Cloudland Canyon State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cloudland Canyon State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Cloudland Canyon river
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 Cloudland Canyon State Park
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Nearest city | Trenton, Georgia |
| Area | 3,485 acres (14.10 km2) |
| Established | 1958 |
| Governing body | Georgia Department of Natural Resources |
Cloudland Canyon State Park is a huge park in Georgia, covering about 3,485 acres (14.1 square kilometers). It's located near the towns of Trenton and Cooper Heights. You can find it on the western edge of Lookout Mountain.
This park is one of Georgia's most beautiful and largest. It has amazing rock formations and deep valleys. Visitors can see incredible views across a deep gorge. This gorge was carved into the mountain by a stream called Sitton Gulch Creek. The land here goes from 800 feet (244 meters) up to over 1,800 feet (549 meters) high. You can see parts of the canyon right from the picnic area parking lot. There are also more views along the rim trail. At the bottom of the gorge, two waterfalls tumble over layers of rock. They land in small pools below.
The park used to be known as Sitton Gulch or Trenton Gulf. The state of Georgia started buying land for it in 1938. During the Great Depression, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build the first parts of the park. This group was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The park officially opened the next year. Today, Cloudland Canyon State Park has many places to camp and cabins to rent. It also offers lots of fun activities like hiking.
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Park History
Cloudland Canyon became a state park in 1939. This happened when the state of Georgia started buying land from private owners. Some families who owned land there, like the Mathews, McCauley, and McKaig families, still live in the area today. The park has continued to grow over time as more land is bought. When it first opened, the park was about 1,924 acres (7.79 square kilometers). Now, it has grown to its current size of 3,485 acres (14.1 square kilometers).
Before 1939, it was hard to get to this area. Most people had to travel through Tennessee or Alabama to reach it. That year, Georgia began building Highway 136. This road helped connect U.S. 41 to the new park. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did a lot of the early work. They built many of the park's first buildings and access roads.
How the Canyon Formed: Geology
The park sits on top of Lookout Mountain. This mountain is part of the Cumberland Plateau. On the very top of Lookout Mountain, two streams, Daniel Creek and Bear Creek, cut deep paths through the rock. These two streams then join together to form Sitton Gulch Creek. The flat-topped mountains of the Cumberland Plateau are different from other ridges nearby.
Lookout Mountain was formed by two main things: tectonic activity and erosion. Tectonic activity is when the Earth's crust moves. This movement pushed up the land during a time when the Appalachian Mountains were forming. This happened over 200 million years ago. Back then, the land where the park is now was actually under an ocean. When the mountain first formed, it was completely underwater. But as the ocean slowly went away, the edge of the canyon became a beach.
As the ocean dried up, Sitton Gulch Creek and other smaller streams, especially Daniel Creek, wore away the rock. The rock that forms the cliffs is mostly sandstone. This sandstone tends to break into large blocks. This creates interesting rock shapes. The top of Lookout Mountain is shaped like a bowl. This means rainwater drains through cracks into the limestone below. This has created many miles of caves in the area.
The canyon is very deep, more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) in some places. Its elevation changes from 800 feet (244 meters) to over 1,800 feet (549 meters). The highest point in the park is about 1,980 feet (604 meters). At the bottom of Cloudland Canyon, you'll find a slope of broken rock pieces. These are fragments of sandstone and shale. The valley floor also has limestone that contains fossils.
Exploring the Park: Hiking Trails
Cloudland Canyon State Park has several well-marked trails. These trails let visitors see the amazing rock formations and the beautiful surroundings. There's a paved trail about 0.25 miles (0.4 kilometers) long. It's great for wheelchairs and offers views of the canyon rim. The park also has four longer hiking trails, including one for backpacking. These trails are usually considered to be of medium difficulty.
Waterfalls Trail
The Waterfalls Trail starts on a paved section at the main overlook. It then goes down into the canyon at a steep 40-degree angle. Most of this trail is gravel. It also has a long staircase with 600 steps! Both waterfalls on this trail come from Daniel Creek. They fall down steep rock faces, one from 60 feet (18 meters) and the other from 90 feet (27 meters). This trail is considered a tough hike. It can take up to 90 minutes to finish. Cherokee Falls is about 0.3 miles (0.5 kilometers) from the start of the trail. Hemlock Falls is at the very bottom of the canyon, about 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) in. Both waterfalls flow into small pools. Then, the water continues down a stream filled with large rocks. The amount of water flowing over the waterfalls changes a lot depending on the season.
Sitton's Gulch Trail
The Sitton's Gulch trail starts at the bottom of the Waterfalls Trail. It follows the creek until it reaches a parking area in Trenton.
West Rim Loop Trail
The West Rim Loop Trail is about 4.8 miles (7.7 kilometers) long. It's rated as moderately difficult, but it does have a few short, steep, rocky parts. This scenic hike begins at the Daniels Creek Bridge. It offers wide, open views before climbing out of the canyon and onto the flat top of the mountain. From this trail, you can see Trenton, Georgia, and nearby Sand Mountain. You also get great views of Cloudland Canyon itself. Along the trail, you'll see thick bushes of Rhododendron and mountain laurel. There are also sour gum and dogwood trees. Large oaks, hickories, hemlocks, and maples provide shade. You can reach cottages and walk-in camping areas from the West Rim Loop. Most of this hike is moderately difficult, but some short sections are quite strenuous.
Backcountry Loop Trail
The Backcountry Loop Trail is 2.0 miles (3.2 kilometers) long. It leads to the park's eleven quiet, primitive camping spots. These are for hikers who want to camp away from others. The trail starts at the parking area for group camping. It goes through groves of hemlock trees. Then, it goes down a gentle slope into a hollow. This hollow is full of spring and summer flowers. At the far end of the loop, hikers come out of the hemlock groves onto a flat trail. Here, you'll find oak and hickory trees before returning to the parking area.
Bear Creek Trail
In the fall of 2011, the park reopened the Bear Creek Trail. This trail had been closed to hikers for almost ten years. This trail is about 9.0 miles (14.5 kilometers) long, making it the longest trail in the park. It starts as a side path off the Backcountry Trail and goes down to Bear Creek. After crossing the creek, the trail continues up until it forms a loop around the northeast part of the park. Near the creek, the trail briefly crosses over private land. During wet seasons, crossing the creek can be tricky because there isn't a bridge or a dry way to get across.
Park Facilities and Activities
Cloudland Canyon State Park offers many different places to stay and things to do. There are 16 cottages you can rent, as well as a large lodge for groups. The park also has 62 sites for tents, trailers, and RVs. There are 28 walk-in campsites and 10 backcountry campsites for backpackers. Four pioneer campsites are available for groups who want to camp in tents.
The East Rim has 24 campsites along a loop road. Many of these sites can fit RVs and have water and electricity. Bathrooms and showers are nearby. The West Rim Campground is across the gorge. It's located in a thick forest, away from the busiest part of the park. It has about 48 campsites spread along two loops. This area also has bathrooms and showers.
The park has picnic areas, including a pavilion for groups. You can also find tennis courts, a playground for kids, and a disc golf course. Near the main parking lot and the canyon, there's an interpretive center. This center helps visitors learn more about the park. The park hosts special events every year. These include a Wildflower Program in April, an Adventure Weekend (also in April), and a Kids' Catfish Rodeo in May.
