So many great trails to choose from here! There are some that aren't super advanced and have a quick route and others that might take you several hours. read more

Cloudland Canyon State Park - Parks Near Me - Rising Fawn, Georgia

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Parking was alright and the overlook loop trail which is rated as one of the top ten hikes in the country by backpacker magazine was alright! I wouldn't have given it that high a rating but jt was a nice hike. When you first start the trail there is a fork for the loop, either you go down into the forest or go straight along the cliff. Most people we ran into seemingly walked down into the forest first, which meant they walked uphill most of the hike. We went straight along the cliff wall and ended up walking down hill for most of the 5 mile loop. It really was only the last half a mile that was uphill to get back to the start of the trail. I highly advise to go straight to make less work on yourself esp if you're elderly or with young families. I saw a few people turn around because the hike up was becoming too much. We had three children 5 and under who didn't feel tired until we were into the half mile uphill for reference on the different experiences you can have depending on the route you take. read more

Everything i read said easy hike. When I got there we were informed there were 600 steps to the Falls. Having a recent knee replacement that wasn't possible for me. So needless to say I was disappointed. But everyone we talked to said it was worth seeing. The picture I'm showing is at a poi t we could see the fall before getting to the 600 steps. read more

Cloudland Canyon State Park - Parks Near Me - Rising Fawn, Georgia

This would be a five star rating if Cloudland Canyon State Park had the bike trails they advertise. If you are looking to bike there, the bike trails are about a fifteen to 20 minute drive, 10 miles away. I was looking to have biking available in the park, which is what the advertising states. I enjoyed my time there hiking, but my bike stayed in the car the whole time. It is still a beautiful park. They also need better signage or warnings regarding the 600 steps down to Hemlock Falls... I made it back up at 62, but I can definitely see where someone a bit older or not in the best shape would have difficulty. (Just saw another post with someone with a knee replacement not adequately informed.) It's really not difficult to put these things in the State Park guide. People will still come to the park. read more

This is a really pretty hike and the overlook view is unbelievable! I have done this a couple times with my wife and even brought our kids. The long hike down to the water fall is definitely a challenge to come back up. But the views are worth it. read more

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While this is in Georgia, it is the very northern corner of Georgia that's not far from Chattanooga (half an hour or so from downtown), and thus is a realistic stop for people living in or passing through that area. It was a fairly easy drive to a parking lot quite near some majestic overlooks. They charge to park, but it's only $5 a car and well worth it. They had self-pay envelopes, and it did seem that they were checking these while I was there. Descending into the massive gorge is a stream with some impressive waterfalls. At the end of the (mostly paved or boardwalk) route to get to these, various signs asked visitors to stay clear of them, which no one listened to. I didn't see any huge danger. The microclimate of these receded forests and waterways among the rocks was a distinctive experience, though not the end of what the park had to offer for those with more time. read more

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Cherokee Falls is stunning. Could not get to the second waterfall because of ice. Would recommend the trip to Cherokee Falls. Easy going down but a little more challenging getting back to the top. Just beautiful here. read more

This park is definitely a must see and do if you are in the Lookout Mountain area. Although the other attractions are suitable for enjoyment, Cloudland Csnyon provides a more natural feeling outdoors experience. I will caution that some of the hiking to the falls is a doozy. But, if you are in reasonable shape, you can manage (you might need some water and oxygen after but whatever LOL). Definitely plan ahead for this experience with snacks and hydration. Overall, the views at Cloudland can be breathtaking, so take it all in and let nature be your guide. read more

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Nice park definitely fun hike !!! I dislike that people throw trash on trail like legit smh !!! But overall good views and nice hike !!! read more

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This review is for day hiking only. We didn't camp in the park. My husband and I visited Cloudland Canyon with our dog on Thursday, December 23, 2022. It wasn't crowded at all. Parking is $5 per car. We did the West Rim Loop Trail (about 5 miles) in 2 hours and 45 minutes. It offered some nice views and wasn't too difficult. We wish we had gone in the fall for even better views though. We also did the Overlook Trail (1 mile), which took about 20 minutes. Very good signage. They did a great job marking the trails. There was ample parking when we went. Bathrooms with running water and soap. Picnic tables and shelters. My only complaint is there weren't any trash cans or doggy waste baskets anywhere on the trails, only in the parking lots. Obviously it's not the Grand Canyon, but it was still pretty cool! We recommend! read more

