Cloudland Canyon State Park: North Georgia Mountain Getaway

Cloudland Canyon State Park is one of the most beautiful places in Georgia. Whether you’re looking for a day trip or a weekend away, add this north Georgia destination to your list!

The first time I visited Cloudland Canyon, I was four. I loved it then, and I love it now – and I’ve been there over a dozen times. In fact, if you only have time to see one natural beauty in Georgia, Cloudland Canyon is my wholehearted recommendation.

In this post, I will explain where Cloudland Canyon is, what to do there, and where to stay. Let’s get started!

Cloudland Canyon State Park: An Introduction

• Where: Rising Fawn, Georgia; approximately 2 hours from Atlanta
• Entry Cost: $5 per private vehicle (waived if you are staying at a cabin)
• Wheelchair accessible: partially (part of the Overlook Trail)
• Pet Friendly: yes!
• Website: gastateparks.org/cloudlandcanyon

Cloudland Canyon State Park spans 3,485 acres (14.1 square km) in the northwest corner of Georgia. It is located on the western side of Lookout Mountain and its crowning jewel is the canyon itself, which is over 1000 feet deep in some places. There are also intriguing rock formations, scenic waterfalls, and mysterious caves.

Millions of years ago tectonic activity caused the mountains to rise up, and later the canyon was formed by erosion. The culprit – the Sitton Gulch Creek – still runs through the area. You will encounter it on many of the hiking trails!

Today Cloudland Canyon attracts visitors of all kinds. People come to hike, camp, and simply relax in the outdoors. You will probably see deer and wild turkeys, and if you’re lucky, maybe even a black bear. (Alas, I have yet to see a bear and, like I said, I’ve been there over a dozen times.)

Cloudland Canyon is one of the best day trips from Atlanta, but it is also an excellent place for a weekend getaway. Many people stay the night in the cabins or campgrounds. I highly recommend the cabins – my family has lodged there numerous times. More about lodging below!

And now let’s talk about what you should do at Cloudland Canyon. There’s no shortage of options.

Hiking At Cloudland Canyon State Park

One of Cloudland Canyon’s main attractions is hiking. And it’s easy to see why – the natural landscape of the canyon offers many opportunities for gorgeous views. Even though I have been there so many times, I never get tired of it.

There are trails appropriate for guests of all levels (ranging in length from 1 mile to 14 miles). I’ll start by telling you about my two favorites.

West Rim Loop Trail

The West Rim Loop Trail (4.9 miles total) is famed as one of the most beautiful hikes in Georgia. You start at the East Rim trailhead and hike across the canyon to the West Rim. Then the trail climbs up to curve along the western canyon rim. As you walk along the edge, prepare to be stunned by the impressive canyon vistas!

In addition to canyon views, this trail is constantly offering something new and fun. Giant rocks to climb on? Check. Crevasses to squeeze into? Yep. A wooden bridge crossing a stream? Of course!

Most of the cabins are located on the West Rim, so if you are staying overnight, you can do the trail in reverse. When I was young we would always walk a few minutes from the cabins to the trail and then head toward the East Rim trailhead.

And, typically, we would connect to the Waterfalls Trail and spend the whole day hiking.

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Waterfalls Trail

Aside from the canyon itself, Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls are the main attraction at Cloudland Canyon. Waterfalls pouring over sandstone cliffs . . . what’s not to love?

The Waterfalls Trail is only two miles long, but it’s a workout. First comes the steep descent to Cherokee Falls, and then the even steeper way down to Hemlock Falls. You climb down over 600 steps in total, which means, of course, that you have to come back up them, too.

But all this hard work is worth it! Cherokee Falls is my favorite. There is a pool of water to splash around in and lots of rocks to sit on. Daring visitors can even climb on the ledges behind the waterfall. Cherokee Falls is an awesome place to rest and picnic and so many of my childhood memories include it.

Cloudland Canyon lists this trail as strenuous, but you can do it with your family. My little siblings have been hiking it since they were toddlers (proof is in the photos above!). If you get too tired, you can always stop at Cherokee Falls and skip the climb down to Hemlock Falls.

The amount of water in the falls depends on the season and the amount of precipitation that year. Sometimes there is an impressive sheet of water thundering down; other times there is a more dignified trickle. But either way, the waterfalls deserve a visit!

