Dukes Creek Falls, which is located a mile or so from Raven Cliff Falls , provides a completely different hiking experience. The hike down to Dukes Creek Falls is only 1.1 miles down a nicely groomed set of switchbacks. The trail may be shorter in distance than Raven Cliff but has more of a dramatic change in elevation.
Not being one of the more popular hikes in the area, I was lucky to come across it on my drive to Raven Cliff. My wife and I just gave birth to our daughter 3 weeks prior to this post and we were looking for a trail that was just long enough for my wife to feel like she was exercising but short enough to keep her from over exerting herself while she is still recovering from a C-Section. We were pleasantly surprised after making it down to the base of the falls.
We packed the kids in the Kelty Kid Carrier and Bjorn and brought lunch and made our way down the trail. Spring bloom was in the air with a clean crisp scent, which always reminds me of summer vacations in Connecticut. The temperature was perfect and I know my wife enjoyed and appreciated the perfect conditions for her first trip back to the trail.
Dukes Creek Falls is perfect for hikers of all ages, and there are quite a few seating areas for those that need to take a little break. The Chattahoochee National Forest is speckled with little hidden gems like this all over the place. The only trick is how do you find them all?
