Raven Cliff's Ramble
One of the first things you notice when you pull into the trailhead parking area are all the bear warning notices everywhere . More on the bears later .
A small footbridge starts the hike to the falls . It's easier to go around the footbridge and just hop over the small ditch . The trail goes up, around , and down a hillside . You may be able to avoid the hill by following the creek for a bit . You will probably have to wade once or twice if you do . Stay on the trail and there is a nice footbridge with a single rail so you won't get your tootsies wet .
Now that you are started , here's a couple of warnings for you . Internet sources say that the trail is some where between 5 and 6 miles round trip . If you are hiking just to hike or just for exercise , you can be there and back in 1 or 2 hours . If you hike , more like a meander , like me exploring , taking pictures and just dawdling , it's an all day stroll with lots of breaks . If you don't like the sound of the wind rippling through the trees or water tumbling over and around rocks and such , wear ear plugs . It is constant .
And there is a plethora of things to look and wonder at .
I am not a geologist but from what I have read these rounded holes are formed when a rock is caught up and just tumbles round and round . I imagine it takes a day or two at least .
The trail follows the creek fairly closely with only a few difficult places . Of course the wet , slick rocks keep it interesting .
Other spots have you going through laurel tunnels . In the spring , the blooms here have got to be killer .
It looked like some one made a good start on a Romanesque stone pathway .
Bach to the bears warnings ...
The wind and water musical constantly playing masks the all but the whispers of the bears in these laurel hells . But I swear I heard at least two of them making supper plans . '' Just wait , that fat old bastard will either slip and break his neck or stroke out and keel over . Easy pickings .''
Then I turned a corner . This small water fall dropped about 15 to 20 ' . I fooled the bears , I didn't go all the way to the edge .
Then I got to one of the many footbridges . It appeared that those damn bears had pulled up a bunch of the walkboards and piled them up against a tree. I guess they figured you would slip and fall or have a heart attack trying to put the walkboards back in place .
Further on , the path had been cleared through a tangle of trees that had gone down in a storm .
This pic is part way up to the falls . A huge flat rock makes viewing up and down the creek awesome . Just don't stumble .
The path continues up to the top of the falls but this ole fat boy didn't attempt it solo . Funny thing about hiking solo nowadays is I tend to listen to that little voice that says '' Are you freaking nutz !?''.
Or maybe I just heed some of my wife's admonitions .
You still have to use a bit of caution here . A hiking staff is a must for us older folks .
The main attraction is the twin falls between the cliffs The entire hike was spectacular in my book .
A couple artsy fartsy shots ...
Sources say that this is one of the more popular day hikes in north Georgia and can get crowded at peak times . I must have hit it just right because I had it pretty much to myself . Maybe half a dozen other hikers . And the ghosts of past loggers hollering at their mules . Like whispers in the wind .
