Five miles of easy terrain and multiple waterfalls makes Raven Cliff trail a must for any Georgia hiker’s list. After the hike, don’t forget to stop by Helen, GA, a small German-style alpine village with many specialty shops and food. If car camping is your thing, there are some great options along the trail.
The hike begins across the gravel road and immediately passes a large camping area with rope swing, perfect for car campers. The trail follows Dodd Creek for its entire length, sometimes directly along its babbling waters and other times rising above, but never deviating too far from its banks.
At 1.1 miles in, look for a steep side trail on the left for a close encounter with one of many waterfalls along the way. Hike past several more falls, cascades and footbridges that take the trail over the creek and several of its tributaries.
A large rock outcrop greets hikers at the end of the trail. Climb the steep incline halfway for a view of Raven Cliff Falls, a high waterfall visible through an opening between the rocks. When the water volume is high, this can be a very impressive falls. Farther up the hill to the left is a tree whose roots form a steep ladder between the rocks, allowing for adventurous hikers to climb to the top of the rock outcropping and a different view of the falls. The trail kinda looks like it continues on, but this description stops at the falls.