Black Rock Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Rock Mountain State Park |
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View from Black Rock Mountain State Park
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 Black Rock Mountain State Park
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Location | Rabun County, Georgia, USA |
| Nearest city | Clayton, Georgia |
| Area | 1,743 acres (7.05 km2; 2.72 sq mi) |
| Governing body | Georgia State Park |
| Website | Black Rock Mountain State Park |
Black Rock Mountain State Park is a huge park in Georgia, USA. It covers about 1,743 acres and is located in Rabun County. The park is part of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. It gets its name from its dark, rocky cliffs.
This park sits on the Eastern Continental Divide, which is like a natural line where water flows either to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. It's very high up, at about 3,640 feet! From here, you can see amazing views of the southern Appalachian Mountains. On a clear day, you might even see four different states: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Black Rock Mountain State Park is the highest state park in Georgia. It has five peaks that are over 3,000 feet tall. The park is open all year for visitors to enjoy.
Contents
Park History and Growth
The rocks you see around the park are mostly a type called biotite gneiss. This is a metamorphic rock that forms a big part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia. Black Rock Mountain State Park first opened in 1952. Back then, it was about 1,000 acres.
Before it became a park, a local man named John V. Arrendale started buying land in the area. He made his first purchase in 1938. Over the years, more land was added to the park. For example, 301 acres were added in 1995. This helped the park grow to its current size.
Weather at the Park
| Climate data for Mountain City 2 SW, Georgia (3464 feet) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.4 (6.9) |
47.5 (8.6) |
55.3 (12.9) |
63.5 (17.5) |
69.7 (20.9) |
73.9 (23.3) |
76.8 (24.9) |
76.3 (24.6) |
71.7 (22.1) |
63.7 (17.6) |
57.1 (13.9) |
46.8 (8.2) |
62.2 (16.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.8 (1.6) |
37.5 (3.1) |
44.6 (7.0) |
53.1 (11.7) |
60.2 (15.7) |
66.2 (19.0) |
69.2 (20.7) |
68.5 (20.3) |
63.5 (17.5) |
54.2 (12.3) |
47.6 (8.7) |
37.6 (3.1) |
53.1 (11.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.1 (−3.8) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
33.8 (1.0) |
42.7 (5.9) |
50.7 (10.4) |
58.5 (14.7) |
61.6 (16.4) |
60.7 (15.9) |
55.2 (12.9) |
44.6 (7.0) |
38.0 (3.3) |
28.3 (−2.1) |
43.9 (6.6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.86 (149) |
5.93 (151) |
6.28 (160) |
4.69 (119) |
5.34 (136) |
5.87 (149) |
5.27 (134) |
5.56 (141) |
6.14 (156) |
4.93 (125) |
6.41 (163) |
6.33 (161) |
68.61 (1,743) |
| Source: NOAA (normals 1981−2010) | |||||||||||||
The weather at Black Rock Mountain State Park changes with the seasons. Summers are warm, and winters are cool. The park gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. This helps keep the forests green and the streams flowing.
Hiking Adventures and Camping Fun
The park has five different hiking trails. These trails take you through forests, next to mountain streams, and around the 17-acre Black Rock Lake.
Tennessee Rock Trail
The Tennessee Rock Trail is about 2.2 miles long. It goes across the north side of Black Rock Mountain and then climbs to the top. This trail follows the Eastern Continental Divide. From Tennessee Rock, you can see far into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You might even spot Clingman's Dome, which is the highest point in Tennessee.
James E. Edmonds Trail
The James E. Edmonds Trail is a longer, tougher trail, about 7.2 miles long. It's named after "Mr. Eddie" Edmonds, who was one of the park's first and longest-serving rangers. This trail has four quiet campsites where backpackers can stay overnight. These campsites are simple, with no special facilities. The Edmonds Trail goes through areas with lots of mountain laurel and follows streams with small waterfalls. At the end of the trail, you can see Lookoff Mountain and views of Wolffork Valley.
Ada-Hi Falls Trail
The Ada-Hi Falls Trail is named after the Cherokee word for "forest." This short trail, about a quarter-mile long, starts near the RV camping area. It leads to a cool, moist area with beautiful rosebay rhododendrons. The end of the trail is very steep, with wooden steps leading to an observation deck. From there, you can see Ada-hi Falls, a small waterfall. Even though it's short, this trail is a good workout because it goes up about 220 feet!
Black Rock Lake Trail
The Black Rock Lake Trail was finished in 2007. It's about 0.85 miles long and goes all the way around Black Rock Lake. This path is mostly flat and easy to walk. It has several wooden bridges over streams and benches where you can stop and enjoy the lake views.
Norma Campbell Cove Trail
The newest trail in the park is the Norma Campbell Cove Trail, which is only 200 yards long. It starts near the Marie Mellinger Center and goes down into a cove filled with ferns and wildflowers. You'll see huge rocks and small springs that flow into Stekoa Creek. This creek is an important part of the "wild and scenic" Chattooga River. The trail is named after Norma Campbell, a park naturalist who worked hard to get the Marie Mellinger Center built.
Camping Options
Black Rock Mountain State Park offers different ways to camp:
- There's a campground with 44 sites for RVs. These sites have water, electricity, and cable TV hookups.
- You can also find 12 walk-in tent sites in Hickory Cove. These are more private.
- On the western side of the park, there are ten rental cottages.
- Camp Tsatu-gi is a simple camping area for groups like scouts.
Marie Mellinger Center: A Place for Learning and Fun
The Marie Mellinger Center is the park's newest building, completed in 2010. It's named after Marie Mellinger, a famous botanist from the area. This center is a great place for many activities:
- Special events
- Music programs (country, bluegrass, gospel)
- Nature arts and crafts
- Programs led by park naturalists
The center also has a large deck that looks out over Norma Campbell Cove. Restrooms were added in 2011, and the center was officially opened in October 2011.
Black Rock Lake: Boating and Fishing
Black Rock Lake was opened for boating in September 2010. You can use canoes, kayaks, and other small boats on the lake. There are no boat ramps, so you'll need to carry your boat to the water.
The Turtle Rock Fishing Pier is a great spot for fishing. It's easy to get to, even for people using wheelchairs.
The park regularly puts rainbow trout into Black Rock Lake in the spring and early summer. You can also fish for catfish, bream, yellow perch, and large-mouth bass here.
Park Facilities and Fun Activities
Black Rock Mountain State Park has many facilities to make your visit enjoyable:
- 38 sites for tents, RVs, and trailers
- 4 campsites for backpackers
- 11 walk-in tent sites
- 10 cozy cottages
- 2 picnic shelters for group meals
- 1 simple campground for groups
- Over 11 miles of hiking trails
- Many picnic areas
- Camp Tsatu-gi group camping area
- A Visitor Center at the summit
- The 17-acre Black Rock Lake
- Turtle Rock Fishing Pier (easy access for everyone)
- Marie Mellinger Center for programs
- A children's playground
Yearly Events
The park hosts fun events each year:
- Junior Fishing Rodeo: A special fishing event for kids.
- Happy Birthday, America!: A celebration for the Fourth of July.
Park Recovery After a Storm
In April 2011, a strong storm hit the park. Many trees were broken or pulled out of the ground. Some parts of the camping areas and the summit were damaged. Luckily, no one was hurt. The park quickly reopened in May, and most trails were cleared. Park staff worked hard to clean up and repair the damaged areas so visitors could enjoy the park again.
Images for kids
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Road on Black Rock Mountain
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Another view from Black Rock Mountain State Park
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Black Rock Overlook
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Tennessee Rock Overlook
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Cowee Overlook
