Resting on the western edge of northwest Georgia’s Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon State Park is more than 3,000 acres—one of the state’s largest parks—of rugged geology, and offers visitors hiking, camping, rock climbing and more along the park’s most iconic feature: the deep gorge cut through the mountain (elevation varies from 800 to more than 1,800 feet!) by the Sitton Gulch Creek. Multiple waterfalls and cascades, including the uber-popular Hemlock Falls, can be found throughout the gorge, making this park feel like a hidden gem around Lookout Mountain.

 Staring at the geographic anomaly isn’t the only thing to do at this park, however. Beyond the countless miles of hiking, biking and horse riding trails, geology fanatics can find rock climbing, rappelling and spelunking across the park—cave tours are even offered for beginning cave explorers at Sitton’s Cave.

 The park holds a massive variety of camping options, including 72 spots suitable for both tent and RV campers, 30 walk-in sites, 13 dispersed sites, 16 cottages and 10 yurts, each in a different area of the park. With this many options, campers can find seclusion all around.

Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

We stayed at campsite #17 in the walk-in campground. It was easy to find the site, although it was strange that sites 16,17, &amp; 18 were out of order. Our site was along a dried creek and it was gorgeous. We got there on a Thursday and there were only a handful of the other walk-in sites taken. The site across the creek from us was occupied and the voices of those individuals did echo right to us... however, we couldn’t see them. The second night of our stay, the campground really filled up and that’s when we got annoyed by some of the nearby campers (mostly unsupervised children who wandered right next to our site to whack trees with machetes). Our site was clean except for a lot of cigarette butts around the fire pit (they don’t biodegrade, people!). The visitor’s center is a close and easy drive and everyone there was so friendly. There is firewood there. Off of the parking lot of the walk-in site there were showers and water spigots. The walk-in campsite has a connecting trail to take you almost anywhere you want to hike in the park. The waterfalls hike was amazing, but dogs might not like the grated metal steps (of which there are 600). We were told that there are no active bear populations within the park but there definitely are some monstrous raccoons who will take off with your cooler so definitely don’t leave food at your site. It’s easy enough to walk the little bit to the parking lot to grab meals from your car. We can’t wait to visit, again! The rating of 4 out of 5 reflects our disappointment in the noise level within the campground that second night AND the fact that we never saw an attendant or ranger in that particular campground during our stay.

Walk-in sites: Beautiful, mostly private, easy trail access

There are a TON of different ways to camp here. There are cabins, primitive sites, YURTS, etc. So, there is a lot to choose from. The park was pretty clean even though it can get pretty busy in the summer months. There is a little camp store where you can purchase things you forgot as well. And the hiking is great! The West Rim Loop Trail has stunning views a few waterfalls and overlooks. Great park!

Gorgeous park with many options!

The trip is worth taking just to hike for the breathtaking views and waterfalls! We camped overnight as well. Will definitely be returning to Cloudland Canyon.

Gorgeous place!

I have spent a lot of time at cloudland and I always love spending time there. From camping to hiking it's always a good time!! 

Stairs!!!

Excellent camp sites, trails and waterfalls. The view from West Rim Loop Trail is great and runs along some of the best parts of the gorge and canyon. Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls are also great attractions and are especially cool to see when the water tables is up. I also heard they recently added a disc golf course can't wait for our next visit.

West Georgia Mountains 

Family friendly campground with FABULOUS views.  The park is very clean and maintained from RV sites to the pioneer camping sites & the bath houses, the rangers & volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable.  I highly recommend visiting this park.

Cloudland Canyon State Park, Rising Fawn Georgia 

This is one of the coolest parks I have been to! The views are incredible, and the waterfall is absolutely spectacular. 

There are plenty of trails to explore and cool places to hang your hammock up in. It is a wonderful place to camp for a few days!

One of my favorites

Outside Trenton, Ga, off of I59 **Cloudland Canyon State Park** has the views!

