Cloudland Canyon State Park is a wilderness oasis located on the quieter end of Lookout Mountain, where you can enjoy waterfalls, views, camping, and more.
PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE. When you use outdoor spaces, take out what you bring in. Do not litter or alter nature in any way. Let’s keep these beautiful places amazing so that we can all enjoy them for years to come.
Cloudland Canyon State Park is just across the border in North Georgia. It’s the perfect place to get away from the city for the day or a weekend, as it’s about a 40-minute drive from downtown Chattanooga. There are hiking trails, creeks, waterfalls, camping, and more. Keep reading to learn more about everything this North Georgia state park has to offer.
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Explore Cloudland Canyon and more in my detailed hiking guide!
The hike to Hemlock Falls in Cloudland Canyon State Park is featured in my e-book “A Year of Hiking” with all the details, photos, maps, and journal section you need to confidently explore this hiking trail and more all year long.
What is Cloudland Canyon State Park?
Cloudland Canyon State Park was started in the late 1930s as an employment opportunity during the Great Depression. Originally, the land was all privately owned, but slowly the State of Georgia has bought pieces of land that accumulates into what is the entirety of the park today. It started with roughly 1,000 acres but today boasts over 3,500 acres, making it one of Georgia’s largest state parks.
Flowing with numerous creeks, waterfalls, tall cliffs, and views, this park is a very beautiful place to be. It’s also a popular camping destination with all sorts of campground types, including yurts and cottages. There’s so much to do here as well, including 64 miles of hiking trails and 30 miles of biking trails. Not to mention caves, disc golf, horse trails, and fishing.
What You Need to Know Before You Go to Cloudland Canyon State Park
Parking Fees and Camping
As for all parks in Georgia, there is a parking fee. This parking fee is to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the trails and facilities. Georgia state parks have a $10 day parking fee per vehicle. But if you find yourself exploring a lot of Georgia state parks, you can opt for the yearly pass to save more money. Or you can choose to camp here with the numerous camping style accommodations ranging from traditional tent or RV sites to yurts or cottages. By camping at the state park, you’ll only pay the parking fee once during your stay.
Entrances
There’s more than one way into this Georgia state park. You can enter through the main entrance on top of Lookout Mountain in Rising Fawn, GA, or in the valley of Trenton, GA, for the main attractions.
Main Entrance
The main entrance is where you’ll want to go if you’re camping or want to enjoy the views from the Overlook Trail. This entrance can be found on GA-136, which is easy to approach from Chattanooga, TN, or Trenton, GA. This is the best place to start if you’ve never visited this park before. You’ll be stopped by the gate guard to make your payment, receive your car tag, and ask any questions you may have about directions.
Sitton’s Gulch Trailhead
If you’re not interested in the views and solely want to see the waterfalls in this park, Cherokee and Hemlock Falls, I highly suggest going in at the Sitton’s Gulch Trailhead instead. Sitton’s Gulch Trail starts at the bottom of Lookout Mountain, just outside of Trenton, GA. Instead of driving to the top of the mountain, you’ll find this trailhead in a neighborhood at the foot of the mountain.
The same $10 fee applies here as well, but there are no park staff to take your payment. You will have to make your payment yourself and responsibly collect the car tag for it.
Additional Trailheads
There are additional trailheads spread across Lookout Mountain that allow for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. But if you’ve never been here before, I suggest checking out the main area with the two entrances above first.
Camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park
Personally, I have yet to camp here. But I have friends who have enjoyed their experience. Cloudland Canyon offers various camping options within the park that are available all year long.
Trailer or RV
There are 75 sites for camper trailers, RVs, and tents, which can be used by these sites too. These sites offer up to 50 feet of trailer space, with many being pull-through sites. They also have electric hookups, and the premium sites come with full hookups, ready to accommodate anyone. Check out Cloudland Canyon’s RV Sites.
Tent
In addition to the RV sites, there are 30 walk-up sites that are tent only. These sites share a common parking area and restroom. Note, some sites are very distant from the restroom and parking area. Check out Cloudland Canyon’s Walk-Up Sites.
Pioneer
These 4 sites accommodate tents but also have a shelter you can set up under. They each have an outhouse to use as well. Check out Cloudland Canyon’s Pioneer Sites.
Backcountry
If you want to backpack, Cloudland Canyon also has 13 different backcountry sites located throughout the park along the longer hiking trails. These are primitive campsites with no amenities. Check out Cloudland Canyon Backcountry Sites.
Yurt
There are 10 yurts in the park. These give a more elevated camping experience while still remaining close to nature. Each yurt has a heater for the colder months; it’s recommended to bring a sleeping bag if the temperature is below freezing. They also have a ceiling fan for the warmer months. Two futons and a full-size bed are inside, but you must bring your own bedding. There is water outside, but the restroom is shared amongst the yurts. Note, some are a good distance from the restroom. Check out Cloudland Canyon Yurts.
