Above: The Right Fork of Raven Fork, about 1 mile above Three Forks. McGee Springs Branch empties into Right Fork a few hundred feet or so below this point. This is a beautiful little stream, especially in spring or fall. Along this stretch, there is a grassy bench a few feet above the stream that supports a terrific spread of wildflowers in the springtime. Rapid Creek lies on the other side of the ridge on the right (north) side of the stream - or you can hike down to the confluence of Rapid Creek and Right Fork. I like exploring the side ridges and hillsides. The most common way to explore the Raven Fork drainage is to wade the streams, rather than wallowing through the dense rhodo and laurel hells that blanket most hillsides.

Below, the view up Right Fork from near the point where the manway that I use to access Right Fork meets the creek. Thicket Branch is a short distance upstream. It's a tough scramble to reach that one - the hillsides are covered in rhododendron, the stream narrows and is choked with fallen trees. Again, I want to stress that there are no spectacular vistas or huge waterfalls down in Raven Fork. These two photos show what may be as pretty an area as I've seen in the Raven Fork drainage. It's a place for those who love deep wilderness - for people like whitebeard and brian, regulars on the Wild Country forum. And, for me...