Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Hiking trailhead for Raven Cliffs Wilderness Area. The trail is a 2.6 mile each way hike to a beautiful waterfall and popular swimming area below the falls. There is no climbing the rocks allowed and a please remember this is a wilderness area and to help keep in the Wilderness character please follow leave no trace principles.
Parking area consists of gravel delineated parking lot for 30 vehicles, interpretive kiosk, bear resistant garbage bins, vault toilet, some dispersed campsites adjacent to the parking lot and day use picnic tables area. There are other designated dispersed campsites located on the trail and along the White Oak Gap Road.
This is a Wilderness area expect stream water crossings, be prepared to get your feet wet to really know the Wilderness character experience. Please stay on the trails, they are marked. NO bicycles, or other wheeled devices allowed in any part of the Wilderness. No use of anything with a motor to include drones, chainsaws, mattress pumps, generators, etc.. The area is open seven days a week unless there are special weather conditions that will close the Richard Russell Scenic Byway. During weather events please follow the GA Department of Transportation for any road closures.
While visiting the area nearby sites include Dukes Creek Falls, Anna Ruby Falls, Unicoi State Park, and the communities of Helen and Cleveland, Georgia.
This location is also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once on-site, follow the posted instructions. You will need to download the free Recreation.gov mobile app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service: https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app
Directions:
From Helen: Head west on Hwy 75/17 No to Hwy 17 A. Turn left on Hwy 17 A towards Robertsville/Cleveland. Go for approximately 2.5 miles to Richard Russell Scenic Hwy (Hwy 348). Make a right turn and travel for approximately 2.4 miles and it will be on your left.
From Cleveland: Head north on Hwy 17A for approximately 10 miles, turn left on Richard Russell Scenic Hwy (Hwy 348). Travel for approximately 2.4 miles and it will be on your left.
The address for Dukes Creek is: 3000 Richard Russell Scenic Hwy, Helen, GA
If purchasing before arrival, please display a printed copy of the pass on the dashboard of the vehicle with the QR code and pass number visible on your vehicle dashboard.
This pass is valid until 11:59 PM of the date(s) listed on the pass, and only for the date(s) and vehicle specified for this pass.
Please check the forest website for any recent closures prior to traveling at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/conf/recreation
America the Beautiful Passes: Senior, Access, and Golden Age Senior/Access Passes are the only passes accepted at this site. Those passes are good for the pass holder and up to three adults per vehicle. No other passes accepted at this site.
Passes are non-transferrable between operators, non-refundable, not replaceable if lost or stolen, and are void if altered or reproduced. Cell phone connectivity on the forest may be limited, plan ahead.