Foothills Trail

A LOT of hype accompanies any literature written to guide one to South Carolina's highest waterfall. Reportedly over 400' in height, it's understandably a major draw for visitors to the Upstate. Also the fact that the trailhead is along busy US-276, near equally busy Caesar's Head State Park, and that it's only a 2-mile easy to moderate one-way hike means many, many people see the falls every year. Combined, the hype and the busyness had effectively kept Raven Cliff Falls off of my radar. I had caught the wildflower bug this spring, however, and needed a quick, nearby hike where I might have a good chance of finding some. Common sense told me that going to Raven Cliff on a sunny, spring Saturday might not be the most enjoyable experience but I figured between the flowers and the falls I could probably tolerate the crowds. Come on along and see what I found...

Trailhead GPS Coordinates:35.115984, -82.638350

Route Type: Out-and-back Difficulty: MODERATE

Hike Length: 4.6 miles Hike Duration: 1:30

Trailhead Temp: 60'F Trail Traffic: 100+ people

Min. Elevation: 2,750' Max. Elevation: 3,100'

Total Vertical Gain: 500' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 109'

Trails Used (blaze color): Raven Cliff Falls/Foothills Trail (red)

Raven Cliff Falls (4-26-15)

Raven Cliff Falls Hike Route Map
My hike to Raven Cliff Falls at Caesar's Head State Park as depicted a la Google Earth...
Raven Cliff Falls Hike Route Map
My (approximate) Route...
Raven Cliff Falls Trailhead
I didn't really have any illusions that I might be by myself on this hike but a full parking lot and more vehicles overflowing out along the highway gave me second thoughts on my choice of days...
Raven Cliff Falls Trailhead
After a quick sprint across US-276, I found yet another kiosk and the true start of the hike...
Foothills Trail
A road...I wasn't expecting a road...I prayed it didn't continue long...
Wild Strawberry
A rather chewed up little wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)...
Foothills Trail
To my great relief the road ended within a few minutes of the start and I was setting out on a proper trail...
Sessile Bellwort (or, Wild-oats)
Uvularia sessilifolia
Foothills Trail
The well traveled path soon made its way out along the edge of the wooded ridge...
Vasey's Trillium
Trillium vaseyi
Vasey's Trillium
Trillium vaseyi
Foothills Trail
Up and down...the first half of the route never really gained or lost much elevation but you certainly couldn't call it flat...
Foothills Trail
Spectacular views over the South Carolina Piedmont to the south were frequent but always partially obscured by foliage...
Crested Dwarf Iris
Iris cristata
Foothills Trail
The bright greens of spring...
Foothills Trail
Three quarters of a mile in the trail crosses some small rock slabs. I had hopes just one might provide enough of a break in the foliage to provide an unobstructed view but was disappointed...
Foothills Trail
One of the steeper sections of trail, not far past the rock slabs, had some steps to assist with the descent...
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
Foothills Trail
A small cove filled with spring brightness...
Cancer-root
Conopholis americana
Showy Orchis
Galearis spectabilis
Foothills Trail
A mile and a half in the trail turned back away from the ridge, winding its way across the open forest floor on a pleasantly level grade...
Foothills Trail
A very stately forest...
Foothills-Raven Cliff Falls Trail Junction
At this lonely sign I left the Foothills Trail, which breaks right, to continue to the falls on its like-named trail...
Dwarf Cinquefoil
Potentilla canadensis
Raven Cliff Falls Trail
The rhododendron here seemed to be about to cascade down across the trail...
Raven Cliff Falls Trail
For most of its length out to the falls the Raven Cliff Falls Trail is a steady, but never steep, descent...
Pinxter Flower
Rhododendron periclymenoides
Raven Cliff Falls-Dismal Trail Junction
The main overlook of the falls is a short distance down its namesake trail to the right. I had read of another overlook a short ways down the Dismal Trail but figured I'd save it for the hike out...
Raven Cliff Falls Trail
Within a minute or two of passing the Dismal Trail the fancy overlook platform came into view ahead...
Raven Cliff Falls
Touted as being over 400' tall I'll be honest I was expecting more. The distant and somewhat obstructed view left me wanting more. Still pretty, but not up to the hype...
Raven Cliff Falls Vid
A beautiful falls to be sure, but this is a tightly zoomed shot. Also, pardon the sounds of snacking coming from the person beside me...
Dismal Trail
Heading back up to the Dismal Trail I went in search of the other overlook. Huge signs posted at the trailhead warn of the rigors faced by hikers intending to make a loop hike using the Dismal. Looks like fun, I'll have to come back...
Dismal Trail
The Dismal almost immediately started descending steeply. Fortunately, the overlook was only supposed to be 0.1 miles ahead...
Dismal Trail
As advertised, about a tenth of a mile down the dismal I came to a trailside rock outcrop promising views...
Dismal Trail - Raven Cliff Falls
If anything, this view was worse that that from the other overlook, the falls being more obstructed and no closer. I was by myself though...
Raven Cliff Falls
The tightly zoomed view of Raven Cliff Falls from the Dismal Trail view point...
Foothills Trail
I had mixed feelings as I returned. The falls hadn't lived up to the hype but the day was gorgeous and it's always nice to just get out in the woods for whatever reason...