2nd Annual Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge, Hiking & Adventure Weekend

A fun-loving group of 26 of us from the AOC had a blast on this trip last April, and by popular demand we're reprising it exactly a year later!  We're proud to be able to offer this amazing trip again for a ridiculously low price that includes two nights lodging, six delicious meals and an incredible array of optional activities.  A big bonus of the April 15-17 weekend is that it again this year coincides with the Park's annual "Outdoor Adventure Weekend," with all sorts of exciting and FREE adventure sports, including archery, riflery, fishing, night hikes, backpacking clinics and more!—see below. 
  
THE WONDERFUL PARK!  Known for its beautiful vistas, spectacular waterfalls and incredible hiking trails, Cloudland Canyon State Park is considered by many to be the "crown jewel" of Georgia's parks and natural areas.  Over the millennia twin canyons have been cut into the western side of Lookout Mountain by powerful streams and waterfalls.  The streams join on the valley floor in a much deeper and wider canyon that is hundreds of feet below the mesa-like mountaintop. (View from the Park's main overlook in the above photo.)

THE GROUP LODGE—EXCLUSIVELY OURS ALL WEEKEND!  A favorite destination for dozens of AOC camping and hiking trips over the years, the State Park also offers a spacious Group Lodge high atop the mountain, which can sleep more than 30 adults comfortably in its four large dorm-style bedrooms.  All of the twin beds have been recently replaced with comfortable new twin-size mattresses—just bring a pillow plus your sleeping bag—or sheets & a blanket are fine. The lodge doubles as a superb "trailhead" for hiking excursions and other exciting AOC group activity options on Saturday and Sunday.
  We'll enjoy the Lodge's fully equipped kitchen, spacious dining/living room, men's & women's restrooms with hot showers & flush toilets, and its adjoining campfire ring with picnic tables.
  We'll organize a volunteer AOC food & refreshments committee to prepare and serve SIX delicious group meals all weekend, included in our incredibly low trip price.  The Lodge's huge kitchen features a 6-burner propane stove with double oven and built-in griddle, two refrigerators, a freezer, dishwasher, coffeemaker, microwave, and a complete assortment of kitchenware, dishes, glasses, silverware, trays, etc.

EXCITING OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES & ADVENTURES!  Just relax at the Lodge all weekend if you prefer, but we hope everyone will take part in some of the numerous adventure options that are available all weekend. Our "headliner" AOC group activity will be a scenic Waterfalls & Canyon Rim Hike (led by Charlie and other experienced AOCers) departing from the Lodge at 10:00 Sat AM and returning about 2:00.  This group hike will be moderate in difficulty and pace, with an optional early return after the waterfalls portion.
  As mentioned above, the State Park ranger-naturalists and various invited clubs and outfitters are also offering specially guided and hosted adventures in the Park all weekend, including:  FREE Night Hikes, Fishing, Riflery, Archery, Orienteering, an AT Thru-Hiking Backpacking Seminar, and just $5 for Cave Exploring, Climbing Wall or Disc Golf.  (I regret to have learned that Rappelling is temporarily off the agenda for this year.) We'll have details of the schedule and locations of these optional Park adventures in the few days prior to the trip.  Beginning at 10:00 Saturday morning we can register for selected adventures at the Park Office. (Most are available on a simple walk-up basis without registration

"YZARC PARTY!"  Saturday night after dinner we'll let our hair down by the campfire with a wacky Party—in case you haven't noticed, "YZARC" is "CRAZY" spelled backward!  Wear some sort of crazy or retro clothing or costume (+ perhaps bring inventive props, libations, etc.) and we'll award prizes for the "YZARC-iest" girl and guy!

"PRE-TRIP PLANNING HAPPY HOUR & MEETING" prior to the regular APRIL AOC SOCIAL at "TACO MAC" in the PRADO, TUE APR 12, 6:30 till ~7:30 PM :  If your schedule permits, please plan to drop in and join us for this informal "pre-Social" happy-hour planning meeting in the rear of the covered outside area of the restaurant (Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, just 1/4 mile south of the I-285 Roswell Rd Exit). We'll introduce everyone, prearrange some of our "custom carpooling" groups, discuss directions, gear, meals & activities, and address all of your questions and suggestions about the trip.

