Normandy Falls
Warwoman Wildlife Management Area
Rabun County
Sky Valley, GA
GPS Location:
34.96170, -83.27312
Waterfall Height:
100 feet
Normandy Falls is a spectacular 100-foot waterfall found along a small unnamed tributary of Bailey Branch, located on the eastern slopes of Rabun Bald. Given the small watershed size, Normandy Falls is best seen in wet weather and its beauty is rainfall-dependent. That being said, the stream retains water surprisingly well due to Rabun Bald's strong water table. This waterfall lies 0.1 mile south of Juno Falls, which tumbles down a different tributary. The two streams converge downstream just before reaching Bailey Branch.
Curiously, Normandy Falls lies directly along an abandoned segment of the Three Forks Trail, which used to connect the Rabun Bald Trail with Hale Ridge Road and Three Forks. This portion of the trail has largely fallen into disrepair and has not been maintained in many years. I find it interesting that I haven't found any other documentation of this waterfall despite the trail's former existence. These days, people also approach the area via a series of old logging roads climbing the west side of Bailey Branch up to the abandoned trail.
For detailed directions, see page 389 in Mark Ozboyd's "Waterfalls of Georgia" guidebook.

Photo credit: Mark Oleg Ozboyd
