Raven Rock Hiking Trail
By TIM HOMAN
TRAIL SUMMARY Location: Eastern Blue Ridge, Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River; Features: Chattooga River, Raven Rock rapids and waterfall nearby; Distance: 0.8 mile; Difficulty Rating: Moderate; County: Rabun; Nearest City: Clayton; Maps: Rainy Mountain Quad GA-SC, Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River map; Blazes: White; Ranger District: Tallulah
Raven Rock Trail follows an old roadbed, now closed but still used occasionally, that continues from the back right corner of the turnaround area for FS 511-B. After 0.4 mile, where the old road is blocked with felled logs, the trail angles down and to the left on wooden steps and descends, sometimes steeply, 400 feet to the river. A careful eye can pick out ferns, trillium, Indian pipe, redbud, flowering dogwood, wild hydrangea, partridge berry, and trailing arbutus. Along the way, the trail approaches Daniel Creek, then turns left and leads to a level campsite with a fire pit. Here the trail turns 90 degrees to the right, dropping downhill to the Georgia bank of the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River.
The path ends beneath an eastern hemlock root ed at the top of a tiny, white sand beach. Upstream and down, the banks are jumbled with boulders; between them are more pockets of sand. This is a perfect vantage point to watch rafters, canoeists, and kayakers as they come out of Raven Rock Chute and enjoy a breather before tackling the Class IV and V rapids downstream called Five Falls. Directly across a deep, eddying pool, just downstream from a shoal, Raven Rock arches upward from either side, coming to a point perhaps as high as 150 feet, perhaps higher; it is difficult to judge. The cliff face is striated gneiss, vertically streaked with black mineral stains. Stunted eastern red cedars are growing on ledges and out of cracks in the cliff.
During periods of low water in summer and early autumn, it is possible to bushwhack, rock-hop, and wade up and downstream from the sandy beach. The 2.5-mile segment of the Chattooga - from 0.5 mile upstream of Raven Rock all the way downstream to Tugaloo Lake - more than lives up to its designated "wild and scenic" status. Raven Rock Chute and Deliverance Rock Rapids (both Class IV), giant boulders, and a beautiful Long Creek waterfall on the South Carolina side are close by upstream. Downstream, there are pools, rocks, and rapids that build in size and strength as you head toward the lake. Camp Creek Trail, also in this section, provides much closer access to the Class V rapids along the lowermost Chattooga.
The beauty of the river is easily marred by inconsiderate sightseers. Please do not build fires along the shoreline, and remember to leave this small, special place cleaner, if possible, than you found it.
Highlights
Mile 0.8: Small sandy beaches, shading hemlocks, green pools, river boulders, and rapids along the banks of the Chattooga River. Striking view
across the river of Raven Rock, a gneiss cliff with dark mineral stains.
Directions(VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP)
From the Riley C. Thurmond Memorial Bridge in Tallulah Falls,
travel on US 441 North for approximately 3.0 miles, then turn right
onto paved Camp Creek Road. After driving approximately 1.5 miles on
Camp Creek Road, turn left onto FS 511 (Water Gauge Road) just up the
hill from a small concrete culvert bridge and immediately beyond a
large house on the left. Continue on FS 511 for approximately 2.4 miles,
then begin looking for FS 511-B (Daniel Creek Road), a narrow, unmarked
road with two entrances, the first dropping down and turning to the left
at less than a 90-degree angle. Seventy-five yards farther on FS 511, you
will find the second entrance, seldom used, angling toward the first.
Beyond the second entrance, there is a pull-off place to the left of the
road. You should find this road after approximately 2.4 to 2.6 miles on
FS 511.
Proceed on FS 511-B only in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Each dirt road is narrower and rougher than the one before. If you don't have a pickup or a jeep, but still want to see Raven Rock, you will have to hike this road, only a mile long and easily walked, to the trailhead. On FS 511-B, stay on the main road at all forks; it ends at a turnaround area after approximately 1.0 mile. The trail begins at the lower right corner of the turn-around area, where the road once continued.
