Warwoman Dell and the Trails of Rabun County

The dell is a wooded valley in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, in Rabun County. The Forest Service calls it family friendly: bring lunch, spread out at a picnic table, and take a short trail with the kids or the dog. Signs around the area explain the history, including the woman it's named for, and the old stone trout runs and spring houses are leftovers from the Civilian Conservation Corps work of the late 1930s.

From the Forest Service's Warwoman Dell page, last updated May 2026.

The Forest Service says Warwoman honors Nancy Ward (Nanyehi), a Cherokee woman who fought in the 1755 Battle of Taliwa. "War woman" translates a Cherokee title for a woman honored for courage or wisdom, and locals sometimes tell other versions of the story, so you'll hear more than one when you ask around. Treat those as folklore.

Three waterfalls are within reach, from a stroll to a full afternoon. The Forest Service also lists the Pinnacle Knob trail and the Bartram National Recreation Trail in the area. Take care crossing Warwoman Road where trails meet it.

Wet rock and creek crossings are slippery, so wear shoes with grip. There's no drinking water at the site, so pack your own.

From Helen the trip is about an hour (roughly 33 miles). Because the dell is only 3 miles east of Clayton, it fits easily into a loop with the town's lunch spots, and the picnic shelters give you a free place to eat if you'd rather pack a meal.

Clayton is 3 miles west, with shops and restaurants (see our Clayton guide). The Chattooga River, the Rabun County lakes and Tallulah Gorge are all nearby, so you can easily string together a full day from Helen.