RAVEN CLIFF FALLS
|
 |
| LOCATION:
Northwest South Carolina |
| HIKE
STARTS: US 276 |
| HIKE ENDS:
US 276 |
| TOTAL
DISTANCE: 4.0 Miles |
| HIKE TYPE:
Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| HIKE
DIFFICULTY: Easy to Moderate |
| TRAILS
USED: Raven Cliff Falls Trail |
| TRAIL
TRAFFIC: Moderate to Heavy |
| TRIP TYPE:
Day Hike |
| MANAGEMENT:
Ceasars Head State Park |
HIGHLIGHTS: Caesars Head State
Park joins Jones Gap State Park and other natural areas to comprise the Mountain
Bridge Wilderness Area. The lookout tower at Caesars Head sits at 3,266 feet and
provides a panoramic view of Table Rock and Pinnacle mountains, nearby valleys,
and other distant peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Raven Cliff Falls, situated
along one of the park's many hiking trails, is one of the highest waterfalls in
the eastern United States, and is a popular destination for both day and
overnight hikers. It is an easy four mile round trip hike to a platform that
provides a look at the lower falls.
This in-and-out backtrack hike follows the
Raven Cliff Falls Trail, which is an old buggy road marked by red-blazes that
shares the first 1.4 miles with the blue-blazed Gum Gap Trail. Due to the beauty
of the waterfall and the popularity of Caesars Head State Park, the trail is
heavily traveled on weekends and the two-lane US 276 normally has a steady
stream of traffic on it. Make sure to leash your dog at the parking area and not
at the trailhead since it is necessary to cross the street to start the hike.