By TIM HOMAN

Warwoman Dell Nature Trail is an easy 0.4-mile loop trail in the Eastern Blue Ridge Mountains.

TRAIL SUMMARY

Location: Eastern Blue Ridge, Chattaooga River Warwoman Dell Picnic Area; Features: Small waterfall, spring wildflowers; Distance: 0.4 mile (loop) ; Difficulty Rating: Easy; County: Rabun; Nearest City: Clayton; Maps: Rabun Bald Quad GA-NC; Blazes: None, none needed; Ranger District: Tallulah

The beginning and ending of this path parallels a 
small, branch-sized stream, uppermost 
Warwoman Creek. Growing between walkway and 
water, the stooped shrub bearing large, short- 
stemmed leaves is the pawpaw. For positive identification, rub the underside of a leaf and smell your 
fingers. If it looks like a pawpaw and smells like a pawpaw-unpleasant-it is a pawpaw. The track 
soon switchbacks up and to the left, crosses a bridge 
over the brook, then at slightly less than 0.1 mile 
reaches the beginning of the loop and an interpretive sign ushering you to the right, to walk the loop 
in a counterclockwise direction.

The loop circles through a diverse, moist-site forest. A partial list of tree species includes sweet birch, 
basswood, white ash, and witch-hazel, as well as American holly, hemlock, yellow poplar, and northern red oak. Northern maidenhair and beech ferns afe easily recognized in season, evergreen ferns year-round.

At 0.2 mile, a short sidepath leads to the right 
and down to the base of a very small volume falls. In 
winter or early spring after the right amount of rain, 
the splashing waterfall leaps free of the rock. In summer and early fall drought, however, it dribbles and 
spills listlessly down the I5-foot-high rockface, 
which has yet to be worn water smooth. Beyond the 
intermittent falls, the trail follows the creek through 
rhododendron again before curling to the left, back 
to the beginning of the loop.

Highlights
Throughout: Good spring wildflower display. 
Mile 0.2: Small waterfall at the halfway point.

Directions
In Clayton, where US 76 turns west at a traffic 
light, turn east (right if you are coming from the south) onto Rickman Street. Follow Rickman Street for approximately 0.5 mile to its end at signed Warwoman Road. Turn 
right onto Warwoman Road and proceed approximately 2.3 miles to the 
right turn into the Warwoman Dell Recreation Area at the Warwoman Dell Lane and recreation area signs. Travel gravel Warwoman Dell Lane 
0.3 mile to the picnic area parking lot. The path begins at the far right 
end of the parking lot.
 

Tagged with: Warwoman Dell Chattooga River Eastern Blue Ridge Hiking Trails in Georgia

Related Listings

Warwoman Dell Nature Trail

Clayton, GA, Hiking Trails
Warwoman Dell Nature Trail is an easy 0.4-mile loop trail in the Eastern Blue Ridge Mountains.