Wednesday at Cloudland Canyon

Divya and Joyce are super-excited to do this trip to Cloudland, one of the state's most beautiful parks.  Neither of us has led a hike here, though we've both been to the canyon and absolutely love it.  Come join us!

When determining your plans, be sure you allow 9 total hours for the entire trip - - 5 hours for the event plus driving time.

We'll start our hike by viewing the Cherokee and Hemlock Falls.  From there, we'll descend the stairs (and they are numerous) and travel 2 miles along Sitton's Gulch Trail.  We'll then return along the same trail and climb those same stairs (the most challenging part of our hike).  Having completed this portion of the event, we'll then follow the trail to the West Rim Loop. This part of the hike is through a wooded, beautiful 5 mile lollipop trail.  On a clear day, there are several spectacular scenic vistas from the West Rim.

Cloudland Canyon is one of the 4 Georgia canyons that qualify hikers for the Canyon Climber's Club! (The others are Providence Canyon, Amicalola Falls, and Tallullah Gorge.) At the Visitor's Center, one can buy a Canyon Climber's card for $10.  After completing hikes at each canyon and getting the card stamped at each Visitor's Center, a person can mail in the card for a Canyon Climber's shirt!  It's a nice way to support Georgia's state parks.

Thanks to Charlie C. for his directions to Cloudland Canyon

DIRECTIONS to CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK MAIN PARKING LOT near the Interpretive Center and restroom building.

122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd., Rising Fawn, GA 30738: GPS 34.83473,-85.47988

  
1.  From the I-75/I-285 Interchange take I-75 North about 60 miles to I-75 Exit #320, [GA   136].
2.  Turn Left onto GA-136 West and carefully follow the GA-136 signs about 48 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 miles beyond its junction with GA-189, the "Lookout Mtn Pkwy.")  

More cautionary notes:  Along GA-136 pass through the towns of Villanow, Lafayette, and Cooper Heights, GA and climb 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 Lafayette 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. Just after entering the Park pay the $5 cash parking fee at the roadway kiosk if you don't already have an annual pass. The Visitor Center is on the road to the right as you enter the park. Free park maps are also available here.
4. Continue on the Park entrance road about 1 more mile (northward) and park in the main visitors' parking lot.  We'll all gather at 10:00 beside the Restroom Building.

If you have a state park pass, please bring it.  Cars without passes must pay a $5 state park entry fee.