Cloudland Canyon State Park is located in Rising Fawn, Georgia, on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. The Cloudland Canyon waterfalls are known for being the most beautiful in the state, but there’s so much more to see during your stay. With over 64 miles of hiking trails, 30 miles of biking trails, and 16 miles of horseback riding trails, deciding what to do first can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time visiting the park. There’s a total of 3,538 acres to explore, so we’ve narrowed it down to some of our favorites, including top hikes such as the West Rim Loop Trail, the Overlook Trail, Sitton’s Gulch Trail, and the exceedingly popular Waterfalls Trail. From the turquoise blue waters of Cherokee Falls to the breathtaking views of Sitton’s Gulch that can be experienced from the park’s main scenic overlook spots, as well as a handful of other secrets spots we love, these are the 10 best things to do in Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia:
1. Cloudland Canyon Overlook Trail
Rating: This is an easy trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
The Cloudland Canyon Overlook Trail can be accessed just a few easy steps from the parking lot. This is a hike that almost anyone can do because, truthfully, you’ll likely be standing in the middle of this trail or walking along it at some point, regardless of whether you actually had any intention of hiking or not at all. That’s because this trail follows the top rim of Cloudland Canyon and is THE path that everyone takes in order to reach all the best photo spots overlooking the canyon. If you walk alongside the fence taking photos after exiting your car, congratulations: you are on the Overlook Trail and probably didn’t even know it. This short path runs for just one mile roundtrip and is mostly flat and level, requiring no stairs or uneven steps for the majority of it. There is, however, a small portion of this trail where the route deviates from the flat path and descends down a handful of rocky steps in order to reach 2 different overlook points.
While on the main portion of the Overlook Trail, be on the lookout for informational signs (like the one pictured above) that detail all the landmarks you can see in the distance. From this exact spot, you can see as far as the Tennessee River Gorge, 10 miles away. Sitton’s Gulch runs 900 feet below, and Sand Mountain can be spotted 4.5 miles away.
2. Relaxation Station
Just steps from the Main Trailhead parking lot and located directly in front of the Overlook Trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park, you’ll find this cozy little relaxation station with cute wooden chairs that overlook Sitton’s Gulch. It’s one of the best spots in the park for viewing the canyon, and you don’t even have to go on a hike to see it.
3. Cloudland Canyon Main Overlook
The Cloudland Canyon Main Overlook is a part of the short and easy Overlook Trail and is one of the best places to get unobstructed views of the deep canyon below.
4. Cloudland Canyon Waterfalls Trail
Rating: This is a strenuous trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
The Cloudland Canyon Waterfalls Trail will take hikers down into the canyon floor where not just one but TWO gorgeous waterfalls await–Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls. The trail itself is just a 2-mile roundtrip trek, but don’t let that short distance fool you–this is not an easy hike! The Waterfalls Trail consists almost entirely of stairs and steep inclines, descending almost 400 feet in roughly just a mile. There’s over 600 stairs in total, and once you’ve trod down all of them, you eventually will have to climb back up each and every one. This return hike is exhausting. There are areas on the hike where the stairs level off and provide small benches for you to take a rest, but your calves will likely be burning. The Cloudland Canyon Waterfalls Trail is rated as strenuous for good reason, but it is so worth it in the end if you can handle the effort. It’s by far my favorite hike in Cloudland Canyon!
5. Balancing Boulder on the Waterfalls Trail
Just before the Waterfalls Trail starts its series of steep (and seemingly endless) stairs in descent to the gorge floor below, you’ll pass by this huge boulder. It’s one of my favorite sights to see in the entire park, and there’s even a couple benches located right in front of it for you to take a quick rest, if needed. Trust me when I say that you’ll be grateful for these benches on your return hike back up from the canyon floor.
6. Cherokee Falls
This is 100% my favorite place in the entire park! Cherokee Falls is absolutely one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Georgia, and I was rendered almost speechless the first time I saw it. Its volume and ferocity varies depending on the season you visit and whether or not it has recently rained. It can be a raging rapids or a tranquil stream. It falls for 60 feet over the edge of a mossy canyon cliff, and its most striking feature is the gemstone blue pool that forms at its base. With boulders of varying sizes rising out of the water, the resulting visage looks like someplace out of a fairytale. Cloudland Canyon’s Cherokee Falls is the first of the two gorgeous waterfalls you will be rewarded with at the end of the Waterfalls Trail hike, reached at around the half-mile mark. For the best times to visit to increase your chances of seeing the falls at its bluest and prettiest, see our separate guide on Cherokee Falls (coming soon, will add link here once posted).
