Cloudland Canyon State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Cloudland Canyon State Park is one of Georgia’s largest parks, encompassing 3,538 acres of land and water. It became a state park in 1939 when three local families sold some of their land to the state of Georgia, and it could originally be accessed only from Tennessee or Alabama. However, the Civilian Conservation Corps worked to establish a connection point from Georgia’s Highway 136 to the park, and it helped to construct many of the access roads that still exist there today.
This park sits on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, and it includes a deep canyon gorge and rugged mountains. Three creeks also run through the park: Daniel Creek, Bear Creek, and Sitton Gulch Creek. The same faults in the earth that created the park’s Lookout Mountain are also credited for creating the many miles of caves inside and just outside the park.
Nearby Cities
Trenton, GA
New England, GA
Rising Fawn, GA
Higdon, AL
Spring 45-72 F
Summer 66-89 F
Fall 46-72 F
Winter 28-49 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Cloudland Canyon State Park
Campground Accommodations
Cloudland Canyon State Park East Rim Campground
Water hookup: 24 sites
Electrical hookup: 24 sites
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 50 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, dump station, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, laundry services
Cloudland Canyon State Park West Rim Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: 45 sites
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 50 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, dump station, picnic tables, fishing pond, playground, restrooms, showers, laundry services
Lookout Mountain / Chattanooga West KOA
Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, this KOA features Lookout Mountain just to the east, and downtown Chattanooga just 15 minutes away. The campsites have breathtaking mountain views, and many area attractions are just minutes away.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: pool, laundry, dog park, pavilion
Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground
Visit this cave and RV park just outside Chattanooga. Tour the cave system, pan for gemstones, or just relax and appreciate the awesome mountain views of Lookout Mountain and Raccoon Mountain.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: dog park, laundry, showers, on-site trash pickup, playground
What to Do at
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon State Park offers a disc golf course you can play for $4 per person per round, and annual use passes for the course are available. This state park also has 16 miles of horseback riding trails, and there is a group shelter that may be rented for large events, including weddings. Throughout the park, visitors may spot local wildlife like deer, turkeys, and foxes. You can also enjoy scenic fields of wildflowers that typically bloom in April.
Aside from hiking through Cloudland Canyon and to the top of Lookout Mountain, you can tour many underground caves with a park ranger. You can also get great photos at Hemlock Falls and Cherokee Falls, both of which can be found along the park's Waterfalls Trail.
Inside Cloudland Canyon State Park
There’s plenty to do as you explore this area of Lookout Mountain. Find sparkling streams, rushing waterfalls, and scenic overlooks that will take your breath away. Here are some of the activities in the park:
Biking: There are more than 30 miles of trails for you to test your mountain biking mettle on. Bring your own bike, or rent one at the park for the day.
Caving: If you’re an experienced wild caver, you can explore the caves at the park during April, June–July & September–October. You are required to have the proper permits and to make reservations.
Disc golfing: There is a disc golf course at the park, and for $4/round you can play.
Fishing: Try to catch some bass, trout, and other fish in the park. If you’re a Georgia resident, there are three days you don’t even need a license - June 1, June 8 and September 28, 2019.
Fishing
Cloudland Canyon State Park has a 1-acre fishing pond that is stocked with channel catfish. You may use this pond for catch-and-release fishing from Dec. 1 to Labor Day, and keep your catch from the pond the rest of the year. While other streams in the park have some fish, fishing is not allowed in them.
Geocaching
All state parks in Georgia offer geocaching opportunities, and they offer rewards for those who find geocaches in all the parks within any one of the four park regions of the state. Cloudland Canyon State Park is part of the mountainous region, and anyone who finds the state park’s official hidden geocache can submit it along with the caches from eight other parks in the Mountain region to earn a geocache coin.
Hiking
There are 64 miles of hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty at Cloudland Canyon State Park, ranging from the easy 0.25-mile, wheelchair-accessible Overlook Trail to the strenuous 6-mile Sitton’s Gulch Trail. The 1-mile Meadowlands Trail is also popular in the summer for anglers to access the park’s fishing pond, and the trail itself features a disc golf course and wild blackberries that may be picked in early July.
Biking
Bicyclists can use a couple of multi-use trails, including the 14-mile-long Cloudland Connector Trail. Bikers also enjoy using the 5 Points Recreation Area, a former coal mining area that has been transformed into a mountain biking range with miles of easy to technically difficult dirt trails.
How to Get to
Cloudland Canyon State Park
You can reach Cloudland Canyon State Park via Georgia’s Highway 136 from both the north and south. The park is located just outside the town of Trenton, which you can access via Highway 11 and I-59. This park is also located approximately 27 miles southwest of Chattanooga, TN.
Entering Cloudland Canyon State Park
There is a $5 parking fee to enter the park, which campers with a reservation must also pay. This parking fee covers one vehicle per day, and it only needs to be paid once for campers, even if they’re staying for multiple days.
Visiting Cloudland Canyon State Park is sure to create great memories for you and your family. From caving to fishing to exploring the area by hiking, there’s sure to be an activity for everyone in your group! While you’re out and about, don’t forget to tag us in your social media posts or send us a photo and some details at [email protected]. We may just feature your story on our blog or social media channels. Happy camping!
Frequently Asked Questions About Cloudland Canyon State Park
Perhaps the best time of year to visit Cloudland Canyon State Park is in the spring when the park hosts multiple outdoor programs. Visitors may enjoy camping during the Wildflower Program in April, Adventure Weekend in April, or Kids’ Catfish Rodeo in May.
Visitors often report seeing animals such as deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, red-tailed hawks, foxes, and bats in this park. The best time to see wildlife is in the late afternoon and early evening hours year-round.
There are 122 campsites at the combined East Rim and West Rim campgrounds found at Cloudland Canyon State Park, and 75 of these sites are designated for RV camping with electrical hookups. Water hookups are available at 24 of those 75 campsites.
Campers are encouraged to reserve a campsite at this park prior to their visit, and reservations can be made online. The fee to camp at this state park's campground is $44 per night or $308 per week for a premium campsite.
Pets are allowed at this state park and at its campground. Pet owners are required to supervise their animals at all times, pick up after them, and keep them on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.