A Canyon of Falls and Steps
Our weekend at Cloudland Canyon State Park turned out to be a perfect example of why we don’t usually set firm plans on our trips and why we’re always prepared for any conditions. The temperature never came close to the forecast highs on Saturday and the wind chill was even worse but we still enjoyed our time in camp. We did take some time to roam around the overlook areas in the park but spent the rest of our time relaxing and playing games.
The Waterfalls Walk
Sunday brought sunny weather with warmer temperatures to Northwest Georgia. We knew we wanted to at least hike to one of the waterfalls so we took advantage of the 1:00 pm checkout time and let things warm a bit. After breaking camp we drove to the East rim where we joined other campers parking in the lower day use lot.
After stashing the camper in the lot we took to the Waterfalls Trail and started the 1/2 mile hike down the canyon to Cherokee Falls.
After spending some time at Cherokee Falls we decided we wanted to countdown the canyon to the larger Hemlock Falls. This trek is much steeper and has hundreds of metal stairs leading another 1/2 mile down into canyon. Many of the sections were icy but after seeing the falls we knew we had made the right decision!
Just beyond Hemlock Falls we turned around for the climb back to the rim of the canyon with the decision already made that we would be back on Spring Break to do more hiking in the canyon. There are many miles of trail in the park and we got just enough of a taste to want more!! Be sure you’re subscribed to the blog and following us on social media so you don’t miss out on any of the adventure.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
This was our second visit to a Georgia State Park and we’ve been impressed by both. This park is well maintained and the staff are friendly. The bath houses in the campgrounds are kept extremely clean and the gift shop / camp store is well stocked. There are several camping areas depending on your needs with two areas for campers with services. The West Rim campground (where we stayed) seems more private and definitely more shaded. The East Rim campground has more direct sunlight and is located directly beside the day use area and main trail head. We like the privacy but some may like the close proximity to the overlook area.
The only issue I had, and not the fault of the park, was the amount of liter and trash we saw along the trails. This has become and increasing problem in all areas and it is heartbreaking to see. We make it a point to always pick up trash and take out MORE than we take in but people need to be more mindful of their trash. Follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace when taking in the outdoors so we all can enjoy it and the beauty of nature!