A 186-foot waterfall on the campus of the University of Toccoa Falls, one of the tallest free-falling falls east of the Mississippi.
Toccoa Falls drops 186 feet over a sheer rock ledge on the campus of the University of Toccoa Falls (formerly Toccoa Falls College), making it one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. Unlike most college landmarks, the falls are open to outside visitors, though the site remains an active, privately owned campus rather than a public park.
Access runs through the Gate Cottage near the campus entrance, where the university collects a $2 per-person fee before visitors walk a roughly 100-yard graveled path to a viewing area at the base. Posted hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekends, noon to 4 p.m., but the university closes the falls around holidays, school breaks, and some campus events, so hours can shift without much notice. Check the university's own waterfall page for the current schedule before planning a stop.
Know before you go
Privately owned by the University of Toccoa Falls but open to outside visitors for a fee, paid at the Gate Cottage gift shop near the campus entrance.
Open year-round, Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and weekends noon-4 p.m., but closed around university holidays, breaks, and some campus events.
About a 100-yard graveled path from the Gate Cottage to a viewing area at the base of the falls.
$2 per person, paid inside the Gate Cottage gift shop.
Short, level graveled path to the main viewing area; verify current conditions with the university before visiting.
2026-10-12. Conditions and requirements can change; confirm with the land manager before travelling.
Sources & further reading
- University of Toccoa Falls — Visiting Toccoa Falls ↗
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗
This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.
