Tallest Waterfall In South Carolina: Raven Cliff Falls In Cleveland

The tallest waterfall in South Carolina is also one of the most challenging to see. But at an estimated 400 feet, it’s worth the effort – as long as you’re up for the task of seeking it out. Unsurprisingly, there’s a series of trails through the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area in Cleveland that lead to a couple of breathtaking views of Raven Cliff Falls, and anyone who’s hiked this strenuous trail will tell you it’s a huge accomplishment. Before you leave for this hike, we recommend that you download your free trail of AllTrails+ so that you can have access to updated trail and weather conditions. Now, if you’re ready, grab your hiking boots and trekking poles, and let’s traverse this waterfall hike in South Carolina!

The trailhead can be found at Caesars Head State Park. Drive approximately a mile from the Visitor Center to find the parking lot and a large sign designating the Raven Cliff Falls trail.

For the first two miles, before you arrive at the fork for the loop, the trail is deceivingly easy. Most people travel clockwise around the loop since hiking in the opposite direction will mean a most strenuous uphill return.

Traveling clockwise also means you'll arrive at the short spur trail to the first overlook in well under three miles.

Tallest Waterfall In South Carolina — From the overlook, you'll get a feel for the scope and enormous size of the drop of South Carolina's tallest waterfall.

Right about the time you enter the loop, you'll also encounter warning signs that the trail is about to double down on difficulty.

After series of switchbacks, elevation changes and more...

Get used to the cliffs... because the trail leads right in front of a huge cliff as you make your way around the loop. (For scale, if you peer closely at the bottom right corner of this image... you'll see a lone hiker at the base of the epic cliff.)

All in all, this 8.8-mile trail is rated difficult due to the length and the steep slopes you'll encounter going down — and then back up.

Only experienced hikers should embark on the Raven Cliff Falls trail.

The trail is heavily traveled, in spite of the difficulty, so plan to share the road, so to speak.

Want to hike the Raven Cliff Falls Loop to see the tallest waterfall in South Carolina? It’s mandatory to register with the Caesars Head State Park Visitor Center before embarking on the journey. Most people take 5-8 hours to complete this hike. A map of the trail is available for sale at the Visitor Center. Also, don’t forget to download AllTrails+ to guide you on your hike.

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Melanie J. | April 11, 2024

What are some more waterfalls in South Carolina that you recommend?

If you love chasing waterfalls, then here are some of the best waterfalls in South Carolina that will blow you away.

Bee Cove Falls, Tamassee
Big Bend Falls, Mountain Rest
Brasstown Falls, Westminster
Carrick Creek Falls, Pickens
Chauga Narrows, Mountain Rest
Fall Creek Falls, Mountain Rest
Issaqueena Falls, Walhalla
King Creek Falls, Mountain Rest
Laurel Fork Falls, Sunset
Moonshine Falls, Cleveland
Opossum Creek Falls Trailhead, Long Creek
Riley Moore Falls, Westminster

Discover more by reading our previous article featuring these waterfalls in South Carolina.

What are the best hiking trails in South Carolina?

There are a lot of hiking trails in South Carolina that are worth exploring, but these are the ones that belong on your bucket list:

Table Rock Mountain Trail, Pickens
Boardwalk Loop Trail, Hopkins
Mountain Lake via Sulphur Springs Trail, Greenville
Station Cove Falls Trailhead, Walhalla
Sassafras Mountain Trail, Sunset
Pinnacle Pass Trail, Cleveland
Raven Rock Loop Trail, Sunset
Weston Lake Loop Trail, Gadsden
Mountain Creek Trail, Taylors
Winding Stairs Trail, Mountain Rest
Three Rivers Greenway Trail, Columbia

Be sure to read our previous article telling you more about the best hiking trails in South Carolina.

Are there kid-friendly hikes in South Carolina?

The short answer is yes, and here are some of the best kid-friendly hikes in South Carolina that the little ones will enjoy.

Sullivan's Island Nature Trail, Sullivan's Island
Wildcat Wayside, Cleveland
Yellow Branch Falls Trail, Walhalla
40 Acre Rock Heritage Preserve, Kershaw
Lake Placid Loop,Greenville
British Camp Trail, Clinton
Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet
Chau-Ram Falls Trail, Westminster

Don’t forget to check out our article telling you more about these kid-friendly hikes in South Carolina.

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Caesars Head State Park Visitor Center, 8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC 29635, USA

See The Tallest Waterfall In South Carolina At Caesars Head State Park

Robin Jarvis

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