Anna Ruby Falls

Anna Ruby Falls is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Visitors should check current hours, weather conditions, and site updates before planning their trip.

Entry & Parking

Admission is required and can be paid when you arrive at the Anna Ruby Falls gatehouse. Visitors traveling through the Unicoi State Park area should continue past the Unicoi gatehouse and pay at the Anna Ruby Falls gatehouse. No advance purchase is required for regular day-use visits, and both cash and card are accepted.

Admission is $6 for visitors ages 16 and older. Children 15 and younger are admitted free. Admission includes parking and access to Anna Ruby Falls Visitor Center & Recreation Area, including the visitors center/gift shop, picnic areas, restrooms, the paved trail to the falls, and the upper and lower observation decks.

A Georgia State Park Pass does not cover admission to Anna Ruby Falls. Anna Ruby Falls and Unicoi State Park have separate entrance areas and separate fees. If you plan to use Unicoi State Park facilities, please pay any required Unicoi fees as well.

Accessible parking is available near the visitor center. Bus, RV, and camper parking may also be available in the larger-vehicle parking area. Parking can be limited during busy times, so visitors should follow posted signs and staff guidance.

Please note that any commercial, non-profit, or charter entity including summer camps, daycares, and tour companies with more than 10 people in their group are required to provide at least a 90 day lead time prior to the proposed date of the outing or event. Additional entrance fees or programming costs may apply.

Groups fitting this description must submit a request to our “tour or field trip” reservation form.

How Long to Plan

Most visitors should plan at least 1 to 2 hours for a relaxed visit. This usually allows enough time to pay admission, stop by the visitor center or gift shop, walk the trail to the falls, enjoy the observation decks, and return to the parking area.

Visitors who plan to picnic, take photos, attend a program, browse the gift shop, or explore additional trails may want to allow more time.

Restrooms & Visitor Services

Restrooms are available at Anna Ruby Falls during operating hours. During the main operating season, the restrooms and gift shop close at 5:30 PM, and the gatehouse locks at 6:00 PM. 

The visitor center includes the gift shop, visitor information, light snacks, drinks, and seasonal program information. There is no restaurant or meal service on site, so visitors should bring any meals, water, or extra snacks they may need.

Pets

Dogs are welcome at Anna Ruby Falls as long as they are leashed, well behaved, and under control at all times. Dogs are allowed in outdoor areas but are not permitted inside the gift shop or restrooms. Visitors are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.

Pets should not disturb other visitors, wildlife, trails, picnic areas, or natural resources. Service animals are permitted in accordance with applicable law.

Trail Conditions & Mobility

The main Anna Ruby Falls Trail is paved, but it includes steep sections and can be more challenging than the short distance suggests. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes and use caution, especially when the trail is wet, crowded, or slippery.

Wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility assistance devices are not permitted on the main falls trail because of the steep grade and changing outdoor conditions. Visitors using mobility devices should use the Lion’s Eye Trail, which is the best on-site option for mobility devices.

Strollers are allowed on the main trail, but visitors use them at their own risk. The steep grade can make the uphill and downhill walk difficult, especially with heavier strollers or wet trail conditions.

Lion’s Eye Trail

Located near the visitor center, the Lion’s Eye Trail is a short paved trail dedicated in 1987 through a partnership between the Chattahoochee National Forest, local Lions Clubs, volunteers, and community supporters. The trail was created to help make the Anna Ruby Falls experience more welcoming for visitors who may not be able to complete the steep main falls trail.

The Lion’s Eye Trail offers a gentle forest setting with interpretive features, including braille signage and a cable handrail. While it does not lead to the waterfalls themselves, the Lion’s Eye Trail offers a short, peaceful, 0.1 mile walk alongside Smith Creek and an opportunity to enjoy the forest setting without navigating the steeper grades found on the main Anna Ruby Falls Trail.

Visitors using wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, or other mobility devices should consider the Lion’s Eye Trail as the primary trail experience available on site. Trail conditions may vary due to weather, maintenance, or natural outdoor conditions.

Smith Creek Trail

Visitors planning to hike the full Smith Creek Trail should not leave a vehicle inside the Anna Ruby Falls gate. The route can take longer than expected, and vehicles remaining after closing will be locked inside the recreation area.

Site Rules & Outdoor Stewardship

To help protect Anna Ruby Falls and the surrounding forest, visitors should stay on designated trails and viewing areas. Visitors may not remain on site past operating hours unless attending an authorized event.

Picnic areas include charcoal grills. Gas grills are not allowed. Visitors should use only designated grills, dispose of charcoal properly, and follow any posted fire restrictions.

Drones are not permitted anywhere within Anna Ruby Falls Visitor Center & Recreation Area. Visitors may not launch, land, or operate unmanned aircraft on site.

The following is not allowed at Anna Ruby Falls:

• Drones
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Entering the creek
• Going off trail
• Rock stacking
• Metal detecting
• Camping
• Littering
• Vandalizing natural or built features
• Carving into trees, decks, wood and other structures
• Collecting rocks, leaves, plants, or other natural items

Wildlife

Anna Ruby Falls is located within a forest setting where visitors may see wildlife such as bears, snakes, otters, raccoons, birds, insects, and other animals. Wildlife should always be viewed from a safe distance.

Do not approach, feed, or disturb wildlife. Keep dogs leashed, keep children close, and notify staff if wildlife is near a trail or visitor area.

Cell Service & Navigation

Cell service may be limited in the mountains around Anna Ruby Falls, Unicoi State Park, and the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Visitors should save directions, maps, and important visitor information before arriving.

What to Bring

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water and snacks
• Weather-appropriate layers
• Sunscreen or rain gear, depending on conditions
• Camera or phone for photos
• Binoculars for casual wildlife or bird watching
• Saved offline directions or maps
• Leash and waste bags if visiting with a dog
• Picnic supplies if you plan to eat on site

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