The West Rim trail was not super difficult but lots of roots and rocks, so watch your step. Plenty of overlook opportunities, the main overlook is at the Interpretive Center. Bear Creak is a back country 7+ mile adventure, check in before you go. There are several other shorter trails including a waterfall Trail. Then there's 5 Points Recreation Area which has bike, horse and hiking trails.

There are cabins, yurts, RV camping, back country sites and walk in tent sites, BUT reserve early! Friendly helpful staff have taken good care of the maintenance of the camping areas and the trails.

I liked the walkin campsite. It was far enough away from the other sites to not be disturbed, had connector trails to other areas of the park and a stream nearby. Plenty of room for more then one tent or hammocks and a picnic table and fire ring.

Gets its name honest

**Cloudland Canyon State Park** is worth the drive. Located between I75 and I59 in Georgia, outside Trenton and below Chattanooga, Tn.

The scenery on the way in is breathtaking and varied.

I spoke with staff at the visitors center and if you can plan ahead and reserve! Cottages( fancy word for cabin...no dogs allowed), RV camping and walk in primitive sites gives you options.

The trails are moderate and strenuous, plus if your doing the Bear one, it's remote and you need to check in before going.

Good hiking!

I see you...

This park was really nice. We stopped while passing through. The only sites available were walk in tent sites. This isn't a huge big deal but it wasn't ideal for us at that particular time. We had a hard time identifying our site number as they really weren't marked but it wasn't far from the parking lot. There was a tent pad and fire ring but no picnic table. Not the end of the world as we arrived late and were really just sleeping there for the night. The sounds were amazing, owls for a good part of the night. We did have an issue with noise, there was a large group somewhere that was very loud well in to quiet hours and without a camp hose or attendant in the walk in sites, nothing was done about it and the noise started back up first thing in the morning as well. The park did acknowledge other complaints but without knowing which site they were in, it was hard to correct the situation. We did decide to explore the park before driving on and hiked to two waterfalls. Both hikes contained many stairs which is a good workout. The falls were really pretty and well worth the walk with a toddler.

Beautiful

We visited Cloudland Canyon during the fall. While the drought prevented us from seeing the sought after waterfalls, the cooler fall weather made the hiking easier. The West Rim loop trail offers some amazing panoramic views that are made even more stunning with fall colors.

Cloudland Canyon doesn't offer site-specific reservations (at least when we went), so that's something to keep in mind when you visit. Arrive early if you can. We arrived late on a Friday evening and ended up driving between the West and East Rim loops to try to figure out where there was a vacant site.

The sites had tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. They are pretty close, but not as packed in as some state parks are. We got a site on the outer edge and didn't feel too crowded in. The bathrooms were convenient and clean.

Beautiful views of the canyon

We had a great time! Pretty trails and waterfalls. It was during the week so it was pretty quiet.

Great time!

My boyfriend and I enjoyed every minute in Cloudland canyons even despite the pouring rain that never ceased. But we didn’t let that stop us hiking the West Rim Loop Trail and camping at the Walk In Campsite. We loved the views, waterfalls, and walk ability of this park. Would highly recommend for anyone in the Tennessee/Alabama/Georgia area!

Rainy Weekend Chasing Waterfalls

There is two rv/tent camping areas, east and west rim. West has more sites but I prefer the east because of the access to the Canyon. Also yurts and primitive Camping plus cabins as well. The Canyon is beautiful from the top but you must hike down to see the falls!

Great place to hike and the scenery is beautiful. Plenty of campsites

Cloudland Canyon has beautiful trails and scenery especially the waterfalls but be prepared for some intensive hikes. As a family we camp as much as possible and the kids and dogs definitely loved these trails also Chattanooga was really close and we visited the aquarium It was definitely worth the trip.

Very cardio intensive 

Great hiking with 3 waterfslls  Beautiful setting on Lookout Mountain. The campgrounds are well maintained &amp; the restrooms are clean. 

One of my favorite campgrounds.  Great hiking with 3 beautiful waterfalls.  Well maintained.  

