Raven Cliff Falls, Caesars Head State Park, SC

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
12/17/2022	8.1 miles	3 hours 40 minutes	1,193'	2.2	955.6

Parking: 

• Raven Cliff Falls parking lot. I did notice an overflow parking lot just down the road. Cost is $3 per hiker (not $3 per car).

Maps:

• Gaigps
• We also bought an inexpensive trail map at the visitor center.

Directions:

• Follow Raven Cliff Falls Trail (red blaze); R onto Gum Gap Trail (blue blaze); L onto Naturaland Trail (pink blaze) to bridge; return on pink and blue-blaze trails to jct. with red-blaze trail; R for in-and-out to overlook looking across valley to waterfall; return on red-blaze trail to parking lot.

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:

• Waterfall Challenge

   

Our original plan for the day was to hike to Waterrock Knob, but it was just too cold to be at that elevation today. So last minute change this morning to go south to South Carolina. I'm leading a 4-mile version of this hike soon, so I figured today would be a good data to scout it. We wanted to do a longer hike though, so we extended it (this is hike #330 on the CMC website).

Our first stop was the Caesar's Head visitor center. We stopped in to pay for parking. Though we could have paid at the trailhead using envelopes. The visitor center didn't really have much in the way of exhibits, but they do have a lot of things for sale - maps, books, etc. And they have restrooms. It's a good stop anyways, because there is an overlook with an amazing view just a short walk from the building. We did this first before starting our hike.

Then onto the Raven Cliff Falls parking lot. There are 2 kiosks in the parking lot. There are envelopes for paying your hiker fee. But one of the kiosks also has registration forms - you must fill them out with your hike information. The parking lot was close to full, so good to know there are overflow spots. 

The hike is partially on wide woods roads and regular trail. The trail is well maintained. First, we hiked to a viewpoint of Raven Cliff Falls. The falls are quite far away, but it does give a good view of them. Then we headed to a suspension bridge over the falls. The suspension bridge was very sturdy- not too wobbly. Krumm did it, though he did lower his center of gravity. We came across a lot of big puddles on the way to the suspension bridge. Krumm had to step in each one.

View from visitor center overlook.

View of Table Rock

We continued past the overlook towards a sign for the Devils Kitchen

This is the hiker registration box to look for.

At the trailhead. This isn't the Foothills Trail, to be clear. 
It does show up as a spur trail on the Foothills Trail map.
I wouldn't use the Foothills Traip map for navigation for this hike.

Intersections are extremely well marked. They really don't want you to get lost.

Raven Cliff Falls view

We happened to be following the Palmetto Trail today. 
South Carolina's version of the MST.

We found a few puffballs, but they were all missing their puff.

Very sturdy suspension bridge

Wait, not one of these again!

I didn't want to try to snap a photo above the wires - didn't want to risk dropping my phone.

We could have made our hike into a loop trail but would need more daylight.

Turkey tail