Raven Cliff Falls Trail

This was our first hike in Georgia, and it was a balmy 27 degrees when we started from the trailhead. That made it a cold trip for us Floridians, but we loved every minute of it.
Starting off at the trailhead it is sort of an uphill trek, but that doesn’t last long. You will go up in elevation, but it isn’t strenuous.
There are some wet areas when crossing streams, and some very narrow sections were it could be considered dangerous. One slip, and it is a long drop down to the water.
When we made it to the cliff, it was a little too muddy to get to the top. However… that didn’t spoil this trip at all. Seeing the falls, and being out there was wonderful.
We would do this again if we are in the area

Beautiful trail and moderately difficult. There are some steep areas but nothing too strenuous.
The scenery is beautiful. You walk along the creek the entire way and the entire trail is shaded by beautiful trees that starkly contrast the dried leaves on the hillside and by the creek.
The trail does get extremely crowded so I highly recommend getting an early start. Also, be careful if its rained recently. There are tons of areas that can get muddy and slippery.
All around great hike!

Incredible trail but very difficult: you walk in the mod, water, under the trees, and at the end you have to claim the mountain holding on to tree roots. But it was awesome! The view was worth every effort
WARNING: there’s is a terrible bathroom — a hole in the ground, there’s no place to wash hands, and it stinks. And there aren’t any trash cans. So, use restroom in advance, bring wet wipes for your hands, and your own trash bags.

This is a trap. It is about five miles total and up and down with some narrow parts. You will have to climb at the end to actually see the falls.
If you are out of shape pass on this trail. You cannot bring a stroller or anything so consider this if you are thinking about bringing any children.
It took us more than three hours to finish it but we were not in a real hurry.
People elsewhere said that there was a charge for something, but I never saw anything. The area closer to the parking lot has a few areas nice for camping. I would not mind going there to camp, but not very far down the trail.

The views are breathtaking. The hiking … Well I’m not an expert don’t hike frequently and I made it to the top without problems and made back pretty well. So you can do it.
But definitely wear comfortable shoes, I am getting hiking boots for my next adventure because the trail has a lot of roots and gets tricky sometimes.
Its busy, you’ll find people of all ages and a lot of friendly dogs.
I think it’s more than 5 miles back up and down but I’d do it again it’s a beautiful trail and the fall at the end is worth the effort.

I can see this trail being a breeze for frequent hikers. My bf and I live and do trails in FL all the time. We didn’t really put into consideration that Florida is flat before going on this 5 mile hike. The hike is beautiful with cool little bridges to walk over but I found myself exclusively stareing at the ground while walking because of the «toe trippers» aka roots and rocks. The best part of the hike is that there are alot of opportunities to take a dip in the spring, we easily took our shoes off several times to hop around the rocks and fast flowing water. It’s freezing cold of course. The trail is dog friendly which is a must for me.

Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Raven Cliff Falls Trail is about 2.5 miles one way and ends with a praceful waterfall wedged between two cliffs. The trail is moderately difficult with many thin walkways and tree roots throughout the trip. There were about 4 bridges and 4 mini-​waterfalls/​rapids before the main one. It only took about an hour each way and the majority of it was shaded. There are restrooms in the parking lot, but don’t expect to be in there too long as the smell will make an unsuspecting person forget they even had to use the facilities. There was no parking fee from what we saw, unlike some websites claim. As soon as you hit the trail there is a campground area that was occupied by one tent. I highly suggest using bug spray and taking water with you. The hike was quiet and scenic for the majority of the time. Did not see bears like the sign in the parking lot warned, but we were definitely on alert the entire time.

We started the trail around noon. It was a beautiful shaded walk toward the falls. The path thins out to just a single person path in some areas but overall you are walking next to a stream the whole time. We passed a lot of people coming back from the falls here and there and everyone was friendly. We noticed in the beginning there were a few people camped to the left with their dogs. It felt longer then the 5 miles the reviews said it was but overall enjoyable and great workout. Heading up to the falls it was easy. Coming back toward the car we had a few accidents. One girl fell on a raised tree root and busted her knee. Lucky we had first aid kit handy and the second was I slipped off a log and came pretty darn close to falling off the trail and into the water on the side. So just a couple bruises… Overalls the falls were beautiful when we finally got up there and we enjoyed a mini snack break before heading back to the car.