Note: you should not bring dogs on this trail. Many of the steps are made of metal bars that are difficult for dogs to navigate.

READ NEXT: Cherokee, North Carolina: Beautiful & Historic Mountain Getaway

Other Trails

Two other popular trails include the Overlook Trail and the Cloudland Connector Trail.

• The Overlook Trail is an easy 1-mile hike with beautiful views of the canyon. It is paved and mostly level, so this is a great option for people in wheelchairs or with strollers. Depending on your comfort level, you will be able to access different amounts of the trail.

• The Cloudland Connector Trail stretches for 14 miles between Cloudland Canyon and the Nickajack Trailhead. You can read all about it on rootsrated.com. It’s not for the faint of heart!

Here is a complete list of Cloudland Canyon trails for you to consult.

What To Do At Cloudland Canyon State Park

We’ve already covered hiking, but that only scratches the surface. Here are some other activities you can do at Cloudland Canyon:

• Caving/spelunking (only experienced cavers, and permits and reservations are required)
• Disc golf ($4 per person per round)
• Fishing
• Geocaching
• Horseback riding: Cloudland Canyon has 16 miles of trails suitable for horses. You do, however, have to bring your own horses.
• Mountain biking: The 5-Points Trail System is located right next to Cloudland Canyon. You just have to pay the $5 park entrance fee and then you are good to go. Bring your bike and enjoy the 20 miles of trails!
• Stargazing: go to the canyon rim after dark and enjoy gazing up at the night sky

Where To Stay At Cloudland Canyon State Park

There is no shortage of places to stay at Cloudland Canyon, as you will soon see. To book any kind of lodging, go to the GA State Parks website. The cabins especially sell out far in advance, so don’t delay in making your reservations.

Cloudland Canyon Cabins

Cloudland Canyon has 16 cabins (or “cottages”). Cottages 6-16 are located on the West Rim of the canyon, while 1-5 are on the East Rim. We always stay on the West Rim, which has its own access road and consequently is more isolated. (The East Rim cabins are right next to the main trailheads and the campsites.)

The cabins have 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms, a kitchen/living room (with a fireplace), and a screened-in porch. There is also a fire circle and a picnic table out back. Maximum occupancy ranges between 6-8 people, so it’s perfect for a family. Growing up we fit 2 adults and 5 kids without any issues.

Two of the cabins (Cottages 2 and 3) are ADA accessible. Note that both of these cottages are on the East Rim. If you really want to stay on the West Rim but are concerned about accessibility, I recommend Cottage 7, 8, or 9.

While these three cabins are not approved as ADA accessible, they do have paved entry ramps rather than stairs. Cabin 8 even has a walk-in shower with bars and a shower seat.

Worried about your furry friends? Cottages 3, 6, and 7 are designated as dog-friendly.

I love staying at Cloudland Canyon’s cabins, and I can’t recommend it enough. They offer the perfect setting for family fun and relaxation. The fire circles outside are one of my favorite parts: there’s nothing like sitting around a campfire and breathing the fresh mountain air.

Other Places To Stay

At Cloudland Canyon, you can choose between many different types of accommodation. In addition to the cabins, there are 10 yurts as well as over 100 campsites (tent, trailer, RV, backcountry, pioneer). You can even rent a group lodge, which sleeps 40.

In the interest of being transparent, I should note that I personally have only ever stayed in the cabins. But don’t let that stop you from exploring the other options!

And note that, wherever you stay, you should bring supplies with you. It’s a long drive down the mountain for food.

Go Visit Cloudland Canyon!

In conclusion, Cloudland Canyon is a must-visit location, whether you’re a solo traveler, a family with little kids, or a retired couple. Go spend some time in the north Georgia mountains – you won’t regret it.

And be sure to check out my other recommendations for day trips in north Georgia. Georgia has so much natural beauty to offer, and yet many Georgia natives have no idea what lies on their doorstop.

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Photo credit: Thank you to John Deitsch for sharing his photo of Cherokee Falls in Cloudland Canyon State Park. John is an undergrad studying entomology and biological sciences at Cornell University.

You can follow him on Instagram at @deitsch_photography or check out his website for more nature-themed photos.