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Picturesque park with decent elevation! About 2 hours from Atlanta is CCSP, far enough to keep the crowds down. It makes a very long day or an easy overnight trip. I visited CCSP a couple of times both coupled with other nearby activities (hang gliding and Lula). We did the West rim hike, just under 5 miles and down to Hemlock and Cherokee falls. While the west rim hike is longest, it's an easy hike with little elevation. It provides wonderful canyon vistas. We did see a couple of yurts along the trail. However, this is not a hike I'd recommend to small children as much, is along the rim / cliffs. The hikes to the falls are short and steeper. There are other trails in the woods but they don't provide much reward vistas. $5 entrance fee. Parking is plenty...do check ahead during COVID19. Make reservations if you want to camp or glamp. It's one of the best state parks in GA. Do recommend packing snacks and plenty of water. As always, wear proper shoes, sunscreen and pack out everything you bring in. Enjoy! read more

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This was such a beautiful hike. I don't know what it is about getting older and enjoying nature more, but I am guilty as charged. If given an option to go hiking every day I would sign up. This state park was easy to find and a nice drive. Note that you should stop at the visitor center to pay for your parking passes it will cost you $5.00 for the day. I am not sure if someone actually checks to ensure that every car has a parking pass, so I will say it's based on the honor system. This place is massive. There is a lot to keep you busy. To name a few: camping, bike riding, horse back riding, fishing, disc golf, caving and hiking. I decided to check out the hiking trails with the goal of viewing both water falls. We did the overlook trail first. It is quick and provides a nice view. A great place to sit and reflect. Getting to the falls was an easy hike. The only issue that some may have is taking the steps back up from the falls. However there are plenty of opportunities to stop and rest. I suggest taking your time if you need to. The views of the falls are well worth the effort! I want to return in the spring and fall to get a different perspective. I highly recommend checking this park out! read more

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Awesome Hiking And Waterfalls! What a surprise gem! This park has been in my list a while and somehow I hadn't gotten around to visiting until yesterday. Cherokee Falls: This seems to be the most popular falls area here. 4 times the people of hemlock falls even though hemlock falls is a much larger waterfall. This is the fall on the left. Hemlock Falls: This is a beast of a waterfall! Roaring water got my little boy excited! This is the fall down the right hand trail at the fork. This park is great! We saw 2 named waterfalls and some that don't have labeled names on them. The waterfalls trail is great and tons of steps to get you step workout complete for the day! My son was asleep before we left the parking lot after! The trails are nice here, not paved but real nature statue trails with some bridges and LOTS of steps! This place is a new favorite for sure! Why are you still reading this? Get in the car and head to Cloudland! read more

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Cons: the map pin is not where you want to go. So once you go in the South entrance stop your map app and follow the signs. The online trail maps are not great either. Pros: for children under 10 drive to the interpretive center. Visit it. They had some cool stuff for the kids. Then go to the Overlook trail directly behind it and head away from the waterfalls. This is kid friendly with a second lookout spot where you can hear a waterfall. Then exit at the playground and walk the street back to the center. Or go a little farther and exit at the rental cabin and walk the road back from there. Bigger kids can make it to the frisbee golf course. On the North side entrance is a strenuous trail with a waterfall where my husband went and swam (without the kids). That trail starts at the base of the mountain. read more

Cloudland Canyon State Park - Lookout near overlook trail and meadowland trail. - Parks Near Me - Rising Fawn, Georgia

The group shelter was perfect for our family reunion. The cabins were adequate to the purpose, but (as is always the case with shared facilities) needed a little TLC. The guided tour of Sitton's Cave was the highlight of the trip, and well worth it. read more

Excellent state park! Different length and level hikes with well kept trails. I took the longest path, west rim and saw all of five other people on the trail which was about five miles long. I went on a week day as the website mentions the weekends have been too crowded and they might have to turn people away. It was about a two hour drive from Atlanta and well worth it. There are many other parks in the area and hiking destinations I wanted to stop at. It's also right on the border of Tennessee ( you can see it from the overlook). Hope to return and go camping there are a lot of cabins and yurts off the trail and room for rv camping as well. One thing to note before coming is some of the paths are very narrow and there is lots of roots and rocks, so wear good shoes. read more

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The park is beautiful. Plenty of hiking trails. The park personnel are very knowledgeable.

