Keown Falls Loop Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, GA
miles
LENGTH 1.9 MILES
DIFFICULTY 3.9 Easy
DURATION 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN
550
feet
TRAIL TYPE
Loop
Keown Falls Loop

With views and a trickling waterfall, the Keown Falls loop trail is a great short and easy hike less than an hour from Chattanooga. Solitude seekers will also enjoy this hike in all but the warmest season and with expanded winter views, this hike makes a great option for colder months. Bring the family and the dog on this one.

The trailhead is located in the Keown Falls Recreation Area where you'll find restrooms and numerous picnic tables and grills. Begin along the rock-lined trail next to the info sign. Look for a green blaze. This first blaze is the only one I noticed, but the trail is easy to follow with signs at all intersections.

You'll quickly come to the split that forms this loop and can take either direction. This page describes heading right to go around counter-clockwise. Crossing the creek, the trail begins to gain elevation, making one long switchback before reaching the intersection with the connector trail for the Johns Mountain Loop and the Keown Falls observation deck up a steep set of steps. Just before this you'll also catch some pretty great views to the southeast. This half of the hike is shared with the much lengthier Pinhoti Trail.

Stay right to continue to head up the steps to the observation deck where you'll get an above view of this thin waterfall. If it hasn't rained much, there may not be any waterfall at all. Behind the observation deck looking back from where you came, a narrow side trail leads up the small hill to a much better view of what you saw on the way up.

Return the way you came back down the steps unless you want to continue past the observation deck to form a longer Keown Falls and Johns Mountain double loop. At the split half way down the steps continue around the Keown Falls loop toward the waterfall. The trail passes behind the falls within an alcove in the rock face. Finish out the hike by passing another unnamed waterfall and eventually returning the the original split where you first started.

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Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Slope Breakdown
Elevation Gain
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Gain
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.2 mi
24 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.3 mi
123 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.4 mi
215 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
0.1 mi
107 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
326 ft
84 ft
Elevation Loss
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Loss
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.2 mi
24 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.2 mi
82 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.2 mi
103 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
0.1 mi
117 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0.2 mi
225 ft
Terrain Map Click to control map
Details
length1.9 miles
difficulty3.9 Easy
duration1 hour
features Dog Friendly  Views  Waterfall 
trail typeLoop
blazeGreen
elevation gain550 ft.
state Georgia 
park/forestChattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
ranger districtConasauga Ranger District
3941 Highway 76
Chatsworth, GA 30705
706-695-6736
parking feeNone
trailhead coordinates 34.613595, -85.08813 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 34°36.82, W 85°5.29 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 34°36'49'', N 34°36'49'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
34.613595, -85.08813 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 34°36.82, W 85°5.29 most GPS units use this one
N 34°36'49'', N 34°36'49'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
The road to access the trailhead is gravel but fine for low ground clearance cars.
Parking Capacity
15-20 vehicles.
Notes
Take caution along the wet rocks at the base of the falls.
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
4.3 (3)
EZHiker-3 years ago
Beautiful Hike, Nice Weather
We did this hike on April 6, and there was still plenty of water in the waterfall. This was a beautiful hike, and the weather was just right (high in the 70s, and no mosquitoes yet). The trail actually goes through a large hollow in the cliff behind the waterfall, and the temperature is noticeably cooler there, with a slight breeze from the waterfall if you stand near it. It's a refreshing, scenic place to stop for a break after the sweaty climb up, and then it's all back downhill from there. If you want to view the the falls from the overlook, it's just a very short walk up some steep stairs from the bottom of the falls, but this isn't part of the main Keown Loop, so you can skip the extra stairs if you're tired. The overlook also connects to the longer Johns Mountain Loop and the rest of the Pinhoti Trail, if you want a longer hike. I would have rated this Easy, but there were a couple places where rivulets of water crossed the trail and made the footing a little trickier, if you didn't want to get your shoes wet or muddy; plus there were two stream crossings on the rocks, which may be a little challenging for inexperienced or less agile hikers. Overall, I highly recommend this hike to anyone that isn't bothered by these minor challenges.
Easy-Medium | Hiked Spring 2021
hikethesouth-4 years ago
Updated Review: Now With Views
The trail has been rerouted slightly since the last time I was here and there are now several open views to go along with this tricking waterfall. It's still cool to go behind the falls but if you're hoping for an impressive waterfall this isn't the hike for you. Easy to navigate and good for pups.
Easy | Hiked Fall 2019
hikethesouth-7 years ago
Better in Winter
This hike has better views in winter. The falls is hit or miss with water flow unless it's after a heavy rain. A good loop on it's own but better when combined with the Johns Mtn loop.
Easy | Hiked Winter 2013
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