Weekend itinerary

A Raven Cliff Falls weekend above Greenville

Stay below the ridge, hike to Raven Cliff Falls on Saturday, and save the main overlook or a short Mountain Bridge stop for Sunday.

By Cal Mercer — a Second Star Guide itinerary

Raven Cliff Falls supplies the long hike; the overlook and Travelers Rest complete the weekend.

Best length

2 nights

Arrive Friday, hike Raven Cliff Falls on Saturday, and use Sunday for Tandem breakfast plus the main overlook or Devil's Kitchen.

Stay

Hampton Inn Greenville/Travelers Rest

Straightforward Travelers Rest hotel with breakfast and parking, convenient to local restaurants and the…

Main activity

Raven Cliff Falls

Raven Cliff Falls is the Saturday hike; the main overlook and Travelers Rest provide the shorter stops around it.

Weekend shape

Raven Cliff Falls Saturday; overlook Sunday

Raven Cliff Falls fills Saturday. The main overlook and Devil's Kitchen fit Sunday after breakfast in Travelers Rest.

Rocky stream and footbridge in a Southern Appalachian forest — Mountain Bridge trails pass through hardwood forest, rhododendron, and rocky drainages.

Blue Ridge Escarpment view from Caesars Head — The main overlook is the short Sunday stop when weather and parking cooperate.

Coffee and a savory crepe on a foothills-town patio — Travelers Rest supplies breakfast before Highway 276 and dinner after the mountain.

Friday

Check in below the ridge and eat in Travelers Rest

Stay in Travelers Rest for the shorter morning drive or Greenville for a wider hotel and restaurant choice.

4:00 PM

Check in

Stay at Hampton Inn Greenville/Travelers Rest.

Straightforward Travelers Rest hotel with breakfast and parking, convenient to local restaurants and the northbound Highway 276 approach.

Recommended stay

Hampton Inn Greenville/Travelers Rest

Straightforward Travelers Rest hotel with breakfast and parking, convenient to local restaurants and the…

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The Station by Compo Hotels

Travelers Rest boutique property with 550-square-foot cottages and private patios steps from the Swamp Rabbit…

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6:30 PM

First dinner

Start with Shortfields Travelers Rest.

Casual full-service restaurant at 24 South Main Street in Travelers Rest with a broad menu for mixed groups after the park.

First-night pick

Shortfields Travelers Rest

Casual full-service restaurant at 24 South Main Street in Travelers Rest with a broad menu for mixed groups…

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Saturday

Hike to Raven Cliff Falls

Check the current advisory and map, then choose the 4.4-mile falls overlook route or the strenuous 6.6-to-7-mile suspension-bridge route.

8:30 AM

Breakfast

Start with Tandem before Highway 276

Travelers Rest breakfast cafe serving sweet and savory crepes, whole-wheat waffles, housemade pecan granola, and Methodical Coffee roasted in town.

Breakfast / coffee

Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse

Travelers Rest breakfast cafe serving sweet and savory crepes, whole-wheat waffles, housemade pecan granola, and…

Open restaurant

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Compare Caesars Head restaurants

See the full restaurant guide for additional options.

10:00 AM

Main activity

The 4.4-mile overlook route or seven-mile bridge route

Allow two to three hours for the standard falls overlook hike or four to five hours for the suspension bridge. Leave the trail at least one hour before sunset.

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Read Raven Cliff Falls

See access, timing, distance, parking, and route information.

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Browse more attractions and activities

See additional things to do around Caesars Head.

4:30 PM

Afternoon

Return to the main overlook if the sky is clear

After the shorter Raven Cliff route, stop at the escarpment overlook only if time, weather, and parking allow. After the longer route, descend for dinner.

7:00 PM

Dinner

Topsoil or Shortfields in Travelers Rest

Topsoil is the full seasonal dinner; Shortfields is the casual Main Street option. Swamp Rabbit Brewery is a taproom stop, not the dinner substitute.

Special dinner

Topsoil Kitchen & Market

Farm-to-table restaurant on South Main in Travelers Rest using local, seasonal ingredients; choose it for a…

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Sunday

Tandem breakfast and the main overlook

Eat breakfast at Tandem, then visit the main overlook or Devil's Kitchen during posted park hours. Jones Gap requires its own parking reservation and route.

9:00 AM

Sunday morning

Start Sunday with Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse.

Tandem serves coffee and crepes before the final Highway 276 climb.

Breakfast / coffee

Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse

Travelers Rest breakfast cafe serving sweet and savory crepes, whole-wheat waffles, housemade pecan granola, and…

Open restaurant

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Compare Caesars Head restaurants

See the full restaurant guide for additional options.

11:00 AM

One last stop

The main overlook and Devil's Kitchen

Use Sunday for the main overlook or Devil's Kitchen during posted park hours. Jones Gap requires separate parking and has no shuttle connection.

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Browse Caesars Head things to do

See short stops to consider before leaving Caesars Head.

Caesars Head trip guides

Raven Cliff Falls

Compare the 4.4-mile falls overlook hike with the longer suspension-bridge route.

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Things To Do

See Devil's Kitchen, Hawk Watch, Jones Gap, and Table Rock beyond the Raven Cliff Falls route.

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Where To Stay

Review the named Travelers Rest and Greenville properties and their location tradeoffs.

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Restaurants

Compare Travelers Rest crepes, a farm-to-table dinner, casual Main Street food, local beer, and downtown Greenville dining.

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Getting Here

Review Highway 276, first-come parking, the roadside-parking ban, and the lack of a Jones Gap shuttle.

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Parking, trail hours, and separate trailheads

Parking and trail hours decide the hiking day

Caesars Head parking is first come, roadside parking is prohibited, and trails close one hour before sunset. There is no shuttle between Caesars Head and Jones Gap.