The hike is not steep but it is rugged.
Although it takes only 90 minutes round trip,
I would not recommend it for elderly people or people have to have trouble stepping over obstacles.
The hike is very scenic the whole way with a total of three waterfalls.
If you are within an hour of this area, definitely go there.
Beautiful scenic drive to get there also.
I would have given it 5 stars but the bathrooms were disgusting and made me ashamed to be an American.

Wow, this was a great hike with gorgeous views the entire way and a spectacular waterfall at the end. Being from FL and doing most of our hiking there, this was very different terrain. Also, it had snowed days before, rained that morning, and rained the entire hike back so it was pretty muddy and slippery in places — basically, make sure you’re well equipped with hiking attire (sturdy shoes, ‘waterproof’ clothes, rain jackets, etc) if you attempt this hike.
Our hike ended at 6.73 miles so I’m not 100% sure how people are getting a 5 mile hike. We did hike the short way down about 3 times to various lower falls but there’s no way the total distance of that was an extra 1.73 miles (at least I really don’t think so). Going in, I anticipated a 5 miler because of what I had read online. At about 2.5 miles I started wondering why we had not reached the falls yet. We got there eventually so don’t give up! Also, when you get to the ‘end’ with the high rock cliffs, make sure to hike up the rocks to see the actual waterfall. A couple who arrived after us kept going up past the falls — presumably to the top overlooking it but we didn’t have time to add to our hike so we skipped doing that though I would have liked to.
I’m so happy we got to do this hike. It’s less popular with tourists than the others in the area I think (potentially due to the distance of the falls/​hike) but we met a couple today who said it gets super crowded on the weekends when the weather is nice. There were several places along the trail to camp on flatlands right by the river where fire circles had already been created by previous campers. There’s also bathrooms at the parking lot in the beginning so that’s helpful. I’d love to come camp there!
Do yourself a favor and hike to Raven Cliff Falls. Just be prepared and you will love it!

The whole trail is gorgeous and very popular for photographers. You can walk to the falls and get in the water. If you chose, there a strenuous hike up to the top of the falls, and beautiful.

I actually had no plans to do Raven Cliff falls, but I was persuaded by good ol Richard R., who was along for the ride, so with pulled hamstring in tow, we checked it out.
Based on our experience, the best time to go on the trail may not be the day after rain, because the trail was muddy, and there’s TONS of roots along the trail, that are slippery when wet. I’d definitely suggest a good pair of hiking shoes, or at least some gor-​tex covered trail runners like I wore, otherwise your feet are getting wet.
The positive of hiking after rains is, along the way to the main fall, we saw several impressive falls that I probably would’ve hiked a few miles just to see one of those!
The trail has several places where paths diverge and link back up later, which explains why there aren’t any marker locations… unless you count the trees with bark removed from bear scratching… hey, they know their way around right?
When you get to the end, you think you’re there at a big flat rock sitting really close to a set of falls, but keep on going up the broken rocked trail that doesn’t look stable at all, but we came this far and i’m glad we went the extra steps up. The raven cliff fall is appropriately named, «falling» between two cliffs, almost like it’s contained by them. At the base is a nice little pool that people can jump wade around.
We were told that if you keep going up you can climb some vines, walk around and look down into the fall. I’m not gonna say not to do it… just that we didn’t.
It’s a fun trail all in all, not strenuous, at about a 5 mile round trip, and ridiculously close to several other falls near Helen. I recommend hitting this one and maybe one more if time allows. Have fun!

