Lookout Mountain for Leaf Lovers! Cloudland Canyon Camping & Hiking

THE AMAZING PARK!  Nestled on the craggy western edge of Lookout Mountain and known for its incredible vistas, waterfalls and hiking trails, Cloudland Canyon is considered by many (me included!) to be the "crown jewel" of Georgia's State Parks and natural areas.  With leaf colors usually peaking in late October each year, there's no place in the southeast with more beautiful views of fall foliage (as in the photo above taken from atop the canyon.)
  Over the millennia powerful streams and waterfalls cut gorges into the steep part of Lookout Mountain that since the Park's opening in 1939 has been known as Cloudland Canyon.  Eons ago two of these streams joined on the valley floor to cut a deeper and wider canyon whose floor is hundreds of feet below the Park's mesa-like mountaintop and central overlook.  There are numerous options for camping, hiking, astronomy and other outdoor adventures.

TRIP PLAN in a NUTSHELL: On this trip we'll offer "pioneer-style carside camping" (more below) with our personal level of luxury limited only by what we individually choose to bring in our vehicles. (Since the rental fee is so inexpensive I am happy to "spring for that" in lieu of the hassle of making this a paid AOC event.)  Hopefully all of us can drive up sometime Friday to take advantage of the entire "peak-leaves" weekend, but joining us at the campsite early Saturday morning is also acceptable.
  After breakfast Saturday (about 10:00 AM) I'll plan to lead a scenic 4-hour group hike around the canyon rims and down to the waterfalls (more details below).
  After dinner Saturday evening we'll offer a dark-sky stargazing excursion to the mountaintop in our vehicles, weather permitting (more below). 
  Our Meals (except for Sat lunch when most of us will be out hiking) will be shared "potluck-style" at the nice pavilion by our cars, with each of us bringing an ingredient or small dish or two of our choice for any meal that we individually choose to participate in.  We'll also share our camp stoves, large covered pots & pans, and other gear (see suggestions below).

PIONEER CAMPSITE #2—OURS ALL WEEKEND!  The State Park has been a favorite destination for dozens of AOC camping and hiking trips over the years.   For this trip I've reserved for us the convenient and well equipped "Pioneer Group Campsite #2" and prepaid its small fee.  This is the closest group site to the parking area - just a few yards to walk with as much gear as we individually choose to bring.  If you like bring a large tent, queen-size air mattress, big iced-down cooler of refreshments & fresh food, etc.   On the other hand, if you prefer being "spartan," backpacking gear and freeze-dried food are acceptable.
  A spacious covered Pavilion with several Picnic Tables directly adjoins our campsite and is available to reserved camping groups in the 4 Pioneer campsites on a first-come-first-serve basis.  I expect to arrive there early Friday to claim it for our AOC group - any of you who can likewise depart Atlanta early are encouraged to do so.
  About an acre of level shaded Tent Camping space is available at our campsite in the area, just beyond and surrounding the Pavilion.  The site also has a rustic roofed Adirondack Shelter (with a raised floor and open front) that a few of our campers may wish to use for sleeping in lieu of putting up a tent.
   We'll have excellent Potable Water available from a sturdy spigot in the campsite.
  Tightly enclosed pit Toilet Buildings are provided just a few yards from our camping area. 
   
EXCITING OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES & ADVENTURES!  Just relax at the Campsite all weekend if you prefer, but we hope everyone will take part in some of the unique things to see and do at the Park. As mentioned above our "headliner" AOC group activity will be a scenic Waterfalls & Canyon Rim Hike departing from the Campsite 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 for any who prefer a shorter hike.
  For Stargazing enthusiasts I'll also offer a "night sky tutorial" and telescope viewing session (weather permitting)from the dark summit of the mountain inside the Park that we can easily drive to.
  Sunday before departure I hope some of you will join me for a fun round of "Disc Golf" on the lovely wooded course atop the mountain.  We've had lots of fun with this on previous AOC trips!

"PRE-TRIP PLANNING HAPPY HOUR & MEETING" TUE OCT 11, 6:30 till ~7:30 PM, just prior to the regular monthly AOC SOCIAL at "TACO MAC" in the PRADO:  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 "custom carpooling" groups, discuss directions, gear sharing, group meals & activities, and address all of your questions and suggestions about the trip.

MORE ON CARPOOLING: 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 SUPERB CLOUDLAND CANYON PHOTOS: Click on 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 PIONEER CAMPSITE #2 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 (which is also the Camper Check-In center). If there's an attendant at the entrance kiosk, mention that you're a reserved camper and will get your 3-day parking pass at check-in.  The Visitor Center, expects to be open on Friday Oct 21 from 8:00 AM until about 10:00 PM.  (If you arrive after closing on Fri it's OK to check in Sat AM instead.)  Tell them that you're an AOC Pioneer Camping guest, and pay the $5 all-weekend parking fee for your special 3-day camper parking pass which you should display hanging from your rear-view mirror all weekend.  (Some of you may have a current "Annual GA State Parks Parking Pass" which you may present for a no-charge 3-day overnight parking pass.)

4. ON TOWARD THE CAMPSITE:  From the Park Visitor Center continue on the short loop road just 100 yards to its 4-way intersection with the Park entrance road. Continue straight ahead (crossing the Park entrance road) for about 0.5 mile on the paved road that accesses the western parts of the Park. At the first sharp leftward curve in the road look for the Pioneer Campsite entrance road  on your right.

5.  FINAL APPROACH and PARKING for CAMPSITE #2: Turn Right onto the gravel Pioneer Campsite entrance road and in just 0.1 mile or so arrive at our parking lot. When parking be sure to leave plenty of room for all other vehicles to park and get in and out.  Also please avoid blocking the entrance paths to the covered Pavilion.  Our reserved Campsite #2 is the area just beyond the Pavilion.  It's OK to pitch your tent in any open area near the Pavilion provided you don't disturb the vegetation.

LAT/LON COORDINATES of our CAMPSITE for those who wish to augment my above directions with GPS or Google Maps: 34.8256,-85.4888
 
SPECIAL NOTE for LATE ARRIVALS:  If you must arrive after 10:00 on Friday (or in the wee hours Saturday) your progress to the campsite may be impeded by a locked Park gate across the paved roadway.  If so please try to reach me (on my cell phone, 864-710-8278) or other campers you know, and we can give you the special digital "Gate Code" for opening and passing through the gate. If you can't reach us by cell phone, park your car temporily on the shoulder of the road and it should be only a short walk from the locked gate to our campsite for the code.

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 an emergency message to you by calling the Cloudland Canyon State Park Emergency Number: 706-657-6442. Normal office hours at the Park Office/Store/Visitor Center are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For non-emergencies, the Park Office's main Daytime Phone number is 706-657-4050.