MORE ON CARPOOLING: As we did last year we'll facilitate the planning of "Custom Carpool Groups" to depart metro Atlanta from various times and places that are convenient to each party and that hopefully can avoid the Friday rush-hour traffic. Driving up and back ALONE at your own convenience is also perfectly good option (only about 2 hours each way using the easy directions below) although we always encourage max sharing of vehicles. The 6:00 PM Friday carpool from the Busbee Park & Ride described below should be considered to be a "default" time and place for any in the group who have difficulty prearranging a custom carpool and prefer not driving alone.

FOR MORE ON CLOUDLAND CANYON go to:    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloudland_Canyon_State_Park

For dozens of great Cloudland Canyon photos use this long Internet link:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=%22cloudland+canyon%22+photos&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=o4R-S7z-PJPflAe4ouTEDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQsAQwAA

DIRECTIONS TO VISITOR CENTER CHECK-IN and thence to GROUP LODGE in CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK:
From I-75/I-285 INTERCHANGE in NW ATLANTA about 110 miles total:

1) Take I-75 North about 60 miles to I-75 Exit #320, "GA Hwy 136."

2) Turn Left onto GA-136 West and carefully follow the GA-136 signs about 50 miles (through several sharp turns) to the Cloudland Canyon State Park entrance on your right.  The Park entrance is on GA-136 about 0.8 mile beyond its junction with GA-189, the "Lookout Mtn Pkwy."
Along the way via GA-136 you will have passed through the towns of Villanow, Lafayette, and Cooper Heights, GA and climbed up the steep eastern slope of Lookout Mtn.  Be esp. vigilant for the GA-136 signs when bypassing Lafayette:  There's a hard Right turn onto the bypass (concurrent with 4-lane US-27) then another hard Right followed by a hard Left to stay on GA-136 (leaving US-27) just 3 miles north of Lafayette!

3) CHECK-IN:  After entering the Park take your first Right to the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center (which doubles as the Park Store and Office) expects to be open Friday Apr 15 from 8:00 AM until about 7:00 PM or perhaps a bit later.  (It's OK to check in Sat AM if you arrive after closing on Fri.)  Tell them that you're an AOC Group Lodge guest, and pay the $5 all-weekend parking fee for your special 3-day "lodge guest" parking pass which you'll hang from your rear-view mirror.  (Some of you may have a current "Annual GA State Parks Parking Pass" which is valid in lieu of our $5 weekend parking fee.)

4) ON TOWARD THE LODGE: From the short Park Visitor Center loop, reenter the main entrance road, drive about 1 more mile (northward) into the Park, and turn Right at the sign for the Group Lodge. (This turn is just before the large parking area for general Park visitors.
  PARK GATE ADVISORY: The main Park gate (about ½ mile up the entrance road from the Visitor Center) is usually locked between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM.  If you must arrive late on Friday (or in the wee hours Saturday) let us know and we can likely call you on your cell phone to give you a special digital "Gate Code" for entry.

5)  FINAL APPROACH TO LODGE, and PARKING: After you see the "Group Lodge" directional sign, bear Right around the curve and drive up the hill (southward) about 1/4 mile further to the Lodge (large 1-story building on your Left, after a leftward curve in the road).  When parking be sure to leave plenty of room for all other vehicles to get in and out, and avoid parking directly by the campfire ring.

In case your loved ones need to reach you over the weekend and you're out of cell phone range, they may be able to get a message to you by calling the Cloudland Canyon State Emergency Number at 706-657-6442. Normal office hours at the Park Office/Store/Visitor Center are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but with the special "Adventure Weekend" that weekend, they expect to remain open at least until 7:00 PM. Their main daytime State Park phone number at the Park Office is 706-657-4050.