DeSoto Falls
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DeSoto Falls is a waterfall in Georgia, at a modelled elevation of 810 m. Blood Mountain stands 1,355 m to the north-northwest, 1.8 miles off. The nearest named place is Upper DeSoto Falls, a waterfall 0.3 miles away. Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway passes 4.1 miles off.
The story
The DeSoto Falls of Georgia are located in Lumpkin County, Georgia along Frogtown Creek. There are actually three waterfalls on Frogtown Creek, called Upper DeSoto Falls, Middle Desoto Falls and Lower DeSoto Falls. The upper waterfall drops 200 feet (61 m), the middle waterfall drops 67 feet (20 m) and the lower waterfall drops 35 feet (11 m). The overall height of the falls, as measured inclusive of non-vertical falls, cascades and steep stream bed, is 480 feet (150 m). DeSoto Falls are located at an elevation of 3,560-foot (1,090 m) on Rocky Mountain. The DeSoto Falls are named for Spanish explorer Hernando deSoto, who passed through Georgia around 1540. According to a sign posted on the DeSoto Falls Trail, a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) in and out hiking trail to the falls, a plate of armor was discovered at the base of the falls in the 1880s. The falls are part of the Chattahoochee National Forest and located in a 650-acre (2.6 km2) area designated the Desoto Falls Scenic Area. There is also a campground located along the banks of Frogtown Creek. DeSoto Falls is one of four popular waterfalls in the Forest located near Helen, Georgia. The other three popular waterfalls are Anna Ruby Falls, Dukes Creek Falls and Raven Cliff Falls, all located in neighboring White County.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q5244102, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
How to reach it
- 4.1 mi off the Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway, National
- 21.9 mi off the Waterfall Byway
- 27.8 mi off the Nantahala Byway
Overlooks nearby
- Raven Cliffs · 6 mi
- Waterfall view deck · 7 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Cedar Mountain: 0.6 mi
- Rocky Mountain: 0.6 mi
- Brushy Knob: 1.2 mi
- Hogpen Mountain: 1.5 mi
- Levelland Mountain: 1.6 mi
- Reece State Memorial: 1.7 mi
- Vogel State Park: 3.3 mi
- Campscape: 5.0 mi
- Raven Cliffs Trailhead: 7.5 mi
- Duke Creek Falls Trailhead: 7.6 mi
- Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center: 4.3 mi
- Trahlyta Burial Ground: 6.5 mi
- Old tractor: 7.9 mi
- World's Largest Amish Chair: 8.8 mi
- Tasting Room: 9.1 mi
- Upper DeSoto Falls: 0.3 mi
- Lower DeSoto Falls: 0.8 mi
- Blood Mountain Creek Falls: 1.7 mi
- Nottely Falls: 1.8 mi
- Dicks Creek Falls: 2.8 mi
- Senator Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway, 1969: 4.2 mi
- Uhuburg Castle: 9.9 mi
- Mcdonalds House: 13.2 mi
- White Church: 13.4 mi
- Lewis Monument: 13.5 mi
- John B. Derden CCC Museum: 3.5 mi
- Old Union County Courthouse: 11.1 mi
- White County History Museum: 12.2 mi
- Historic White County Courthouse Museum: 12.2 mi
- Yahoola Cherokee Museum: 13.2 mi
- Rivercane Rendezvous: 22.1 mi
- Eagle Dancer: 22.2 mi
- Rivercane Clan Pole: 22.2 mi
- Praying Hands: 23.0 mi
- Open Bible: 23.0 mi
- Shellot Cliffs: 2.3 mi
- Blue Bluff: 11.5 mi
- Grimes Nose: 14.4 mi
- Sheep Nose: 17.9 mi
- Cobb Bluff: 21.8 mi
- Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area: 7.0 mi
- Mark Trail Wilderness: 7.8 mi
- Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area: 9.7 mi
- Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area: 14.5 mi
- Henry Grady Burrell Preserve: 17.0 mi
- Nextgen Pest Solutions: 10.9 mi
- Storm Debris Site Test: 12.4 mi
- Hamilton Gardens: 19.2 mi
- Clarkesville Habersham Community Garden: 23.6 mi
- Buck Shoals Beach: 19.7 mi
- Poop Island: 22.2 mi
- Chattahoochee Source Spring: 10.1 mi
- Lake Zwerner Yahoola Creek Reservoir Access 2: 12.4 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 5.6 miles of DeSoto Falls. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Mountain | NNW 329° | 1,355 m | 1.8 mi |
| Slaughter Mountain | NW 321° | 1,317 m | 2.7 mi |
| Coosa Bald | NNW 330° | 1,303 m | 4.9 mi |
| Wildcat Knob | NNW 330° | 1,197 m | 4.1 mi |
| Cowrock | E 85° | 1,170 m | 3.7 mi |
| Levelland Mountain | NE 54° | 1,160 m | 1.6 mi |
| Green Cliff Top | E 83° | 1,153 m | 3.5 mi |
| Wolf Laurel Top | E 79° | 1,151 m | 2.7 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:40 | 19:14 | 19:48 |
| June solstice | 06:24 | 20:15 | 20:53 |
| September equinox | 07:24 | 19:01 | 19:34 |
| December solstice | 07:40 | 16:50 | 17:29 |
Local time (America/New_York).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 37 | 41 | 47 | 55 | 63 | 70 | 74 | 73 | 67 | 57 | 47 | 41 |
| Precip in | 5.8 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 5.5 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Blairsville EXP STN, 10 mi away.
Months at or above the year’s average flow: Dec–May — fullest in Mar, leanest in Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean cfs | 248 | 283 | 306 | 280 | 216 | 148 | 123 | 113 | 93.6 | 107 | 134 | 197 |
USGS monthly mean discharge at gauge Nottely River Near Blairsville, GA, 9 mi away — the nearest gauge, which can sit on a different stream.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikidataOpenStreetMap element way/423433306
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