Cloudland Canyon State Park

Fast facts

• Size: about 3,540 acres (14.3 km²) on the western edge of Lookout Mountain
• The canyon: more than 1,000 feet (300 m) deep, from about 800 feet (240 m) at the bottom to 1,980 feet (600 m) on the rim
• Trails: 64 miles (103 km) of hiking trail, 30 miles (48 km) of bike trail and 16 miles (26 km) of horse trail
• Camping: 75 campsites reached by car, 30 walk-in sites, 13 backcountry sites, 10 yurts and 18 cottages
• Established: 1939
• Gateway: Trenton, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Managed by: Georgia State Parks

The landscape

Cloudland Canyon lies on the Cumberland Plateau, where Lookout Mountain’s flat top breaks off toward the valley. Daniel Creek and Bear Creek have each cut a gorge into the mountain, and the two meet to form Sitton Gulch Creek, which runs out through a canyon more than 1,000 feet (300 m) deep. The rim is a band of sandstone cliffs that breaks into great square blocks; below it, slopes of shale and limestone drop to the creek. The same rainwater that carved the canyon has hollowed miles of caves into the limestone underneath.

Two waterfalls sit in the upper gorge of Daniel Creek: Cherokee Falls, which drops about 60 feet (18 m) into a pool, and Hemlock Falls, about 90 feet (27 m), farther down. Oak and hickory cover the plateau, with hemlock, rhododendron and mountain laurel in the gorge. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the first roads and facilities in the late 1930s.

Best time to go

October and early November bring fall colour and the park’s busiest weekends. Spring has the fullest waterfalls and wildflowers on the canyon floor; by late summer the falls can shrink to a trickle. Summer is hot and humid, which makes the climb back up the stairs hard work, so start early. Winter gives the clearest views from the rim and occasional ice on the stairs and around the falls. The park is open all year.

Getting there and around

Georgia Highway 136 crosses Lookout Mountain between Trenton and LaFayette, and the park entrance is on it. The main parking area sits on the east rim beside the picnic ground, where the first overlook is a few steps from the car and the Waterfalls, West Rim and Sitton’s Gulch trails begin. The Interpretive Center, campgrounds, yurts and cottages are spread along the park road. The Five Points mountain bike trails and the lower Sitton’s Gulch trailhead near Trenton are reached by separate roads.

Things to do

The Overlook Trail is a short walk along the rim from the main parking area, with railed viewpoints into the canyon. The Waterfalls Trail drops from the rim to Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls on about 600 metal and wooden stairs, a round trip of about 2 miles (3.2 km) that is rated strenuous because every step has to be climbed again. The West Rim Loop, about 5 miles (8 km) and moderate, crosses Daniel Creek and follows the far rim past a string of open overlooks; it is often named among the best hikes in Georgia.

Sitton’s Gulch Trail continues below Hemlock Falls and follows the creek out of the canyon, about 6 miles (10 km) round trip from the rim. The Backcountry Loop leads to the 13 walk-in backcountry campsites for an easy overnight trip. The Five Points Recreation Area and the Cloudland Connector Trail have 30 miles (48 km) of mountain bike trail, and guided tours of the park’s wild caves run by reservation. There is also a disc golf course and a fishing pond.

Staying safe

The rim is a line of real cliffs. Overlooks on the main trail have railings, but much of the West Rim does not, and the sandstone at the edge is cracked into loose blocks. Stay on the trail and keep children and dogs close. On the Waterfalls Trail, the stairs are steep and can be wet or icy, and the rock around the pools is slick; do not climb on or above the falls.

Allow for the climb out. Going down takes minutes, and coming back up 600 stairs in summer heat takes much longer, so carry water and rest. Black bears live in the park: keep food in a vehicle or hung at backcountry sites, and never leave it out. Copperheads and timber rattlesnakes are present on rocky ground. Phone signal fades in the canyon.

Know before you go

Leashed pets are allowed on the trails, but the grated metal stairs of the Waterfalls Trail are hard on dogs’ paws. Backcountry and walk-in sites must be reserved like any other campsite. The Interpretive Center is open on weekends and on some weekdays in season. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so check trail closures, water levels and reservations with Georgia State Parks before you go.

Coordinates

34.8384, -85.4572

Magnetic declination

5.0° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

Best seasons

Fall (colour), Spring (waterfalls and wildflowers), Winter, Summer

Difficulty

Easy to strenuous

Access / trailheads

On Georgia Highway 136 on Lookout Mountain, about 8 miles (13 km) east of Trenton and Interstate 59, and about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Water

Drinking water at the campgrounds, picnic area and Interpretive Center. None on the trails or at the backcountry sites; treat creek water.

Cell / satellite coverage

Fair on the rim, weak to none in the canyon.

Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency

Emergencies: 911. Park office: 706-657-4050.

Permits & regulations

A parking fee is required. Campsites, walk-in sites, backcountry sites, yurts and cottages are reserved through Georgia State Parks. Cave tours are by reservation only. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Leave No Trace

Stay on the trails and behind the railings, store food away from bears, keep pets leashed, and pack out all trash.