I visited this park for the first time while visiting at my grandfather's house near Ellijay, and it turned out to be a great day-trip. There is a negligible $3 parking fee upon entrance. The visitor's center has several nature displays with stuffed wildlife, as well as some live snakes and darters. Here is where to get a souvenir, like one shirt I saw: "I survived the 415 steps to Amicalola Falls." For many, it can be close.

We hiked from the visitor's center to the falls, choosing not to cheat by driving to the top and dealing with only a hundred steps instead of the more than four hundred from the bottom. We found families fishing at the reflection pool at the base of the ascent trail. It followed a picturesque cascading stream, and after some steep climbing came into view of the tumbling falls. At 729 feet tall, it is the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi. We visited during a drought, and it was still breathtaking. I could see why the Cherokee named it Amicalola, meaning "Tumbling waters."

After a few more (hundred) steps, we were greeted by great views atop the boardwalk right above the edge of the falls. We saved our knees with a more gentle decent through the forest back to the visitor’s center. We all agreed that the trip was well worth-it for anyone in the area, and I will definitely be back in the spring to see the falls when they are in full strength.