Since most visitors stay near the waterfall area east of the river, you are likely to have this trail to yourself.  That’s too bad, as the nice forest on this trail makes this my favorite of the two trails in the park.

Trailhead

            The trail begins across the paved campground access road at a red wooden sign that says “Non-Game Trail, 2.5 miles.”  (Aside: the Tranquil Trail was formerly known as the Non-Game Trail.)  While the sign says 2.5 miles, this trail is either the shortest 2.5 mile trail I have ever hiked or I hiked faster than I have ever hiked before, as I was able to complete the loop in less than 1 hour.  In fact, my estimates show the trail to be only 1.8 miles long, and I have listed it as such here.
            The trail heads across the mown-grass field and enters the young forest.  Here the yellow paint blazes that mark this trail begin.  The trail descends gradually, crosses a small stream using a wooden footbridge, then begins a steep but brief ascent up the opposite side of the ravine.

Footbridge over stream

            At 0.2 miles, the trail reaches an intersection that marks the beginning of the loop portion of this hike.  I chose to turn right and hike the loop counterclockwise.  Make sure you remember this unsigned intersection, as you will need to find it again to avoid hiking the loop section several times.  Taking a sharp right, the trail continues to climb through open, mature forest, heading out of the ravine.  At first this climb is moderate, but soon the grade levels out.  During the leafless months the town of High Falls can be seen through the trees on the right.  The trail curves gently left as it levels out, still in mature forest.

Climbing away from the creek

            At 0.6 miles, the trail crosses what appears to be an old logging road as it proceeds through the drier ridgetop forest.  Shortly after this crossing, the trail passes through a section of younger hardwood forest that is likely only 30-40 years old.  Now about halfway around the loop, the trail descends moderately into a small but pleasant cove that features a large fern population.  Here the trail curves sharply left, crosses a stream using another wooden footbridge, and climbs gently to leave the cove.

            At about 1.1 miles, the short spur trail to the campground exits to the right.  You should angle left and begin walking upstream through young streamside forest.  The final 0.6 mile of trail features a climb along this same stream.  For the most part this climb is gentle, though a couple of sections up bluffs are a bit steeper. 

Hiking along the stream

            At 1.5 miles, you will close the loop as the yellow-blazes go both downhill to the right and uphill to the left.  Take the downhill trail, re-cross the stream, and follow the spur trail back to your car to complete the hike.  While you are here, just in front of your car lies the old canal that once supplied water for the powerhouse beside the river.  In fact, a trail crosses this canal on a wooden bridge and descends to the powerhouse, allowing you to add an additional 0.5 miles to your hike if you are interested in the region’s history.