In May, the Georgia Conservancy led a day hike at High Falls State Park to experience both the park and the beautiful cascading Towaliga Falls.
High Falls State Park was once home to a small industrial community built around the power of the Towaliga River. In the 1800s, the river supported grist mills, textile operations, and other water-powered industry, and parts of the old foundations and structures can still be seen near the trail today. Flooding and changing industry eventually led to the decline of the community, but the site remains an important example of how Georgia rivers were historically used for transportation, energy, and local economies.
The river itself supports a wide variety of plant and animal life due to the combination of moving water, forest habitat, and relatively undisturbed riparian areas along the trail. During our hike we observed several Northern Watersnakes, along with evidence of healthy aquatic habitat that supports fish, amphibians, aquatic insects, turtles, and many bird species that depend on river systems like this throughout Georgia.
