Raven Cliff Falls

Worth the drive

Is it plungeworthy?

80feet tall

A 4-tier waterfall on Matthews Creek.

Scale46/60

Documentation20/20

Character14/20

The details

Tiers: 4 drops
Watercourse: Matthews Creek
Coordinates: 35.10566, -82.66087

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About Raven Cliff Falls

Raven Cliff Falls is a 80-foot waterfall in South Carolina, on Matthews Creek. The water falls in 4 distinct tiers.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Raven Cliff Falls 8/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

Matthews Creek falling 400-odd feet down the Blue Ridge Escarpment — South Carolina's tallest, framed from an overlook at the end of Caesars Head's signature four-mile round trip. In autumn the hawk migration rides the same cliffs.

Getting there

Trailhead: Raven Cliff Falls trailhead, Caesars Head State Park, US-276
Parking: First-come park lot — no roadside overflow allowed
Road: Paved mountain highway
Hike: 4 mi round trip (hard)
Heads up: Overlook viewing only — the falls drops through wilderness with no base access. Trail #5 (Bill Kimball) is currently closed; the main route isn't.

When to go

Spring for water, September–November for hawks and color.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: $3 adult park admission
Dogs: Leashed, 6-foot max
Hours: 9am–6pm (to sunset in DST); trails close an hour before dark
Camping: Mountain Bridge backcountry sites by reservation
Warnings: Wilderness terrain — hikers get lost here most years. Register, carry layers, turn around on time.

Researched from SC State Parks — Caesars Head · Wikipedia — Raven Cliff Falls (SC). Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Raven Cliff Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.