July 24, 2007
| Today’s hike was on the Raven Cliffs Trail north of Helen, GA accessed from the Richard Russell Scenic Highway. .
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Chuck Crisp, Bill Hunt, Sharon Horwitz, Jack Jacobi, Linda Johnson, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Doug Russell, Pom Sinnock, Dave Standard, Bob Thompson, Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – The Raven Cliffs Trail is located in the Raven Cliffs Wilderness area northwest of Helen, GA. It is one of the more popular trails in the state as it follows 2.5 miles along beautiful Dodd Creek to massive rock cliffs with a large crevice and a waterfalls flowing through the split. A very nice forest loaded with Rhododendron, Oak, Hickory and Eastern Hemlock. The trail is mostly gently rolling to flat until a short steep climb up to the base of the cliffs. Directions: Take GA 75 north from Helen for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto GA 356(75 Alternate) and travel 2.3 miles to the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway. Turn right and travel 2.8 miles to the trailhead and parking area. Another great day for a hike! Mostly cloudy and cool, with a moderate rain shower. Temperatures ranging from the upper 60’s to low 70’s. Hiking distance – 5 miles WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Black-eyed Susan, Mountain Mint, Joe Pye Weed, Peruvian Daisy, White Aster, Rattlesnake Plantain, Tall Bluet, Rosebay Rhododendron, Beggar Lice, Alum Root. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Junco. |
 Raven Cliffs Trailhead Parking |
 All along the trail to the cliffs, you see and hear rushing water. Here is a nice waterfall. |
 We always see these signs but rarely ever see a bear…… |
 Yikes! We spot this very large Black Bear. (a bit blurry on 12X zoom) . |
 Beautiful Rhododendron along the stream. |
 More water cascading over the rocks. |
 Raven Cliffs and Falls! |
 For lunch, we went to nearby Dukes Creek Falls picnic area. This is the view from the parking lot. |
 Hoary Mountain Mint / White Horse-mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Sharon Horwitz, Donna Presley, Bob Thompson, Jeanne O’Connor, Phil Brownrigg, Bill Hunt, Linda Johnson, Pom Sinnock, Dave Standard, Bruce O’Connor, Wayne Miller, Carole Wintle, June Bellamy, Chuck Crisp, John Bellamy, Doug Russell, Jack Jacobi, Bob Presley. |