A hidden 40-foot waterfall near Toccoa, Homestead Falls lies about 0.8 mile upstream from Filmy Fern Falls, along the same unnamed creek. This creek flows into Pumping Station Lake, a manmade reservoir on Davidson Creek supplying drinking water to the city of Toccoa. Homestead Falls drops in a single tier over a large picturesque cliff, the creek then cascading downstream through mossy rocks after a small pool. The creekside trek from Filmy Fern Falls to Homestead Falls is largely a bushwhack with occasional signs of faint path. This off-trail hike is much more challenging than the relaxing roadwalk to Filmy Fern Falls. 

Homestead Falls must be named for a historic homestead, right? Think again! It appears someone “homesteaded” at this waterfall not long before it was publicized. The flat adjacent to the falls is home to a perplexing collection of items. For example, on my first visit, I found a plastic tarp spread out for shelter. My favorite artifact was a bucket sitting under a homemade toilet seat. On a later visit, the bucket had moved away from the toilet seat, and the tarp was rolled up. Go figure!

For detailed directions, see page 253 in Mark Ozboyd's "Waterfalls of Georgia" guidebook.