Raven Cliff Falls

About Raven Cliff Falls

Dodd Creek runs through a fissure in a granite outcrop, splitting an 80-foot cliff, according to Wikipedia. The water drops 60 feet, then 20 feet into a deep pool, then cascades another 20 feet to the creek below.

Wikipedia gives no total height, so the 60-foot first drop is the figure we list.

The trail runs inside the Raven Cliffs Wilderness in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Wilderness rules apply, so bicycles and other wheeled devices are not allowed.

Not the South Carolina Raven Cliff Falls

Don't confuse it with South Carolina's Raven Cliff Falls. Georgia's falls are on Dodd Creek near Helen. The South Carolina falls are a separate waterfall at Caesars Head State Park.

Getting there and parking

The Ravens Cliff Trailhead is at 3000 Richard Russell Hwy, Helen, GA, on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348).

From Helen

The Forest Service directions: head west from Helen on GA 75/17 to GA 17 Alt and turn left toward Robertstown and Cleveland. After about 2.5 miles, turn right on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348). The trailhead is about 2.4 miles up, on the left.

From Cleveland, the Forest Service says to head north on GA 17 Alt for about 10 miles, then turn left on GA 348 and drive about 2.4 miles.

Parking, fee and hours

The gravel lot holds 30 vehicles, according to the Forest Service. The trailhead has an interpretive kiosk, bear-resistant trash bins, a vault toilet and picnic tables. There are no reservations; Recreation.gov sells the pass on site through its app.

The day fee is $5 per vehicle, and the pass rules are strict. Only Senior and Access passes, plus the older Golden Age and Golden Access passes, are accepted. If you carry a regular annual America the Beautiful pass, plan to pay.

Recreation.gov lists the trailhead as open 7 days a week, year-round, unless weather closes the Richard Russell Scenic Byway. It posts no hours. Explore Georgia, the state tourism site, lists 7:00am to 9:00pm daily, but we could not confirm those hours with the Forest Service.

Anna Ruby Falls, another Forest Service site near Helen, is reached by a 0.4-mile paved trail and charges its own per-person fee.

Camping along Dodd Creek

Recreation.gov says there are some dispersed campsites next to the parking lot and the picnic tables. It adds that other designated dispersed campsites sit along the trail and along White Oak Gap Road. Follow Leave No Trace practices.

The forest-wide order limits camping to 14 days in any 30-day period, effective to May 6, 2030. An older Raven Cliffs order on climbing, rappelling and camping (CO-13-22) ran through July 25, 2025 and is not current. Ask the Chattooga River Ranger District at 706-754-6221 about any newer rules.

Map and nearby falls

Raven Cliff Falls Trail along Dodd Creek

Recreation.gov lists the trail at 2.6 miles each way, or 5.2 miles round trip. Wikipedia says about 5 miles round trip. The trail is blue-blazed and follows Dodd Creek.

Along the way you pass three other major waterfalls on Dodd Creek, the largest about 70 feet, according to Wikipedia.

Wikipedia puts the trailhead, near Bear Den Creek, at about 2,040 feet and the base of the falls at about 2,600 feet. Wikipedia's elevations work out to roughly 560 feet of net climb on the way in.

We found no official difficulty rating. Atlanta Trails rates the hike moderate, and an Explore Georgia blog post agrees, noting roots, rocks and narrow paths. It is a natural-surface wilderness trail and is not wheelchair accessible.

Atlanta Trails says leashed dogs are allowed, and Explore Georgia tags the site pet-friendly. We found no Forest Service statement on dogs. Recreation.gov tells hikers to be prepared to get their feet wet, and we could not confirm the current condition of footbridges with the Forest Service.

When to visit

We found no Forest Service closure for 2025 or 2026 and no Hurricane Helene closure notice for Raven Cliff Falls. Weather can still close GA 348, so check conditions before you drive up.

We found no official guidance on the best season or crowd levels. Atlanta Trails calls this one of the most popular hiking trails in North Georgia. An Explore Georgia blog post says the lot gets filled up quickly on nice days in peak seasons, and suggests early morning or evening for fewer people.

With 30 spaces and no reservations, arriving early gives you the best chance at a spot.

If you are building a north Georgia waterfall trip, our guide to Amicalola Falls covers a state park waterfall with its own fees and stairs.

Safety and swimming

Photos

Raven Cliff Falls FAQ

Nearby waterfalls

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