The terrain does not lend itself to a lot of elevation gain, making this a popular North Georgia hiking trail. Still, the round trip distance will deter the less committed hikers. The trail is fairly easy until the very end when it suddenly and sharply climbs uphill.
My hiking buddy teased me as I zigzagged back and forth looking for every dry place I could land my foot. You see, I wore old tennis shoes for this hike, but maybe too old because the soles of my shoes were allowing ground moisture inside! They were also so thinly worn that I felt EVERY bump in the trail as though I were only wearing socks. NOTE TO SELF: You know better.
STATISTICS
Elevation Gain: 836 feet
Distance: 5 miles round trip
Time to hike in & out: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Parking fee: $ 3/​car
WHAT TO BRING
Good hiking shoes are a must here! This trail is full of tree roots and sharp stones that will be brutal on your feet in flip flops or thinly soled shoes. I always recommend walking sticks for balance and a slight level of protection from small animals. Whatever you pack in, be sure to pack out. This area is known to have black bears and as a matter of fact we saw a adolescent bear just a mile down the road @ Duke’s Creek Falls. Leaving food of any kind along the trail encourages the bears to visit, so please be courteous of other hikers. This hike is long enough to warrant a few bottles of water and possibly a light picnic.
HOW TO GET THERE
From The Mall of Georgia
Take I-​985 North to GA-​52 (Lula Road) approximately 28 miles
Turn LEFT on GA-​52 towards Clermont
Turn RIGHT on GA-​283 (Holly Springs Road)
Turn RIGHT on GA-​11/​129N (Cleveland Hwy)
Continue through Cleveland Georgia until you reach GA-​75 Alternate
Turn RIGHT on GA-​75a and drive for approx. 6 miles until you reach GA-​348
Turn LEFT on GA-​348 (Richard B. Russell Scenic Hwy)
Drive approximately 2.7 miles to Raven Cliff Falls trailhead entrance on the left.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is a truly unique waterfall. It is viewed through a roughly fifteen foot opening (or fissure) between two massive towering stones approximately 80 feet in height. Come one come all, but be careful! The final approach is steep and slippery when wet. Trust me, I know!

I hiked this trail today and although I am very inexperienced at hiking, it was, to me, an easy hike. The terrain is very rooty and therefore took a toll on my ankles, but nonetheless, it was pretty easy. We camped on these grounds the night before and I must say, it was the most quaint and serene little campground. If you get there early, try to claim the first campground to the right along the trail, as it has access to a really cute swimming hole. The trail winds through beautiful, almost tropical looking foliage, and follows the creek to the falls. Along the hike, you will pass several smaller falls before reaching the big one at the end. As others have said, make sure to climb up the final stretch (red clay terrain and very rocky) up to the last point which you will reach after climbing a ladder-​like series of tangled roots/​vines. After climbing these roots, beware of a very small area you have to stand on (straight ahead, curving down from the small area you are standing on, there will be a LONG and inconspicuous drop all the way down…), then to your left you will be able to jimmy your way either above or below a rather large tree trunk (probably the scariest part!) and, yay, you are there! I would recommend the entire hike up until this last stretch for families, but would never ever advise taking a child or a dog up this last part.
Also make sure if you are camping to take a few late night visits up to the trail to see the glow worms!!!

I went to this trail today because it seemed very doable based on the information that the website provided. It is located near Helen, so the drive from Atlanta to this location was pleasant — I think parts of it were scenic as well. It was easy enough to find it and park, and there was plenty of spaces but the bathrooms were closed, which was a real inconvenience for pre and post trail needs.
The trail winds through some of most lush parts of forest I have seen in the area… So much dark green foliage lined the trail making it look really beautiful and mysterious. It runs along a creek which provides some great views and the sound of it going by was lovely. While it is not a strenuous hike– only 2.5 miles to top of it, I would caution that many parts are wet and muddy and slippery. There are so many roots along the trail that it often times required a mindful stepping pattern, and if you are like me and use minimalist hiking shoes… Make sure you are ready for your feet to hurt.
The trail goes by several smaller falls and sliding rocks which are cool to look at but it eventually leads to the actual Raven Cliffs Falls. Right before the main attraction, the hike becomes really steep and one should be careful when climbing up. The view is pretty amazing, several free-​falls of water coming off really high, smooth cliffs, it really took my breath away. There appeared to be a continuation of the trail that required some vertical climbing, but my feet were so messed up we just turned around but I hear it is a must see.
I went on a Saturday and there were dozens of people on the trail which wasn’t my favorite thing, but overall it was very earthy and natural feeling, and it made for a relaxing hike that was a decent length. Definitely something I would recommend any Georgia hiker or tourist to visit.

