Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon State Park | |
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Nearest city | Trenton, Georgia |
Coordinates | 34°48′58″N 85°29′21″W / 34.8161°N 85.4892°W |
Area | 3,485 acres (14.10 km2) |
Established | 1958 |
Governing body | Georgia Department of Natural Resources |
Cloudland Canyon State Park is a 3,485 acres (14.10 km2) Georgia state park located near Trenton and Cooper Heights on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. One of the largest and most scenic parks in Georgia, it contains rugged geology, and offers visitors a range of vistas across the deep gorge cut through the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, where the elevation varies from 800 to over 1,800 feet.[1] Views of the canyon can be seen from the picnic area parking lot, in addition to additional views located along the rim trail. At the bottom of the gorge, two waterfalls cascade across layers of sandstone and shale, ending in small pools below.
The park, previously known as Sitton Gulch (or Gulf) or Trenton Gulf, was purchased in stages by the state of Georgia beginning in 1938. Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a project of Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression built the first facilities and signs in the park, which opened the following year. Today the park features a variety of campsites, cabins, hiking and recreational activities.
History
Cloudland Canyon was designated a state park in 1939 when the state began acquiring land from private owners. Three of these owners, from the Mathews, McCauley and McKaig families, still reside in the area. Expansion of the park continues sporadically as new land is purchased for it. The park was originally 1,924 acres (7.8 km2), and has been expanded to its present size of 3,485 acres (14.1 km2).[2]
Until 1939 the only access to the area (and much of Dade County, Georgia) was through Tennessee or Alabama.[1] That year Georgia began work on Highway 136 to connect U.S. 41 to the recently established park.[3] The Civilian Conservation Corps did much of the early work to construct the state park and access roads.
Geology
The park is located on the
Lookout Mountain was created through a combination of
The canyon is more than 1,000 feet (300 m) deep, ranging in elevation from 800 feet (240 m) to over 1,800 feet (550 m);[1] the park's peak elevation is 1,980 feet (600 m).[7] The bottom of Cloudland canyon contains a slope of rock talus, which are sandstone and shale fragments. The valley floor is also rich in fossil-bearing limestone.[1]
Hiking trails
The Park contains several well-marked trails which allow visitors to view the geology of the canyon and its surroundings.[1] A paved, wheelchair-accessible trail about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) long overlooks the rim of the canyon. The park also features four more extensive hiking trails, including one backpacking trail. These trails are generally considered moderate in difficulty.[8]
The Waterfalls Trail begins on a paved section, at the main overlook, and progresses into the canyon along a 40-degree slope. Most of the trail consists of gravel, and a 600-step staircase.[7] Each waterfall emanates from Daniel Creek, and both cascade down sheer faces at 60 feet (18 m) and 90 feet (27 m). The trail is generally considered to be a strenuous hike, which can take up to 90 minutes to complete.[8] Cherokee Falls is 0.3 miles (0.48 km) from the trailhead; Hemlock Falls, at the bottom of the canyon, appears at 0.5 miles (0.80 km).[9] Each cascades into small pools at the base of the canyon, and continue down through a boulder-strewn stream bed. The creek flow feeding the waterfalls varies considerably according to the season. The Sitton's Gulch trail, commencing at the bottom of the Waterfalls Trail, runs parallel to the creek until it ends in a parking area in Trenton.
In contrast, the 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long West Rim Loop Trail is rated as moderately difficult, although it contains a few short, steep rocky sections.
The 2.0-mile (3.2 km) Backcountry Loop Trail provides access to the park's eleven secluded primitive hike-in camping sites.[12] Beginning at the parking area for group camping, the trail passes through hemlock groves, before descending on a moderate grade into a hollow filled with spring and summer flowers. At the far end of the loop, hikers emerge from the hemlock groves onto level trail, among oaks and hickories, before returning to the parking area.[13]
In the fall of 2011, the park reopened the Bear Creek Trail, which had been closed to hikers for nearly a decade. This approximately 9.0-mile (14.5 km) trail is the longest trail in the park. This trail begins as a spur off of the Back Country Trail and drops down to Bear Creek. After crossing the creek, the trail continues up until it becomes a loop around the northeast portion of the park. Around the area of the creek, the trail crosses over private property for a brief distance. During wet seasons, the creek crossing can be difficult as there is no bridge or dry crossing available.
Facilities and activities
Cloudland Canyon State park features a variety of camping and lodging options. There are 16 rental cottages as well as a group lodge. The park also offers 62 tent, trailer and
Picnic areas include a group pavilion, tennis courts, a children's playground and a disc golf course. The park has an interpretive center near the main parking lot, adjacent to the canyon.[7] Annual events hosted in the park include a Wildflower Program in April, Adventure Weekend (also in April), and a Kids' Catfish Rodeo in May.[7]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Brown (1996), p. 11
- ^ "Cloudland Canyon State Park". GTB Television. Georgia Public Broadcasting System. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
- ^ Cooksey, Elizabeth (2009). "Dade County". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council/University of Georgia Press. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
- ^ Molloy, (2007), p.12
- ^ a b Brown (1996), p. 3
- ^ "Appalachian Plateau Geologic Province". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council/University of Georgia Press. 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Cloudland Canyon State Park". Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ a b Pfitzer (2006), p. 35
- ^ Pfitzer (1993), pp. 33–34
- ^ Pfitzer (2006), pp. 35–36
- ^ a b Pfitzer (2006), p. 36
- ^ Pfitzer (2006), p. 39
- ^ Pfitzer (2006), p. 36. Also see Pfitzer (1993), second edition of Hiking Georgia for additional details on the Backcountry Loop Trail which do not appear in the third edition.
- ^ Molloy (2007), p. 12
References
- Brown, Fred; Nell Jones (1996). The Georgia Conservancy's Guide to The North Georgia Mountains (3rd ed.). Atlanta, GA: Longstreet Press. ISBN 1-56352-314-0.
- Molloy, Johnny (2007). The Best in Tent Camping: Georgia. Birmingham, AL: Menasga Ridge Press. ISBN 978-0-89732-724-4.
- Pfitzer, Donald W. (1993). Hiking Georgia (Second ed.). Helena, MT: Falcon Press.
- Pfitzer, Donald W. (2006). Hiking Georgia: A Guide to Georgia's Greatest Hiking Adventures. Globe Pequot Press. ISBN 978-0-7627-3642-3.
Further reading
- Griffin, Martha and Robert Atkins. Geologic Guide to Cloudland Canyon State Park. (Pamphlet available at Cloudland Canyon State Park)
- Homan, Tim (2001). The Hiking Trails of North Georgia. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishing. ISBN 978-1-56145-127-2.
- Molloy, John (2007). The Best in Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos. Menasha Ridge Press. ISBN 978-0-89732-960-6. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
External links