We came here to do the waterfall hike. The drive up to the park was nice and there was a $5 entry fee per car. There are a few camp spots and then the parking lot next to some amazing canyon views and trailhead to the two waterfalls. We walked along the edge and to a lookout that was nice before setting off on the trail. Once on the trail, you will come to a fork where you can choose which falls to hike to. Going right will take you to the Hemlock Falls, which is smaller and we were told it was dry that day, so we went left toward Cherokee Falls. The total hike was no more than 30 minutes and we were et with a large swimming hole and a small (because it was summer) falls. We swam around for a bit along with others and then the ranger came to kick everyone out. Apparently, there is a small sign that says you can't swim, but if you time it right, you could be there for hours until a ranger comes. read more

Wow! I love it here! With recent social distancing times they are limiting the number of cars that can go in. We tried A weekend and they were full both days by 1030am and we had to wait a few hrs for people to leave before going in. It's $5 to get and park. There are semi clean restrooms and well marked maps. There are 2-3 trails and a few waterfalls but be warned LOT of stairs. We did the Sitton gulch trail, which I feel was moderate and very pretty and peaceful. Lots of places to stop and discover. Several waterfall and the two main ones can get crowded even with limits. Go hiking! Bring a hammock and picnic and hangout or get a camping pass. I really loved this place. Definitely going back and will try the rim trail next. Beautiful views and scenery. Don't go if you're out of shape or can't climb a lot stairs (hundreds of stairs- do your homework before going) read more

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This was a must do on my birthday road-trip! I literally wouldn't shut up about going to cloudland canyon and it sure did exceed my expectations!!!! Everything was sooo breathtaking!!!! From the trails to the falls!!! We started at 1:20 and ended at 5! We started with Cherokee falls spent a few mins there taking in the scenery and taking photos of course!!! Then made I was to hemlock falls and the best part of this was we was literally the only ones there!!! Now there's a look out to see the scenery but we had to climb down to make our way to the falls! If it wasn't so chilly I'd probably would've enjoyed a little of the water (not aloud) good thing it was cold. I couldn't get over how beautiful it was! Photos does it no justice!!!! Then we finished with Sitton gulch trail which was the longest trail! We did it from start to finish!!! Though it was seemingly easy going down coming back up wasn't as easy! I had to stop a few times just to take a breather and I'm quite fit! So for someone who isn't I'd say maybe don't do the whole hike! Only downside is there's no rest rooms during the whole hike so pace yourself with water intake or just hike behind some rocks and let loss! I'm soo please with this trip! Maybe one day I'll come back and camp for a night!!! Anyone who is looking for a good hiking spot this is it!!!! read more

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Absolutely beautiful views straight from the time you park! You park and then about 100 yards away is the view of the whole canyon. Then we hiked down into the canyon to see some falls and as you get closer then louder they get, a pretty cool experience. We came relatively early in the morning and we were the only people on the park aside for a few campers. read more

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Both times I've visited the waterfalls (in summer and fall) haven't been flowing heavy and it's still worth the hike down! Seriously the view from above or below the canyon rim is wonderful. Just be sure to take your time or have your legs already buff and ready for the staircase. It's rough if you've neglected your health for a bit. The staff is friendly and hike in camping is nicely spaced. The bathrooms/showers all seemed clean (at least on the women's side). Next time will have to come when it's been raining more in hopes of getting some awesome waterfall photos. read more

Heading our way to Chattanooga on the Mountain View and couldn't drive by without exploring and hearing the beautiful water fall and flow of the river down the stream. Very short 3 mile hike to see such a beautiful waterfall. It's a little cold hiking late April but once you get down to the fall you'll see the ray of the sunshine glistening for a perfect photo. read more

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This is one of the most beautiful parks in all of Georgia! I spent this weekend there camping in the west rim campground. This particular campground is brand new! Entire park is extremely well-maintained. Bathrooms are clean. if you enjoy hiking cover, this is the place for you! There are three main trails. The easiest trail takes you down into the gorge to see the Cherokee waterfall. It's the largest waterfall. That hike is pretty easy. The second waterfall is a longer hike across the bottom of the gorge to Hemlock Falls. The third hike, and most strenuous, is around the top of the canyon, called the west rim trail. It is the most difficult trail, a total of 5 miles through the words on a rocky, twisting and turning trail. Reviews on this trail are absolutely gorgeous! It is classified as a medium/strenuous trail. You will definitely feel it in your legs and feet when you finish. The park welcomes dogs on leashes. There are several large Brazilians for gatherings as well. I found this to be one of the cleanest parks I have ever Campton. read more