I did it today and it was a lot of fun. Using the endomondo app it clocked at 5.84 miles from parking lot to the large uphill that the other reviewer mentioned but who can say how accurate those apps are. I was lucky to go in early with very few people on the trail but on the way back I ran into group after group. There are plenty of campsites to use. The sounds of the creek along the entire trek is relaxing and enjoyable. The people I saw all had their dogs on leashes. I will go back again to enjoy it.

The hike is 2.5 miles one way, its more of a trail rather than hike (until the very end). Scenery is amazing, the park is straight up wilderness, the trail is man made but nothing more than a small trail cleared of trees. We started the hike at 8:30am and we saw only 3 groups of people during our way toward the waterfall (final destination). It get a little more populated during the afternoon, but it is still pretty secluded. The trail is relatively easy, most of it being flat, the only precaution to take is to make sure you have proper footwear. The trail seems to be consistently wet/​damp due to it being right next to the streams/​mini waterfalls. Once you get to the very end, the base of the main waterfall, there is 50 ft CLIMB (literal climb — kinda dangerous for casual hikers) to get closer to the see the very top of the water fall. The climb is slippery and difficult, so if you are not the athletic type just enjoy the base (awesome scene),

Raven Cliff Falls is a decent trail. The hike is about 2.5 miles one way. But it isn’t steep. So the length will get you if you’re not a fit person.
The trail looks primitive. Near the entrance, they have «Camping spots» which are just rocks for fire pits. If you wanna camp here, prepare to rough it. The trail isn’t nice and paved either. It’s just a dirt trail. One time, there was a tree that fell in the middle of the trail. So we had to climb over it.
The trail to the waterfall is nice. You walk parallel to the creek. If you’re a nature fan, you’ll love the sound of the creek next to you. At the end of the trail, it gets a bit steep.
When you get to the end, you’ll think it’s over. Nope, at the end of the trail, there is a very steep trail up that most people don’t attempt. I haven’t. There is also a 2 story high tree-​root wall on the left side. You can rock climb up that. It looks sketchy to climb up 2 stories with no safety gear, but it’s very doable. It’s like climbing a ladder. I suggest you to do it. But if you fall and die, don’t blame me. I have got a lot of people to do it, and they had no trouble. So theoretically you can do it.
When you climb up that wall of roots, you get to the top of the fall, which is pretty cool.
There are no bathrooms here. Well, there is a bathroom at the entrance. But every time I went there, it was locked. What I do is I go to the Wendy’s at Helen, go to the bathroom there, and then drive to the start of the trail. But I have peed in the woods many times.
The times I went, it wasn’t as popular as the other, more popular trails. I didn’t see that many people walking this trail. But it is gaining in popularity. When that happens, maybe they’ll put a real bathroom and charge admission at the entrance.

This is a pretty long hike. I wouldn’t say the trail is too bad. Definitely not really steep until you get to the waterfall at the end. There is little room to actually sit and eat if you want. Its a pretty tight hike up at some points. Many people brought their dogs. I have a 14 lb poodle and he did okay. Its about 2.5 miles from parking to the waterfall.
My only concern is that I wish people who put their dogs on leashes. There was a dog running far ahead and of their owners and ran up to my dog. Luckily the owners caught up, but a little irresponsible to leave your dog off leash.
Elevation: 856 feet
Trail Type: Out-​and-​back
Skill Level: Moderate
Duration: 3 hours
Season: Year-​round, however, spring and fall are best for flowers and leaf colors. Water flow in Dodd Creek is best in spring.
Trailhead Elevation: 3,000 feet
Top Elevation: 3,856 feet