Hope Diamond Falls is a unique, seldom-seen 40-foot waterfall lying in the headwaters of Holcomb Creek on the northern slopes of Rabun Bald. The falls are located at the north end of an enormous overhanging cliff stretching nearly a quarter-mile across the Holcomb Creek valley, several miles upstream from Holcomb Creek Falls. The cliff reaches its mightiest at Hope Diamond Falls. In the dry sheltered area at the cliff base, I noticed an interesting old tree trunk that hadn't decomposed fully but instead took on a petrified appearance. At the end of the cliff, Hope Diamond Falls makes a striking free-fall through a notch. Pictures simply cannot convey the beauty of this waterfall and its special setting.

Waterfaller Bernie Boyer reached Hope Diamond Falls before any kind of path had existed. It took him eight hike attempts to reach the undocumented waterfall, which he had targeted via satellite imagery at the head of the Holcomb Creek valley. The name Hope Diamond came forth because Bernie never lost hope that he would eventually reach the prized target. The only way to reach Hope Diamond Falls is via a long, tough bushwhack from Hale Ridge Road (FR 7). You will encounter faint, overgrown paths along old roadbeds, particularly closer to the falls. But regardless, this is a difficult off-trail hike and a navigational challenge. 

For detailed directions, see page 354 in Mark Ozboyd's "Waterfalls of Georgia" guidebook.