Located at the back of a lush cove along Lake Allatoona, Allatoona Falls is among the most scenic waterfalls in metro Atlanta. This broad, multi-tier drop along Toonigh Creek might not seem very large at first glance, but it’s quite impressive for its location. Water flow is reliably strong throughout the year at this waterfall, which is surrounded by expansive gneiss bedrock. 

Allatoona Falls is also one of Georgia's easiest waterfalls to reach via kayak; it was formerly even considered accessible only by lake. Don’t be surprised to find a dozen kayaks — perhaps even a boat — parked in the cove on summer weekends. Hot, sunny days bring numerous people to cool off in the swiftly cascading waters, a rarity on this side of town. 

A rumor I’ve frequently heard is that Allatoona Falls lies on private property; this is false. The waterfall is located on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land, which follows the Lake Allatoona shoreline. However, the waterfall is also surrounded by numerous houses just out of sight, and private property begins about 100 feet upstream. 

The confusion stems from the fact that people sometimes access the waterfall from the adjacent neighborhood, which is off limits to the public. The profusion of No Parking and Tow Away Zone signs along roads near the falls should preclude any second thoughts about trespassing.

The public hiking route to the falls starts in Olde Rope Mill Park. This unofficial route is about 1.5 miles each way. It starts on the other side of the Little River bridge in the park center, heading north along a multi-use hiking and biking trail away from the river. The route then turns left and follows a dirt road, passing under an I-575 overpass and heading downstream along the Little River through a sand dredging area. The trail then turns into a single-track path along the river and meanders up to a small ridge above Lake Allatoona. A final right turn leads 0.1 mile to the falls. People also often access this trail via an unofficial shortcut from the Cherokee County Aquatic Center, which bypasses the sand dredging area. 

For detailed directions, see page 397 in Mark Ozboyd's "Waterfalls of Georgia" guidebook.