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Renovations in the West Rim ruined the park. I was told the contractor hired by the state was in charge of bulldozing every tree in the middle. Our site was to be the same, just a different number. But, actually our original booking site no longer existed! Middle of summer without shade=desert!! So if you have sites 6-13 this summer, prepare to bake Also, workers in area continuing renovations, make dust and noise. I would have appreciated being told the true definition of the changes in our site, I could have made different accommodations. Couldn't even switch to a different area, nothing available. Some sites have tight turns to enter with big rigs, may prove to be interesting read more

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Not suitable for tent camping. We arrived to find our entire campsite was recently surfaced with large, sharp rocks. I use a ground cloth to protect my tent. I placed it on the rock covered tent pad and the rocks punched through it as soon as I stepped on it. No way my tent would survive there. Campground staff could not offer another site, would not refund my full reservation cost. My two kids were sad that we had to turn around and go home after the two and a half hour drive there. Don't camp in a tent at Cloudland Canyon until this if fixed. read more

The most beautiful hike in Georgia! It's just off the beaten path so I guess why that's why not too many people go here! But the waterfalls are unreal and the trail along the creek is gorgeous! I've been to all the major sites in Georgia but this one is the best! Amicola is larger but this place has unlimited waterfalls and you're able to get as close to them as you like. There are a lot of stairs... like Amicola so it's not for the easy going hikers. And the railing is limited in a lot of places so watch your children but if you're wanting the adventure! This place has it! read more

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Finest Georgia State Park. Great trails, Mountian views and rental cabins . Please keep it clean read more

Sooo cool! This is not a mountain and it isn't high in altitude so the name is kind of misleading but the canyon is incredible! The scenery is amazing and good hikes that will get you some exercise and steps. When you hike down into the canyon there are two waterfalls. Cherokee and hemlock are the trail names. We did both and I suggest you do the same but if you can only do one I honk Cherokee is more beautiful. When we went the interpretive center was not opened. I look forward to going back when it is open. It was a really fun time! There are cabins and yurts for rent. I would love to do that another time! read more

Oh you have to go! It's such a beautiful park with scenic hiking trails and beautiful waterfalls. We rented a yurt and it was a cool experience. The west end loop is a must do for hikers who can tolerate a moderately strenuous hike. read more

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We camped here in Site #16. This is in the Western rim campground. I highly suggest the western rim campground! The sites are shaded and very large! We had room for our 30 ft trailer. An area for 5 hammocks and enough room for 10 camp chairs. We had family camping next door in another site. The Eastern rim campground is not very shaded and is more tight. The Eastern rim is near the day use area and the overlook, disc golf, fishing, etc. The Eastern rim would be more appropriately you needed to use a satellite. My parents stayed in a yurt and were very happy with it. The cottages are located in two areas. 1-5 are near the day use area and you will have lots of hikers hiking out your back door. The other cottages are located on the western rim and would be less crowded during day use hours. They would be near a trail also but not the high populated trail. read more

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Cloudland Canyon State Park in Rising Fawn is an awesome state park that has plenty of scenic and panoramic view of mountains and canyons along with really cool trails for hiking. This park is well maintained and has much to offer to be in the middle of nature for hiking in the mountains and waterfalls. This park is easy to access and get right in the middle of everything and choose your adventure from there. They are well worth a visit for a memorable experience. read more

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Cloudland Canyon State Park was established in 1938. It encompasses 4,388 acres and is on the western edge of Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia. Admission is $5 per vehicle so it doesn't matter how many people you bring. Once here, you want to drive to the Interpretive Center and Visitors Center and parking area. Display the parking pass that you got at the ranger station on your rear view mirror. Study the map they gave you and decide which scenery or outdoors activity you would like to see. The outdoor activities to be enjoyed here are; hiking to waterfalls, hiking trails, picnics, camping, RVing and walking. Some of the great scenery to be had of the great outdoors here are; canyons, dense forests, cascades, wildlife, caves and rocky terrains and boulders. There's also grills so you can grill out if you like. Personally: I have lived within one hours drive of here and have never heard of this park until about a week ago when I saw a Yelp friend check into it. I then started doing my research on this park. So, I book marked it and therefore, started making plans to come here with a friend within 7 days. The outdoor activity I decided to see here was to hike to Cherokee Falls. It only took less than 30 minutes to walk this trail up to the waterfall. Once there, it was very worth seeing this big waterfall. It was absolutely amazing. It was kind a strenuous but if I can do it, anyone can. One very important note, don't forget your camera. You will want to take pictures. read more

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The best park in all of GA in my opinion. I have been during almost every season to hike and camp here! It is a favorite spot of mine where I can enjoy it with my partner and pup! I highly recommend seeing this beautiful place. read more

