Big Thunder Falls is a waterfall unlike any other in Georgia. It lies on Clear Creek, a major tributary of Overflow Creek in the Three Forks area. The waterfall drops through an extraordinary slot canyon, merely a couple of feet wide and lined by sheer, water-sculpted cliffs on both sides. Seeing this large, powerful creek squeezed into such a tight canyon is quite the force of nature. It's easily among my top ten favorite waterfalls in Georgia. 

Big Thunder Falls resembles two totally different waterfalls depending on water levels. The waterfall is hidden fully within the canyon at low flow, making it invisible from the outside. When you approach the falls in those conditions, you'll only see the creek flowing out of a crack in the cliffs and into a deep pool. This is because all the water drops into a crevice at the back of the canyon. Inside, the water seemingly flows from a cave! Reaching these close-up views requires a swim through the pool at the canyon mouth. 

At high flow, the water volume at Big Thunder Falls is too heavy to fit into the crevice. Excess water tumbles over the cliff instead of going under. This results in a spectacular free-fall at the mouth of the canyon, visible from several hundred feet away.

Big Thunder Falls lies in a remote, off-trail area, requiring extensive bushwhacking and creekwalking to reach. It is most commonly approached from the gated extension of Billingsley Creek Road (FR 86B), which crosses Clear Creek downstream from Big Thunder Falls. There is no trail whatsoever from the trail to the falls, and the old road tends to quite overgrown in the warm season. Another approach exists from Blue Valley Road just across the North Carolina border, via the gated FR 4629. This approach involves rough bushwhacking through thick rhododendron. 

For detailed directions, see page 364 in Mark Ozboyd's "Waterfalls of Georgia" guidebook.