Cloudland Canyon State Park

Cloudland Canyon State Park
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Cloudland Canyon State Park is located near the northwest corner of Georgia, near Chattanooga
Nearest city	Trenton, GeorgiaNearest city: Trenton, Georgia
Coordinates	34°39′13″N 85°28′22″W / 34.65361°N 85.47278°W / 34.65361; -85.47278Coordinates: 34°39′13″N 85°28′22″W / 34.65361°N 85.47278°W / 34.65361; -85.47278
Area	3,485 acres (14.10 km²)
Established	1938 Established: 1938
Governing body	Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Cloudland Canyon State Park is a 3,485 acre (14.10 km²) Georgia state park located near Trenton and Cooper Heights on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. The park, one of the largest and most scenic in Georgia,^[1] offers rugged geology and vistas^[2] to visitors, as it straddles a deep gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, where the elevation differs from 800 to over 1,800 feet. Several outstanding views of the canyon are found in the picnic area parking lot, though several additional views are located along the rim trail. Located at the bottom of the gorge are two waterfalls cascading overs layers of sandstone and shale into small pools below.

The park, previously known as Sitton Gulch, was purchased in stages by the state of Georgia beginning in 1938. A project of Civilian Conservation Corps 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 as viewed from the top of the gorge

Cloudland Canyon was designated a state park in 1939 when the state began acquiring land from private owners. Two of these were the Mathews and McKaig families who still live in the area today. Land acquisitions continue sporadically as new property becomes available. The park, which was originally 1,924 acres (7.8 km²), has expanded to its present size of 3,485 acres (14.10 km²).^[3]

Until 1939 the only access to the area was through Tennessee or Alabama.^[4] That year Georgia began work on Highway 136 to connect U.S. 41 to the recently purchased park. 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 Cumberland Plateau atop Lookout Mountain. At the top of Lookout Mountain the waters of Daniel Creek and Bear Creek cut gorges before converging to form Sitton Gulch Creek.^[5] The flat-topped mountains of the Cumberland Plateau are significantly different from the narrow Armuchee ridges beyond nearby Chicamauga Valley to the east. From a geological standpoint Lookout Mountain is transitional between the flat-lying sedimentary beds of central Tennessee and the ridges and valley lying to the east, which display more intensive folding and faulting.^[6] Most of the canyon's rock formations consist of sandstone; shale layers below the sandstone are marked by pine trees.

Lookout Mountain was created through seismic activity and shaped by erosion. It was was uplifted during the mountain building that formed the Appalachians, known as the Appalachian orogeny. Over 200 million years ago an ocean covered the modern day park. When it was first formed the entire mountain was still underwater, but the water slowly receded until the rim of the canyon was a beach on this ocean.^[7] As the ocean dried the creek eroded the rock. The sandstone forming the bluffs has a tendency to fracture into blocks, creating unusual boulder formations.^[8] The concave shape of the top of Lookout Mountain drains rainwater through fissures into the underlying limestone. This action formed miles of caves in the area.^[9]

The canyon is more than 1,000 feet deep, ranging in elevation from 800 feet to over 1,800 feet;^[10] the park's peak elevation is 1,980 feet.^[11] The bottom of Cloudland canyon contains a slope of rock tallus, which are sandstone and shale fragments. The valley floor is also rich in fossil-bearing limestone.^[12]

Hiking trails

Cloudland Canyon waterfall

The Park contains several well-marked trails which allow visitors to view millions of geologic years in and around the canyon.^[13] A paved, wheelchair-accessible trail 1/4 mile in length goes along the rim overlooking the canyon.^[14] The park also features three more extensive hiking trails, including one backpacking trail. These trails are generally moderate in difficulty.^[15]

The Waterfalls Trail begins on a paved section, at the main overlook, and progresses into the canyon on a 40-degree slope. Most of the trail consists of gravel and a 600-step staircase.^[16] Both waterfalls cascade off of sheer faces at 60 and 90 feet (27 m). The trail is a strenuous hike which may take 90 minutes.^[17] The first waterfall is 0.3 miles (0.48 km) from the trailhead; the second waterfall, at the bottom of the canyon, appears at 0.5 miles (0.80 km).^[18] The falls cascade into small pools at the base of the canyon and continues down the boulder-strewn stream bed. The creek flow feeding the waterfalls varies considerably according to the season.

In contrast, the 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long West Rim Loop Trail is rated moderate, although it contains a few short, steep rocky portions.^[19] It is a scenic hike^[20] which offers panoramic views of the canyon. Beginning at the Daniels Creek Bridge, and climbing out of the canyon onto the plateau, the trail provides views of Trenton, Georgia, neighboring Sand Mountain, and of Cloudland Canyon itself. Rhododendrum and mountain laurel thickets interspersed with sourgum, dogwood and large oaks, hickories, hemlocks and maples shade the trail.^[21] Cottages, West Rim, and Walk-In Camping areas are accessible via the West Rim Loop. Passing over varied terrain, most of the hike is moderately difficult, becoming strenuous on several short sections.^[22]

The 2.0-mile (3.2 km) Backcountry Loop Trail provides access to the park's eleven secluded primitive hike-in camping sites.^[23] The trail, which begins at the parking area for group camping, passes through hemlock groves, progressing down a moderate grade into a hollow, filled with spring and summer flowers. On the far end of the loop hikers emerge from the hemlocks groves, back to level trail among oaks and hickories, and eventually return to the parking area.^[24]

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.^[25] The park also offers 73 tent, trailer and RV sites, 30 walk-in campsites, and 11 backcountry campsites for backpackers.^[26] There are also four pioneer sites for groups of tent campers. The East Rim has 24 of the campsites located along a loop road; many of the sites can accommodate RVs, and all feature water and electric hookups. Nearby are bathing facilities.^[27] The West Rim Campground, located across the gorge and away from the park's busiest section, is located in thick forest and hosts approximately 48 campsites spread along two loops.^[28] It too offers bathing facilities.

Also in the park are picnicking areas including 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 and adjacent to the canyon.^[29]

Annual events hosted in the park include a Wildflower Program in April; Adventure Weekend, also in April; and a Kids' Catfish Rodeo in May.^[30]

Cloudland Canyon as seen from the West Rim Loop Trail

Notes

References

• Alden, Peter (1999). National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States. New York: Chanticleer Press. ISBN 0-679-44683-4. 
• 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. 
• "Appalachian Plateau Geologic Province". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press/Georgia Humanities Council. 2009. http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-3561. Retrieved on 2009-07-11. 
• Nutt, Alex (2002). Camping Georgia. Helena, MT: Falcon Press. ISBN 0-7627-1077-2. 
• Pfitzer, Donald (2006). Hiking Georgia (Third Edition). Helena, MT: Morris Book Publishing/Falcon. ISBN 0-7627-3642-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=wi-aHmpX9xkC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=Vogel+State+Park&source=web&ots=AQR93MvC4z&sig=JrNb17duk4FGdxanvu0lPuNCMZ8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result. 
• Pfitzer, Donald (1993). Hiking Georgia (2nd edition). Helena, MT: Falcon Press. 

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 0897329600. http://books.google.com/books?id=4mZVrpcF7nYC&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=Cloudland+Canyon+State+Park&source=web&ots=r8eY2n_gYX&sig=59BSrSKw4pHL3IYTcnBgHuGMWzY&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA143,M1. Retrieved on 2008-10-11. 

External links

• Georgia State Parks-Cloudland Canyon

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