Hurricane Falls and the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center

as seen from Overlook #9

Before it was dammed in 1913-1914, the Tallulah River had carved its way through a mountain of rock to create a steep gorge 500 to 1,000 feet deep.  Although dammed to produce power today, it's still a sight to behold.  On selected weekends, the dam releases water to recreate what it may have been like in the gorge hundreds of years ago.  Aesthetic releases allow 200 cubic feet of water flow per second, while whitewater releases thunder 500 to 700 cubic feet per second.  Aesthetic releases are usually in the late spring and early fall, but the whitewater releases are the first two weekends in April and the last three in November.  Trails run along the north and south rims of the gorge with overlooks placed along the way to view the river.  The park's interpretive center is very interesting as well, dealing with the history of the gorge and the town that grew up around it.  The park has also recently added a suspension bridge above Hurricane Falls.