10 Natural Springs in Georgia And Where To Find Them

Georgia is a unique state for many reasons. Despite not having any national parks the state is known for its Seven Natural Wonders. It’s the home of the Georgia Guidestones, a granite monument that was often referred to as “America’s Stonehenge”. It’s the peach state, and it’s celebrated for its many peach orchards. Georgia is also home to a number of natural springs. One interesting thing about Georgia is that it has both cold and warm springs. Georgia is also home to many waterfalls, many of which are spring-fed.

If you’re looking to visit Georgia or discover more about the state you live in, check out our list of natural springs in Georgia. Many of the springs are unfortunately closed for swimming at this time, but some are still open to visitors. One of Georiga’s most famous springs, Warm Springs, isn’t available for swimming, but it is available for collecting drinking water. However, it’s in the process of being revamped into a swimming area for visitors once again. Another spring, Radium Springs, is also closed for swimming because of the high content of radium molecules in the water. Other springs like the Blue Hole Spring and Thundering Spring are still open and available for swimming. Keep reading to learn about the many natural springs that the state of Georgia has to offer.

1. Blue Hole Spring

The Blue Hole is an attraction in Walker County. It’s a natural spring, so the water is extremely cold, but it’s also clear so you can see to the bottom. The Blue Hole is actually the starting point on Blue Hole Trail, a hiking path that leads to Ellison’s Cave. It’s one of the most famous caves in the U.S. That’s because it has the deepest unobstructed underground pitch in the continental U.S. The Blue Hole Trail, which starts at the spring, runs for 2.2 miles in a loop that takes hikers to the Ellison’s Cave entrance.

2. Radium Springs

Radium Springs is one of Georgia’s Seven Natural Wonders. It’s a natural spring in Albany that pumps 70,000 gallons of water per minute from an underground cave. The spring is now closed to swimming, diving, and boating, but it’s a beautiful place to visit and view. 

Radium Springs gets its name from the discovery of trace amounts of radium molecules in the spring water. This is part of why the spring is now closed. Even though you can’t swim in Radium Springs, you can certainly visit for a day to check out the area. You can view the courtyard where the Radium Springs Casino used to stand and explore the casino garden and gazebos. 

3. Lifsey Springs

One of the lesser-known natural springs in Georgia is Lifsey Springs. It’s located about four miles south of Zebulon and it’s a great place to jump in. The spring was first opened in 1875 as one of the first public swimming pools. It was made into an actual swimming pool that was managed and operated by the Pike County Lions Club from 1960 to 1981. 

In 2019, the land was purchased by Ace Amerson, who has been working to clean up and restore the spring to its previous state. He plans to restore the original spring pool house to have a white sand bottom again.

4. Thundering Spring

Thundering Spring gets its name from the noise it makes, which sounds like a peculiar, thundering sound. It’s located in the city of Molena and it’s one of the warm springs. The spring is a swamp spring that is heated in the middle and also fed by a small stream. It’s one of the lesser-known springs on our list and it used to have a wooden structure in it for bathing, but it was worn down.

5. Warm Springs

Warm Springs is one of the few springs on our list that are not accessible for swimming. The town was made famous by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The former president visited the town for its natural warm springs after suffering from polio. The warm water helped polio victims who needed support to continue exercise again. Roosevelt created the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation in 1927 which led to the formation of a complete medical community. 

You can still visit the warm springs that helped to heal the former president, but you can’t submerge in them. However, there is a project in motion to restore the springs to their former state and allow the public to swim in them once again.

6. Indian Springs

Indian Springs is one of Georgia’s state parks, and it’s one of the oldest state parks in the nation. Creek Indians used to visit the spring water and collect it for its healing qualities, hence giving the state park its name.

Water still flows from inside the stone Spring House that was built during the Great Depression. However, visitors can collect the water for drinking, it’s not a spring for submerging or swimming in. You can swim in other parts of the state park though, including Sandy Creek and McIntosh Lake. 

7. High Shoals Falls

High Shoals Falls and Blue Hole Falls (not Blue Hole Spring) are two waterfalls near Helen, Georgia. There is a 2.4-mile hiking trail called the High Shoals Falls Trail that will take you by both of them. The waterfall is on the Jacob’s Fork River which is in the South Mountains State Park. 

8. Dick’s Creek Falls

Dick’s Creek Falls is in the Chattahoochee National Forest below the confluence of Dicks and Waters Creek. You can take Mt. Pisgah Church Road for about 2 ½ miles to find Dick’s Creek Falls on your left. You can wade in the shoals above the fall, but be careful of slippery rocks.

9. Panther Creek Falls

Also in the Chattahoochee National Forest is Panther Creek Falls. You’ll have to take the Panther Creek Falls trail, which is 7 miles through tall trees and beautiful scenery. There is a sandy flat area below the waterfall where hikers can sit and enjoy the scenery. The trail is also covered in camping spots, so bring a backpack and camp to truly get the whole experience. 

10. Tallulah Falls

Tallulah Falls is a series of six waterfalls that flow through Tallulah Gorge. The gorge is 1,000 feet deep and around 2 miles long. The falls are located in the Tallulah Gorge State Park within the town of Tallulah Falls, which is around 2 hours northeast of Atlanta.

The best time to visit Tallulah Falls is during autumn when the trees around the gorge are changing colors. If you’re interested in getting close to the waterfalls you can apply to hike the gorge floor. Only 100 people are allowed to do so per day. The park also has two lakes — Lake Yonah and Lake Tugalo — which are popular for bass fishing.

Summary of 10 Natural Springs in Georgia

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Ed Williams/iStock via Getty Images

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