ADDRESS: 5315 Lake Rabun Rd, Lakemont GA 30552
PHONE: 706-754-6221
COST OF ENTRY: $5 per vehicle parking fee
PANTHER FALLS/ANGEL FALLS HOURS: Always open
LAKE RABUN BEACH CAMPGROUND: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273352
Hiking the Panther Falls/Angel Falls Trail
The Angel Falls Trail officially begins in Loop 2 of the Lake Rabun Beach Campground.
But if you’re not camping there, you’ll need to park in the small roadside lot on Jo King Lane and follow the short trail leading you to the trailhead.
You’ll get a great view of a nice little waterfall cascading down some cool rocks right at the beginning, where a wooden bridge crosses Joe Creek before following it upstream.
Soon you’ll see a set of stone stairs starting the climb in elevation, as you move deeper into the national forest.
As you ascend into the verdant wilderness of mountain laurel and rhododendron, you’ll see Joe Creek on your right.
Around 1/3-mile in, you’ll see a moss-covered stone bench worthy of a brief stop. A sign explains that this “spring box” was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933.
These boxes protected the water supply for 200+ workers who occupied Camp Rabun (and built many of Georgia’s State Parks), and also served to keep perishable foods cool.
As you continue on, you’ll pass a huge rocky outcrop on the right, then cross two small bridges over the tendrils of the creek.
You’ll reach Panther Falls at around .6 mile, and it’s a breathtaking beauty to behold. The rushing waters of the creek slide straight down the stair-stepping rocks until the halfway point, when they suddenly juke to the left before tumbling into the tranquil pool at the base of the waterfall.
The ground all around is covered in rocks and massive roots that form a complex, spiderweb-like pattern. This is a great place to sit and ponder for a spell, have a drink and a snack, and ready yourself for the second section of the Angel Falls hike.
In our opinion, Panther Falls is one of the most attractive waterfalls in Georgia. And while Angel Falls is impressive in its own right, it’s honestly a mystery why it gets top billing here.
Interestingly enough, we saw several other hikers during our visit who turned back after Panther Falls, not realizing that another waterfall was just 1/3-mile further!
But once we finished our break for a few photos at Panther Falls, we pressed on and tackled the most difficult section of the Angel Falls hiking trail.
From Panther Falls, the trail veers right and up a fairly steep stretch with some unexpectedly sharp switchbacks. There are safety railings on this section of the trail, and we do advise using them. Between the incline and the massive roots and rocks, footing here can be a little tricky.
Eventually the trail levels out a bit and you’ll find yourself on a loop. Whichever way you go, Angel Falls awaits you at the top.
The second waterfall comes into view as you reach a wooden platform with benches at the .9-mile mark.
Its source is shrouded by rhododendrons, with the gleaming morning light making the top of the waterfall look like liquid sunshine.
It cascades down the terraced rock before veering to the right, running over a washboard-like section right by the viewing platform.
Though not as jaw-droppingly gorgeous as Panther Falls by any means, the reward is worth savoring before retracing your steps back to the trailhead.
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