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Highly recommend! Took my family on a Thursday afternoon. Drove from right outside Atlanta. It took a little less than 2 hrs to get there. To be perfectly honest, it's in a part of GA that is not the most inclusive, however, we didn't have any issues and people were friendly for the most part. The views were gorgeous and we did the Sitton's Gulch Trail which was 5.1 miles. We had NO intention on doing that much walking but we got carried away on the Waterfall Trail and kept walking until we got to the end which was a bit anticlimactic (another parking lot) but the views along the way were great. I would definitely go again and do the Rim trail that's supposed to have great mountaintop views. read more

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Cloudland Canyon is a hidden gem in North Georgia. Honestly. This is one of the coolest state parks I've been too. Come after a good rain, see the waterfalls! read more

Cloudland Canyon State Park - Hemlock Falls. Waterfall trail. - Parks Near Me - Rising Fawn, Georgia

What a nice state park. Cloudland Canyon is a 'full service' park, with hiking, camping, cottages, picnicking and a pretty spectacular waterfall trail. I hiked part of the west rim trail as well as down to both the waterfalls. The waterfall trail is a mostly engineered path comprising wooden boardwalks and metal steps that descend from the parking area elevation down to the creek bed. It is quite strenuous with some 1200 steps (according to the literature) on the lower Hemlock Falls path. The Cherokee Falls, which are more scenic, require fewer steps. The path to that falls splits off from that going to Hemlock Falls midway down. Provided your heart can take it, I recommend visiting both. At the bottom of the Hemlock path, the trail also splits off to the Sitton's Gulch trail, which after crossing a bridge, follows the creek downstream quite a ways. I did not hike that trail. Next time. I also hiked part of the West Rim trail, starting from the trail that takes you to the waterfalls from the parking lot. Well worth it. I would caution that during rainy times, the footing can be quite treacherous at the lower elevations. The rocks and tree roots are slippery. Once you climb up the other side of the creek after crossing a bridge, the trail eases up in difficulty and you'll come to several points offering great views across the canyon. You also will walk past a Yurt Village and a path to the West Rim campground. The park's cottages are located a bit further on. I only hiked about to where the trail loops. I'll do the rest next time. And there definitely will be a next time, given the amount of hiking trails not yet hiked. This is a great hiking park and I may see about renting a cottage too. Getting here from Atlanta is about a two hour affair but you'll enjoy some nice north Georgia countryside along highway 136. One annoyance I encountered: the Yurt Village. Yeah, they look cool and are well situated for hiking the rim trail. But when I walked up to the village from the trail (actually well before then), my ears were assaulted by gas-powered landscaping equipment. Really? Do we need to manicure the grounds in a state park, right next to one of the scenic trails? There also is a substantial children's playground in the middle of the yurt cluster, suggesting that if you want a quiet respite from the noise of city life, renting a yurt here during busy times might not be the way to go. read more

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Ha! Don't judge one of the trails as being super easy since it was only 1 mile. It was 1 mile of the worst since it was categorized as strenuous. Yeah. The bf didn't feel to dismiss to me the latter part. -_- The waterfalls were dry since GA did not have much rain this summer. The overlook areas were beautiful to admire though. The guide with the ranger was informational and made me appreciate nature's beauty much more. You can check the free guide times on their Website. Admission fees to the park was $5 to park. read more

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Beautiful state park. Great parking and nicely maintained trails. The gift shop was closed due to Covid. Great place to hike with family or friends. read more

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Dear aspiring hippy and wanderlust-er, Cloudland Canyon should rank on your Top Ten Georgia Trails I Must Hike list, and don't bother arguing with me. Two gorgeous waterfalls (Cherokee and Hemlock) encompassed in a manageable seven-mile loop that oversees one gigantic Georgia canyon and its sprawling, colorful trees? GTFO. I didn't even mention the fact that I had phone service throughout my entire hike, too. And I have T-Mobile. (lol.) In addition to burning only God knows how many calories (it's 500), our crew of hiking banditos enjoyed the gift that was Cherokee Falls, the better of the two, supposedly. It's about 60 feet tall and descends into a pristine pool of water. The ions released from the rushing water will regenerate you, like when Link visits a fountain fairy. #zeldareference. The West Rim trial offers a somewhat challenging cardio blast, and I'd recommend it to anyone intending to work their precious heart or increase the size of their calves. I'd do it every weekend if I lived in the area. I can't think of a better way to spend $5 (required at their Visitor's Center). And that even includes raunchy times at Clermont Lounge. read more