A great trail if you like solitude, the Smith Creek Trail to Anna Ruby Falls provides a lengthy moderate difficult hike to the stunning waterfall at the end. The majority of this hike isn't exactly the most interesting trail around, but you can hike this entire trail without seeing anyone else before dealing with the sizable crowd once you arrive at the falls thanks to a much shorter paved path route. Either way you go, Anna Ruby Falls is one of Georgia's best waterfalls and shouldn't be missed.

When you turn onto Unicoi Campground Road from the highway, look for the pay station on the right. The trailhead doesn't have a pay station so pay here or follow signs to the Visitor Center to pay there. While the parking lot is small for this trailhead, it's usually not too crowded.

The trail is blazed green, but really only at a few key intersections. At each of these, just stay straight. The trail conditions are quite varied, from wide and well maintained to narrow and overgrown. There are a few rocky sections and some light scrambling but nothing too difficult. You'll cross the creek and it's tributaries several times, some by way of foot bridges, but most without. Only one is a larger crossing and it was still easy to navigate by rock hopping.

After 4.3 miles the trail ends at the Anna Ruby Falls paved path and first observation deck for the falls. Cross over the bridge and up to the larger observation deck for a closer view. Smith Creek and York Creek converge in an impressive series of multi-tiered waterfalls, each quite powerful on its own. You'll have no doubts why the much shorter paved path is so popular. This is one of the best waterfalls Georgia has to offer.