7. Cloudland Canyon Wall Hug
On the Waterfalls Trail on the way to Hemlock Falls, you’ll come across one of my favorite spots of the whole hike, an area where the narrow trail suddenly hugs a steep, vertical canyon wall as you round a corner. The rocky wall is covered with moss, and water trickles down its side. It’s uniquely pretty and feels almost enchanting, like someplace magical that you’d expect to find in a Studio Ghibli film, perhaps, but it’s right here in Georgia at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
8. Hemlock Falls
The second and final, as well as the largest, waterfall that you’ll visit on the Waterfalls Trail hike–Hemlock Falls–plunges 90 feet over the edge of a rocky cliff after roughly a mile into your trek. Its defining feature is the giant boulder that rests at the waterfall’s base on the canyon floor. Unlike Cherokee Falls, this waterfall has a wooden viewing deck. During certain times of the year, the flowing water can get quite rough and dangerous, so it’s best to view these falls from the safety of the designated area.
Read Next: 100+ Waterfall Quotes and Waterfall Captions for Instagram
9. Cloudland Canyon Sitton’s Gulch Trail
Rating: This is a strenuous trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
The 6-mile roundtrip Sitton’s Gulch Trail is one of the most strenuous trails in the park but also has some of the most incredible views. This trail shares its initial pathway with the Waterfalls Trail as it descends from the east rim of Cloudland Canyon into the canyon floor past Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls. From there, Sitton’s Gulch Trail continues on, running parallel with the boulder-strewn creeks for most of its journey as it descends even deeper into the canyon until eventually reaching the Canyon Park Drive parking lot near Sitton’s Cave. In total, this hike descends nearly 900 feet in depth before reaching its lowest point in Sitton’s Gulch. From there, you retrace your steps back upward, climbing back to the top of the canyon to complete the hike.
10. West Rim Loop Trail
Rating: This is a moderately strenuous trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
The West Rim Loop Trail is a 5-mile roundtrip, moderately strenuous hike that has been regularly named one of the best hikes in Georgia. Unlike most of the other lengthy hikes in Cloudland Canyon State Park, this one stays near the top of the canyon, exploring its western rim rather than diving deep into its depth to traverse the canyon floor. The first mile of the trail will be spent taking you across Daniel Creek to get you to the point where the loop actually begins. Then the loop will continue onward for 3 more miles before bringing you back to your original spot. From there, you’ll cross back over the creek again, completing the final (and fifth) mile of your hike.
When is the best time to visit Cloudland Canyon in Georgia?
Cloudland Canyon is most beautiful during summer or fall in Georgia. It’s up to you whether you’d prefer to see it full of lush green vegetation or painted the golden orange and vibrant red colors of the changing season. During the winter and early spring months, the leaves will be dead and trees will be bare, so Cloudland Canyon will appear as a duller, greyish color. Although it’s still pretty even at that time of year, it’s definitely not our favorite time to visit then. Cloudland Canyon is also located just 20 minutes from Rock City, so if you start your day early, it’s possible to see both of them on a combined trip!
Read Next: 18 Best Places to See Fall in Georgia
How much does it cost to go to Cloudland Canyon State Park?
There’s a $5 fee for parking at Cloudland Canyon State Park (as well as any other state park in Georgia). Alternatively, you can opt to purchase a $50 annual ParkPass that will give you access to unlimited visits at all the GA state parks for a year.
Cloudland Canyon State Park Camping
Cloudland Canyon State Park offers 119 total campsites (not including its cottages and lodges). There’s 72 tent, trailer, and RV campsites that have electric and water hookups available. There’s also an additional 30 walk-in campsites that are for tent only. If you’re looking for a campsite that requires a hike before reaching your place of rest, there’s also 13 backcountry campsites available, as well as 4 pioneer campsites which prove an Adirondack shelter for your use overnight. You can check campsite availability, see a map of campsite locations, and book your preferred campsite at Cloudland Canyon here.
Cloudland Canyon State Park Cabins and Cottages
In addition to its campsites, Cloudland Canyon State Park also offers 16 cabins / cottages that range in size from 2-bedroom to 3-bedroom. They come fully equipped with kitchens ready for cooking (pots and pans included), fireplaces, spacious living areas, and a screened-in porch–the perfect place to sit and enjoy being surrounded by nature. In addition to these cottages, there are also 10 heated yurts available for rent for up to 6 people. If you have a large group, Cloudland Canyon also has one 4-bedroom, 20-bed group lodge that sleeps up to 40 total people. You can check the availability of all cabins / cottages, yurts, and lodges–as well as reserve your stay in them–at the GA State Parks reservation site here.
Cloudland Canyon State Park Map
For a full-size PDF map of Cloudland Canyon State Park, including all its trails, restrooms, and other notable areas, please see the link here.
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