Toccoa: Waterfalls, Trails and History

Toccoa offers outdoor experiences, trails for different hiking plans, and a rich history. A prominent starting point for planning your trip is Toccoa Falls: the waterfall is 186 feet high and is one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Other options range from walks and canoe tours to museums, music, and golf. When choosing your vacation rental, consider which aspects of Toccoa you and your family would like to make the focus of your stay.

Waterfalls and Trails

Toccoa Falls is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College. A short, 100-yard accessible path leads to the waterfall. For a longer hike, the Col. Robert F. Sink Trail offers a different kind of outing: the round trip is about 5 miles. On Currahee Mountain, the trail gets steeper as it climbs, making the hike increasingly strenuous. The distance and increasingly challenging terrain are therefore important differences to consider when planning your day. Henderson Falls Park is another natural attraction; it is a public park featuring Henderson Falls.

Environmental education and American cultural heritage are the focus of the Tugaloo Corridor. The corridor includes the prehistoric Estatoe Indian Village. Those who enjoy the outdoors can also plan a Toccoa Canoe Tour there. Miles of trails invite visitors to hike, walk, and bike. You can tailor your stay to the activity you prefer, from exploring on foot or by bike to taking the available canoe tour. The Tugaloo Bend River History Tour is held regularly in May; the Tugaloo Bend Nature Walk follows regularly in October.

History, Culture and Events

The Stephens County History Museum is housed in Toccoa’s historic 1915 train depot. The Currahee Military Museum focuses on the regiments trained at Camp Toccoa during World War II and provides extensive information about them. The Ritz Theatre at the Schaefer Center also combines culture and history: it is listed as a National Register Historic Landmark and hosts theater, music, and film events.

Currahee Military Weekend is for veterans, their families, and anyone interested in Camp Toccoa and the history of World War II. The program includes reenactments of World War II military scenes in a recreated military camp, as well as a parade through the historic downtown district. Another event is Discover Toccoa, an all-day event in downtown Toccoa on the first weekend in May. The Ida Cox Music Series offers free concerts downtown every Saturday, with a different music genre featured each week.

Golf and Getting Here

The Links at Lake Toccoa is a public nine-hole golf course with access to Lake Toccoa. Its clubhouse is the former Officer's Club of Camp Toccoa @ Currahee. Those looking to include golf in their trip will find a combination of a golf course and a historic building here. If you are traveling by train, the Amtrak Crescent may be relevant: it stops in Toccoa twice daily.

The options offer different experiences without requiring you to commit to just one kind of vacation: you can focus on waterfalls and trails, history and events, or golf. Search for a vacation rental in Toccoa based on the experiences you want to shape your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Stephens County.