December 12, 2023
Frady Branch Loop and Waterfalls
near Currahee Mtn/Toccoa, GA
This was an easy hike on a sunny and cool, late fall day. Despite being a multi-use trail for hiking, biking and horses and recent widespread rains, the trail was mostly dry and in good condition with a few wet spots. Some of us did visit the three waterfalls we were seeking on an unnamed tributary of Mill Creek. These are accessible with some bushwhacking and scrambling down through some rocky, brushy and steep embankments. These falls are best found off an old "jeep trail" paralleling the Frady Branch Trail. While there was not much water flowing, it was good to find the Staircase, Roughshot and Little Beauty Falls which would be difficult to locate in the growing season. Just above these three falls we also found a low, constructed rock dam. Lastly, on the way up to Latham Road, there is a very impressive large rock formation overlooking the trail that our long-time hiker and geologist, Dr. Bruce O'Connor, described previously as, "Impressive cliffs of white granite crop out on the west side of the trail at the SW corner of the loop."
Today's hikers: Terre Pratt, Don Pratt, Gerald Richardson, Edwin Pruitt, Ken Kellerman & Cutie Pie, Vic Robson, Jack Treadman, Renée Corbett, Mike Bell, Charles Hawkins, Betty Smith, Shelia Getman, Beth Hawkins, Jenny Bell, Stephanie Kromelis, Trushna Nadig, Angela Evans & Lynn Steele.
The route
5.5 mi · 741 ft climbing · 3h 12m out, 2h 38m walking · 2.1 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
20 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (20)
Old stone dam on the unnamed tributary of Mill Creek, just above the three named waterfalls. Today's hikers (L-R) Back: Terre, Don, Gerald, Edwin, Ken, Cutie Pie, Vic, Jack, Renee, Mike; Front: Charles, Betty, Shelia, Beth, Jenny, Stephanie, Trushna, Angela & Lynn A bit chilly, but not bad. Headed up a familiar trail. An eye-catching seed pod of a vine. Perhaps these rock walls in the mostly dry creek bed were abutments for a bridge for the nearby road. We were all surprised with Cutie Pie's deep bark when Ken asked him if he was ready. One of a few shallow wet crossings across a tributary to Frady Branch. Staircase Falls, the first of the small falls we saw. Ouch! Watch out for these unusually large thorns when bushwhacking to see these falls. Roughshot Falls, doesn't look like much, but it was a booger to get to. This game trail, look closely, helped me get to the last falls. Thanks critters! Little Beauty Falls, the last of three falls. I'd love to see it when it is flowing after an extended rain. It's quite a scramble in and out of the bottom below Little Beauty Falls. Cutie Pie has been waiting patiently for our return from hunting the waterfalls. Headed up the trail past a large granite out-cropping. The "Dr. Bruce O'Connor Granite Outcrop." Hey, we were on the right trail! A view of Currahee Mountain toward the finish of the hike. Now this is worrisome!