Cottage
Throughout the park are 18 cottages. These are essentially cabins to enjoy the park with all the comforts of home. The cottages have different numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms, depending on which you choose. They also have full kitchens, making cooking during your stay easy. Check out Cloudland Canyon Cottages.
Group Lodge
There is one group lodge within Cloudland Canyon State Park. This is great if you have a large group trip you’re planning, as the lodge sleeps up to 40 people. It is furnished with twin-size bunk beds and a commercial kitchen. Check out the Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge.
Hiking at Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon State Park is full of 64 miles of hiking trails, including a connector trail that connects the main part of the park to the rest of their hiking, biking, and horse trails on Lookout Mountain. If you plan to hike a lot and camp here, you can check out the other trails. But if you want to spend a day just seeing the main sights, learn more about the highlight hiking trails below.
Highlight Trails
Overlook Trail
- 1 mile round trip
- Mostly flat, minimal inclines
The Overlook Trail will be the first trail you encounter if you enter the park through the main entrance. The parking area is near the end of the road, and you’ll be directed here by the park kiosk attendant when you first enter the park. There are two overlooks along the trail, and it remains quite flat along the way. If you love mountain top views, you’ve gotta explore this short hike during your visit. The Overlook Trail dead-ends into a backcountry trail, so I suggest turning around after the second overlook.
West Rim Loop Trail
- 5 miles round trip
- A little rough, some inclines
Next from the parking lot is the West Rim Loop Trail. Overall, this trail is quite lengthy as it crosses the main creek in the park and goes through camping areas, the cottages, and the yurts. I don’t recommend going too far down this trail if you’re here for just the main sights. Because this is the trail that leads to the Waterfalls Trail in about a quarter of a mile. But if you’re camping here, this trail is well recommended by others (I have yet to hike it).
Waterfalls Trail
- About 2 miles round trip
- Lots of stairs for steep inclines
The Waterfalls Trail quickly leads you into the canyon by means of over 600 steps in various staircases. Be prepared for the stair steps with this one. Although the trail is rather short at just 2 miles round trip, the elevation loss and gain coming back will quickly exhaust you. But there are resting areas along the trail for you to pause and catch your breath. For this reason, I suggest taking the longer hike of Sitton’s Gulch Trail to avoid the climb down and back up the mountainside. Also, be mindful that the trail may be wet and muddy near the bottom between the waterfalls.
Sitton’s Gulch Trail
- About 4 miles round trip
- Somewhat rough, gradual and steep inclines
Sitton’s Gulch Trail has its own trailhead that you’ll find in the valley below, instead of on top of Lookout Mountain. The trail follows the Sitton Gulch Creek and slowly heads upstream, slowly ascending the mountain, while still remaining in the valley. There are a couple of loop trails (Wildflower and Case) off this main trail that I have yet to explore. During the rainy season, you might come across some additional, unnamed waterfalls along the way. The hike from the trailhead to Hemlock Falls, the closest of the two main waterfalls from this direction, is approximately 2 miles, but you can keep hiking and reach Cherokee Falls too.
Other Trails
Additional trails in the park include the two-mile-long Backcountry Trail, where the backcountry campsites are hidden away in the woods, and the Meadowlands Trail, which is a 1-mile loop connecting the disc golf course to the fishing pond. You can also venture further out of the park via the Connector Trail to explore more trails on Lookout Mountain for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Explore Cloudland Canyon and more in my detailed hiking guide!
The hike to Hemlock Falls in Cloudland Canyon State Park is featured in my e-book “A Year of Hiking” with all the details, photos, maps, and journal section you need to confidently explore this hiking trail and more all year long.
Waterfalls of Cloudland Canyon State Park
The two main waterfalls of Cloudland Canyon State Park are nearby each other, but require a decent hike, no matter which way you choose to approach.
Cherokee Falls
Cherokee Falls is 65 feet tall and plummets into a blue hole before continuing downstream amidst rapids. Although the water looks inviting, swimming is prohibited here. But you can still enjoy the waterfall from the shoreline if you wish to walk down closer to it. If it hasn’t rained recently, the waterfall might be just a trickle, but the best times to enjoy this place would be in the winter or spring, when rain is abundant to keep the waterfalls flowing strongly.
Hemlock Falls
Hemlock Falls is a 100-foot-tall waterfall that closely resembles the prior Cherokee Falls, but you can easily note the difference by the huge boulder that sits in front of Hemlock Falls. This waterfall is best viewed from the elevated viewing platform, and I don’t recommend climbing down to the shoreline here. Again, swimming is prohibited.
My Suggestion for Hiking to Cloudland Canyon Waterfalls
There are two ways to hike to Cherokee and Hemlock Falls in Cloudland Canyon State Park. There’s the Waterfalls Trail and Sitton’s Gulch Trail. For a comparison of the two routes, consider this. Sitton’s Gulch Trail is about a 2-mile hike to the falls. But the climb up is more gradual, and the scenery is better with all the creeks and smaller waterfalls along the way.
