The Definitive Guide To Cloudland Canyon State Park

My sister- in-law spent many of her childhood summers with her grandparents camping in Cloudland Canyon State Park. She has so many fond memories of the park and talks about it as an amazing place. After my first visit to this gorgeous state park, I can see why she was eager to take her kids there and show them why she loved Cloudland Canyon so much.

The park is a perfect place for any family vacation. You can pick from a variety of lodging options (cabins, yurts, and multiple campgrounds) to suit your family’s vacation style while spending your days in the great outdoors. The West Rim hiking trail has been named one of America’s best by Backpacker magazine and the waterfalls trails are always popular.

Enjoy a round of disc golf or sit back with a pole and spend the afternoon fishing on the stocked pond. If you are a mountain biker, you’ll find lots of trails in the adjacent 5 Points Recreation Area. There is even a traditional Neopolitan pizzeria nearby for the foodies.

And the best part is that Cloudland Canyon is just 2 hours north of Atlanta or 45 minutes south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It so easy to get to for a quick weekend getaway with the kids.

Find out all the fun things to can do with this guide to Cloudland Canyon State Park.

Hiking In Cloudland Canyon

There are 3 main hikes that are by far and away the most popular in the park:

• 1) the Overlook Trail– 1 mile RT, easy, 30 minutes
• 2) the West Rim Loop Trail– 5 miles RT, moderate, 2.5- 3.5 hours
• 3) the Waterfalls Trail– 2 miles RT, strenuous, 1 hour

Each of these hikes should be on your to do list on any visit (even repeat visits). If you have limited time, you could do all three in one day as long as your kids are fairly mobile and you start early.

The Overlook Trail ( 1 mile RT, very easy) is little more than a path around the edge of the canyon near the main parking area and nature center. But the overlooks for which it are named are spectacular.

The West Rim trail (5 miles RT, moderate) is the highlight of Cloudland Canyon and has been named one of the Top 10 hikes in America by Backpacker magazine. This is the hike I would put on my list to do first.

It is kid- friendly as it is not too steep (although there are some mild ups and downs) but there are a couple of places that I would hold hands, especially with younger kids. There are multiple overlooks along this trail and take your time to see the view from each one as it gives you a different aspect of the canyon.

The Waterfalls trail ( 2 miles RT, strenuous) is probably the second most popular trail in the park as it leads to 2 very pretty waterfalls down a short, 1 mile trail. But although short, the trail is steep and most of that mile is actually just stairs so it could be too much for some kids.

Other trails in the park to check out if you have time are Sitton’s Gulch Trail (6 miles RT, strenuous), Meadowlands Trail (1 mile RT, easy), and Bear Creek Backcountry Trail (7 miles RT, strenuous).

Lodging In Cloudland Canyon

You are spoiled for choice at this park as you can opt to camp, stay in a yurt, or a cozy cabin.

Choose between 16 cabins, 10 yurts, 2 RV/ tent campgrounds, 1 walk-in tent only campground, and 13 primitive backcountry campsites to find the place perfect for your family.

Check in for all lodgings at the Visitor Center near the main entrance to the park. All lodgings, including backcountry campsites, can now be reserved online.

*If you become a member of Friends Of Georgia State Parks, you can get free nights camping and 10% discounts on lodging. If you are planning on spending a few nights, this can be a great deal. I usually join every year and it only takes a a couple of nights in a yurt or cabin to pay for itself.

Cabins Rentals In Cloudland Canyon

I think the cabin rentals at Clouldland Canyon are pretty great, especially for state Park cabins. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of space inside. The locations are perfect for waking up everyday and going for a hike straight from your front porch, which is another reason I loved them.

There are 16 cabins in the park, split between the east and west rims of the canyon. The cabins range from smaller 2BR/1-2 BA cabins up to large 3BR/ 2 BA cabins. Each cabin has a full kitchen, fireplaces, outside fire rings, picnic tables, heat and AC. They also come with bed linens and towels so it makes for a very easy packing job for you.

You can reserve cabins online up to 13 months ahead of time, and there is a 2 night minimum, except during the dead of winter. Cabin rentals will run you $100- $210 a night, depending on the season and cabin size.

For more information on the cabins, including lots of pictures of specific ones plus detailed descriptions, read Cabin Rentals In Cloudland Canyon State Park.

RV and Tent Campgrounds

There are 2 main frontcountry campgrounds in Cloudland Canyon, appropriately named East Rim Campground and West Rim Campground.

All the sites in these campgrounds have electrical outlets and a water spicket. The bathrooms have free hot water showers and a coin operated washer/ dryer. You will find a nice playground in both campgrounds, although geared more for the 10 and under crowd.

The sites are, unfortunately, very close together in both campgrounds and definitely aimed more for RVs than tent campers. I would pick the West Rim campground over the East Rim as it has more tree cover and the sites are slightly farther apart.

The East Rim Campground is also next to the day-use area and main road so you will have tons more traffic noise. On one part of its loop, you can only camp on one side of the road because the other side is so close to the road.

These campsites cost $30- $38, depending on season, and you can reserve online. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Tent Only, Walk-In Campground

If you are tent camping, this campground would be my choice over the East and West Rim Campgrounds.

The Walk-In Campground is on the West Rim, near the West Rim Campground, on a mile long hiking loop with good-sized campsites situated decently far from each other. There is one main bathhouse near the parking area so some of the campsites on the outer edges are actually a longish walk to it.

Each campsite has a fire ring, grill, and picnic table. Most also have a tent pad marked off. Leashed dogs are allowed.

