Big Creek is one of the three creeks that come together at Three Forks to become the West Fork of the Chattooga River. The other two are Holcomb Creek and Overflow Creek. Excellent falls are located on both streams. Holcomb Creek Falls is shown elsewhere on this web site as is Three Forks. Overflow Creek will be added later. These tributaries to the West Fork are located in the extreme northeast corner of the state and once you leave the highway and enter the Chattahoochee National Forest in this area the vegetation is beautiful and dense and this remote wild area approaches being a rain forest.

The two mile trail to the falls is relatively easy until you are very near the falls. However, the last few yards before the falls becomes visible is difficult and requires extreme care to avoid sliding and falling several feet into the creek.

To reach the trail head drive from Clayton on Warwoman Road to Highway 28, a distance of about 14 miles. Turn left onto Highway 28 and go 4 miles to the community of Satolah. A few hundred feet after crossing the Big Creek Bridge turn left into a parking area. The old logging road which serves as the trail begins here. This road immediately crosses Talley Mill Creek which you may want to ford in your vehicle to avoid wading. The road is not good from this point on and I suggest parking as soon as you spot a turnaround. Follow the road for about 1.5 miles to a fork in the trail. The right fork continues on to Three Forks and the left fork is a 90 degree left turn and begins a slow decent to Big Creek. In about one-half mile reach the creek and follow the trail downstream several hundred feet. When you reach the top of the falls the trail becomes difficult. Carefully work your way along the trail to the bottom of the falls.

As can be seen from the above picture, the creek makes it way through a narrow opening in the rocks in two cascades before beginning the final fall. The shoals continue downstream but my hiking friend, Mac and I were unable to make our way any farther through the thick forest and boulder cliffs so the falls downstream before reaching Three Forks remains unexplored by us.

GPS and Topo Data: Trailhead - N34° 59' W83° 11.6', Falls - N34° 58.44' W83° 12.5'

The image above is of rapids 75 yards below the falls. The tiny picturesque falls below is located on a small split in the creek a few yards above the beginning of the cascades down to the main falls shown at the top of the page.