One of the easier hikes in White County, Georgia, is Dukes Creek Falls, which stands at the site where gold was first found in 1828. Dukes Creek is about 8 miles long and empties into the Chattahoochee river. 

In case you have a bad knee like me, know that there are stairs at the top and bottom of the trail near the observation point. The trail itself is about 1.1 miles down and back up again, partially paved, and a lot of fun. Dogs are welcome as long as they’re leashed.

The top of the trailhead has a gorgeous view of Mount Yonah. 

This is where you’ll park and hit the trail. Restrooms are also available. 

(Yonah is also a great hike but more challenging)

There is an ADA accessible platform at 0.1 mile on the trail, and this is where the pavement ends. The hike drops in elevation (the stairs) and there is a trail junction at 0.3 mile. Kids and dogs might want to take a right turn at this junction and head over to Davis Creek, where water flows over mossy boulders. 

The main trail can get muddy at times, and swings a hard left at the intersection, hiking southwest and descending into the creek valley. The sounds of the waterfall can be heard at various points along the trail.  My friend Kate and I brought our dogs, Georgia and Emma, and they didn’t have too much of a problem with the trail with the exception of the stairs; Emma doesn’t like those.

The trail reaches the Falls viewing platforms at 1 mile, with amazing views of the 150-foot tall falls.

The trail is only about 20 minutes north of the tourist town of Helen, GA, famous for its Alpine looks and Oktoberfest. Anna Ruby Falls and Unicoi State Park are also nearby.