The sites furthermost away from the parking area are the most quiet but then you also have to carry your stuff the longest distance, so dealer’s choice.

The trail to the restrooms starts at the parking area so if your bladder typically calls out to you in the middle of the night, you might want to set up closer to the parking lot. I would go for the sites on the north side of the loop as they are closest to the bathroom and a little more spaced apart.

To get to the main Rim Trail from the Walk-In Campground, you can take an easy 5 minute connecting trail. Campsites cost $20-$25 depending on season and you can reserve online.

Atlanta Trails has a good blog about the walk- in campground and some nice pictures.

Backcountry Camping

If you really want to get away from it all, check out the 11 backcountry sites on their own 2 mile loop trail. Each site has a fire ring, a picnic table, and a pit privy (think outhouse). Sites cost $8- $10. Leashed dogs are allowed and you can reserve online.

For those who like to get as far away from other people as possible, try primitive campsites #12 and #13 which are a 6 and 7 mile hike respectively down Bear Creek Backcountry Trail.

Just keep in mind that many of these backcountry sites are situated near the edges of the park so while you may not hear other campers, you may hear noise from the surrounding areas, i.e. roosters on farms, ATVs, etc.

Other Activities Available In Cloudland Canyon State Park

Mountain Biking/ Horseback Riding/ More Hiking

Adjacent to Cloudland Canyon State Park and connected by the 14 mile Cloudland Canyon Connector Trail is Five Points Recreation Area, a former coal mining area that now has 23 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.

You can rent mountain bikes from the Visitor Center at Cloudland Canyon State Park. It costs $35 dollars per half day and $55 for a full day’s rental. No kids bikes unfortunately. (No horse rentals either so BYOH.)

The main parking at 5 Points Trailhead has a changing area and a port a potty but that’s about it, so make sure to have all the water and snacks you may need.

There are lots of trails to choose from, mostly short green and blue single track trails, but you will find 2 black diamond trails and the 14 mile long Cloudland Connector Trail for those who are into endurance riding.

We like to rent bikes and ride the connector trail from Cloudland Canyon as far as we feel like and then turn back.

Singletracks has a great review of the mountain biking at 5 Points.

* Important Note* Cloudland Connector Trail is listed as only 3.4 miles on the following map because that only includes the section inside the 5 Points Recreation Area and not the part of the trail inside Cloudland Canyon park. It is much longer than you think.

Fishing

You can fish without a permit at the catfish stocked pond by the Meadowlands Trail. Borrow a pole for free from the Interpretive Center by the Main Overlook, open on Saturdays and Sundays.

You can even keep your catch if you are fishing between Labor Day and December so go grab yourself some dinner. (The rest of the year is catch and release or everyday is catch and release if you are like me and don’t love catfish.)

Disc Golf

You’ll find an 18 hole disc golf course near the Meadowlands Trail as well. I don’t play myself but from talking to other people, it seems to be a decent course that is fairly easy so families with younger kids should have a good time.

It costs $4 per person to play, payable at the Visitor Center. You can also buy frisbees/ discs there.

General Helpful Information About Cloudland Canyon

Park Fees

Admission to the park is $5 per car per day, even if you are paying for lodging. The Visitor Center will charge you for the appropriate days and give you a tag when you check in.

The park closes at 10pm, so those staying at the park get a code for the gate when they check in. If you are arriving after 10pm, check with the park on how that works.

*We recommend joining Friends of Georgia State Parks, an awesome group of people working hard to maintain these parks through volunteer efforts and fundraising. An annual membership gets you free admission into all the parks plus knowing you are helping to keep these parks such a great family experience. Some of the memberships get you free nights camping and discounts on lodging, well worth it if you are thinking of renting a cabin at Cloudland Canyon. The link above will tell you more.

Where To Get Supplies

The Visitor Center sells wood for $6 a bundle and has a decent amount of supplies- firestarters, ponchos, toilet paper, peanut butter, tent repair kits, etc.

For general supplies, head to the Canyon Quick Stop, just 0.5 miles away from the park entrance on Highway 136. You will find a small selection of groceries, some camping supplies, and a decent beer and wine selection as well. It also has a little grill in the back for sandwiches and hamburgers for a good price.

You can drink alcohol in your cabin, yurt, or campsite but not in any public use areas.

Nearby Restaurants

You will find a few restaurants within a 10 minute drive of the park if you don’t fancy cooking over a campfire or in your cabin.

Lookout Mountain Pizza Company does amazing wood- fired pizza. Truly it is one of the best pizzas I have had EVER. It is a small place and can be busy so sometimes it isn’t the speediest but order an appetizer and enjoy yourself. Open Thur from 5-8pm, Fri & Sat from 5pm until 9pm, and Sun from 1130am- 4pm. Also BYOB ($2 surcharge if you do).

Cafe 136 is next to the Canyon Quick Stop and has country cooking in a cute atmosphere- definitely opt for the screened porch if you can.

Canyon Grill is fancy dining in an unpretentious building and is known for their fish. Open Wednesday -Sunday from 5pm- 9pm and reservations may be a good option during busy summer weekends. BYOB and you need to bring your own corkscrew too (county blue laws). This place gets written up in Chattanooga magazines so it is definitely on my list to try on my next visit.

Trenton, Georgia is only a 10 minute drive away, albeit a windy one as the road snakes down off the mountain. You will find more options in Trenton, although not a whole lot more as it is not big (2,300 people to be exact).

Chattanooga is not far away either- its downtown is just 30 min by car and you’ll find plenty of choices there.