Raven Cliff Falls is a 110-foot waterfall on Dodd Creek in White County, Georgia, where the creek pours through a narrow split in a solid rock wall inside the Raven Cliffs Wilderness of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Helen's tourism office calls it possibly the most unusual waterfall in North Georgia.
The falls
The World Waterfall Database lists 110 feet in two tiers of horsetails, the tallest 55 feet; earlier surveys listed 100 feet. Much of the upper fall is hidden inside the cleft. Other accounts break the drop into about 60 feet behind the split, a 20-foot plunge into a deep pool, and 20 more feet of cascades down to Dodd Creek. The trail leads to the base of the 40-foot lower tier, and navigating safely to the upper tier is difficult.
Getting there
The walk starts at the Raven Cliffs Trailhead, a gravel lot for 30 vehicles with a vault toilet, picnic tables, bear-resistant bins and an interpretive kiosk. Parking requires a $5 amenities fee per vehicle; no reservations are taken. From Helen, directions run 1.5 miles north on GA 75, left on Alt 75 for 2.5 miles, then right on the Russell Scenic Highway for 2.8 miles to the trailhead. Trail length is given as 2.5 to 3.3 miles one way (5 to 6.6 miles round trip). The route is a wilderness trail.
When to go
The trail is open year-round. Heavy weekend use can reduce the sense of solitude, making weekday visits preferable.
On site
In May 2022, a 19-year-old fell 40 to 50 feet from the top of the falls and was trapped between the rocks for six hours before a technical rescue; stay off the top. Visitors should follow Leave No Trace practices in the wilderness.
Nearby
Three other waterfalls sit on Dodd Creek. Upper Dodd Creek Falls is about 1.1 miles away and Lower Dodd Creek Falls about 1.2 miles. Dukes Creek Falls, on Duke Creek, is about 2.3 miles away. The town of Cleveland lies about 9.4 miles to the south.
Distances are straight-line.