Raven Cliff Falls
(northwest of) Helen, GA

North Georgia has some amazing trails: easy to negotiate, lined with beautiful bushes and trees, frequently close enough to a gurgling creek which, mixed with the trills of the birds make for a great 'multi-media' experience. The Raven Cliff Falls trail adds another amenity; Dodd Creek tumbles down the mountain in a series of waterfalls creating a buildup preparing us for the main course at the top.

Dodd Creek bursts through a crevice of the rock wall at the head of the cove to plunge 50 feet or so to the cove's floor. Upstream, the creek has already done a few plunges mixed with noisy cascades. The combined sounds of all these waterfalls can be heard far down the trail.

How to get there:

From I-85 northbound (e.g., from Atlanta):

• Head north on I-85 to exit 113, the Gainesville split (about 27 miles from the I-75/85 split in Atlanta).
• Take the left split and follow I-985 all the way to exit 22. (about 22 miles).
• Turn left at the foot of the exit and follow US-129, through Gainesville, to its intersection with GA-75 in Cleveland (about 25 miles).
• In Cleveland, on the north side of down town, right after US-129 bends to the left is a road to your right signed GA-75 Spur.
  (If you miss it, the next road on your right is GA-75.)
• Turn right and follow GA-75 through Helen. Continuing on 75, through Robertstown, you'll pass GA-356 (will be on your right). About 0.2 miles after this intersection turn left on Alt-75 and continue about 2.3 miles to the intersection of GA-348.
• Turn right and follow GA-348 for about 3 miles to the Raven Cliff Fall trailhead (you'll see the parking area on the left side of the road.

From I-85 southbound (e.g., from Greenville SC):

• Take exit 173 and, at the fool of the off-ramp, turn right onto GA-17.
• Follow GA-17, through Clarkesville (about 14 miles) and Helen (another 16 miles). Continuing on GA-75, through Robertstown, you'll pass GA-356 (will be on your right). About 0.2 miles after this intersection turn left on Alt-75 and continue about 2.3 miles to the intersection of GA-348.
• Turn right and follow GA-348 for about 3 miles to the Raven Cliff Falls trailhead (you'll see the parking area on the left side of the road).

Note: These are mountain roads with lots of blind curves and ups and downs. There are legal passing zones but, please, be patient.

Links to photos:

• Photo by Jack Anthony
  For a preview of Jack's photographic book about Dahlonega, visit: www.jjanthony.com

For more information: