Raven Cliff Falls Trail

Ranking: Easy Pie to Moderate

Good ole Raven Cliff. This trail is hardcore in the best of ways. So I will say when you pull up to the parking areas for the start, good luck depending on what time of day it is. We went on a weekend and there were so many people! We had to circle around several times before finding a spot. You've been warned.

     Before you begin your hike, there is a bulletin board with some helpful information. It educates you about the area as well as bear warnings! Next to that are the bathrooms, which yes will have a line regardless if you are a man or a woman. This trail unlike some, does not have a visitor center, well at least not where the trail starts. So if you have any questions do your research or ask a friend like we did before you go. One of our good friends had suggested this trail to us, so we thought we would try it out.

     So let’s talk about this one. The trail itself is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Helen, Ga. To get to this trail-head, you will ascend a windy road until you arrive at a very busy entrance. I would recommend you use your GPS to get there as well as follow the signs. Be wary of kids running out, people gearing up, and other motorists. This section of road can get very busy during school breaks and summer months, so just watch out! This trail in particular was great. It is almost 5 miles round trip and it ends with a HUGE rocky area that is a bit nerve-racking.

     The trail itself offers tree coverage throughout the entire trek so it's quite a lovely hike. The trail also offers plenty of campsite options, stream access, and plenty of photo opts at the end. If you go early enough in the day there might be people still sleeping at the campsites you come across. The same rule applies at a normal campground, be respectful. The stream that runs along the trail is super handy when trying to cool off, especially for furry friends.

     **Disclaimer**- If you are planning on bringing your dog with you, the trail gets VERY rocky the further you hike. Might be a good idea to equip your dog with some pup shoes or something to help.

     When you are hiking, I would recommend you stop every now and then to enjoy the trail. There are several spots near the water where you can relax and snack. Trust me, you will enjoy it- I know we did. When you do reach the end, take a moment to appreciate it. There are these HUGE rock faces that you will see people climbing and hanging out all over the place. I will say to be very careful when treading up and down and around all of the rock formations. While we were hunting down a chill spot, we saw a guy bust up his leg from slipping on some rubble. It is a bit dangerous at the end but well worth risking it to climb more inward to see how high it really goes.