However, hiking down to Hemlock Falls from atop the mountain is only a 1-mile hike. But it’s filled with stairs, which are even harder to climb on your way back. Additionally, there are more trails and breathtaking views from the mountaintop, making it a great starting point as well.
The best part about hiking from Sitton’s Gulch Trail is that it’s uphill to go in and downhill to go back. Whereas the Waterfalls Trail is the opposite, and coming back up the mountain is steeper. Plus, this trail isn’t as popular, so you’re less likely to run into crowds, unlike the one on top of the mountain.
Both routes are great for different reasons, but I prefer the scenic route. If you want to check out more trails on top of the mountain or are short on time, consider starting on top of the mountain with the Waterfalls Trail. But if you’re just wanting to hike to the waterfalls, definitely hike in from Sitton’s Gulch Trailhead instead.
Safety Tips for Sitton’s Gulch Trail
One time when I hiked this way, it had rained all week prior, and then it rained some more during our hike. The creeks were high due to the rain, which made it beautiful, but also dangerous. I don’t recommend hiking here after or during rain unless you have the proper footwear and are confident in your footing.
The biggest obstacle was crossing a creek right before reaching the stairs that take you up to the Hemlock Falls viewing platform. This is by far the worst creek crossing I have ever faced. There was water of two feet depth on one side and the edge of the cliff on the other. Crossing atop wobbly rocks with water rushing under, around, and over them is terrifying. I highly suggest trekking poles for this one.
Last time I hiked this trail, it hadn’t rained in a week, and I can say crossing here was much easier, as most of the rocks were above water. However, they’re still loose, and this crossing still scares me. See the photos below for the difference between high water from rain and low water from less rain.
As you near the falls, there’s a staircase of grated metal stairs and a bridge over the raging creek that is also grated metal. This is very slippery when wet, but also allows for a neat view of the water below.
Explore Cloudland Canyon and more in my detailed hiking guide!
The hike to Hemlock Falls in Cloudland Canyon State Park is featured in my e-book “A Year of Hiking” with all the details, photos, maps, and journal section you need to confidently explore this hiking trail and more all year long.
More Activities at Cloudland Canyon State Park
There’s more than just camping and hiking to explore at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
Georgia State Park Clubs
Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites have clubs that you can join and challenge yourself to accomplish. There are four different types of clubs, and you can work towards your completion of three of these in the Cloudland Canyon State Park. These three are the Canyon Climbers Club for the stair-steppers, Tails and Trails Club for the hikers, and Muddy Spokes Club for the bike riders. Pay for a membership to each of these clubs and receive a t-shirt commemorating your success.
Bike Riding
You can also rent a bike for a half or full day, or bring your own bike. With 30 miles of mountain biking trails, this is a great way to really see as much of the 3500 acres of land as you can. I have not biked here, so I can’t speak to how the trails are. But from what I’ve read, they range from moderate to strenuous mountain biking trails.
Horseback Riding
There are no guided horse tours at Cloudland Canyon State Park, but there are 16 miles of trails that you can take your own horses on. Learn more on the equestrian page of the Cloudland Canyon website.
Disc Golf
Try your hand at disc golf (for an additional fee) if you want to try something new. Cloudland Canyon State Park has a disc golf course on the top of the mountain that is ideal for friends and family to enjoy. It’s like golf, but with frisbees (discs), and some would say it’s way more fun. Learn more on the disc golf page of the Cloudland Canyon website.
Caving
Explore a natural cave on a guided tour (for an additional fee). This cave tour is perfect for you if you’re excited to scramble over rocks, crawl through mud, and wade through streams on a wild cave adventure. Learn more on the caving page of the Cloudland Canyon website.
Fishing
Fishing is also a popular outdoor attraction that can be enjoyed in this North Georgia state park. Fishing is not allowed in the creeks, but there is a one-acre pond in the park where you are allowed to fish. Learn more about fishing here on the Cloudland Canyon website.
Geocaching
Georgia State Parks also has geocaching. Each park, including Cloudland Canyon, has geocaches hidden within the park boundaries. Learn more about this fun, treasure-hunting activity on the geocaching page of the Cloudland Canyon website.
Closing Thoughts
Cloudland Canyon is a great state park to visit in North Georgia. It’s well worth the day visit, even with the $10 fee, and even more so if you decide to try an overnight stay. There are countless trails, plenty of water all around, and beautiful views and wildlife. Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls are some of the best waterfalls on Lookout Mountain. So, if you’re already staying in the area, you should definitely check them out.
I have two different videos of hiking Sitton’s Gulch Trail to Hemlock Falls. You can watch them on YouTube. Check out my first hike here with high water. And check out my second hike here, a year later, with a little less rain.
Have you visited Cloudland Canyon State Park before? What are your thoughts about the place? I’d love to know. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
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