West Rim highly recommended. The East Rim sites are right next to each other with very few trees. Great hikes. Read a longer review with lots of photos on the link. https://imaginecamper.com/2018/03/02/cloudland-canyon-state-park/

West Rim only 

Hiking down to the falls was pretty darn tough, but there are actually stairs to climb rather than scrambling over rocks and roots. At first I felt like I was cheating by using the stairs, but believe me, you want to use them but the time you have to climb back up. The park is beautifully maintained and the views are absolutely stunning!

Stunning views!

Despite what the website shows there are a couple of pull through sites. Nice state park that is well maintained. Awesome views from the rim trails. Power and water hookups only. Clean bath houses with laundry facilities. Lots of covered pavilions for group gatherings. Cabins and yurts available to rent. Lots of trails from mild to exterme. Walk in tent sites. Mountain bike rentals, disc golf and tennis courts as well as a fishing lake.

Sites are nice with grill and picnic table.

Great spot with lots of activities.

Beautiful sunset views at the canyon

We didn't have a ton of time to spend at Cloudland Canyon and only stayed 1 night but we loved the walk-in sites! It's a good alternative to drive up sites that are often very close together.

There was a wooden tent pad, picnic table, and campfire ring. Watch your food, a raccoon almost grabbed what we were cooking!

We used this as a base camp to explore the many trails near Chattanooga, but there seemed like there was a lot to do at this park by itself -- hiking, cave tours, and great views.

Really peaceful even when it rained the entire time...

Walk-in sites were great and private!

Great place for family and hanging with friends.  The east and west wings of the park aren’t for weak. The stairs leading down to the falls are a real challenge getting back up to the top. Regardless of the challenges, this is truly amazing, the views and wild blueberry bushes, different types of wildlife, is worth it all. 

Amazing place

Cloudland Canyon is one of the most popular state parks in Georgia and for good reason. The breath taking views from the rim are gorgeous at anytime of year  The waterfalls a great to cool off in during the summer and are a spectacle to behold during the cooler months. There are also plenty of trails to explore, some tracing the perimeter of the canyon, and others diving deep into its depths. This Park makes a great place for a picnic, a family fun day, or even some Disc Golf with some friends. After a long day of fun, visitors can camp out over night. They have yurts, pioneer camping, RV camping, and back country camping. The back country campsites are located on a easy 2 mike loop, long enough to feel secluded and embrace nature, but close enough to have access to whatever you need. the sites themselves are fairly spread out with plenty of space cleared for tents, hammocks, or whatever else visitors might set up. They each have a wooden picnic table and a couple fire pits with logs to sit on when enjoy the fire. All in all, this place has it all and I would highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a quick getaway. 

Great views, activities, and campsites

We LOVE this park and wanted to spend more time to camp there as a family. It was a wonderful experience! We camped the weekend before July 4 so it was pretty full, but from our walk-in campsite #20 we felt like we had our own little corner of the woods. There are no site specific reservations. It is first come first served. At site #20 we had the sand pit for our large tent, a fire ring with grill, picnic table, and pitched our small tent in another clear area on the site. We found 2 perfect spots to hang our hammocks as well. It was hot, but a dip in the falls cools you right off. Technically there is no swimming at the falls. Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone.

There is a little bit everything at Cloudland: backcountry, walk-in, yurts, cabins, and a large group site on the east side. Our west-rim campsite had clean, well stocked facilities. The comfort stations increase in quality as you increase in site fees. The yurt c.s. was nicer than our walk-in station, but I loved our walk-in camping experience. I wouldn’t change a thing. All of our kids had a blast and the fur babies too! The walking trails and waterfalls are gorgeous! They have places for ultimate frisbee, biking trails, and fishing as well as a stocked visitors center in case you forget something. I am sure we will be back again his fall.

Perfect for our first family camping trip. 

This is one park where the campsites are spaced out perfectly. Most of the time you will not see another person unless you walk to them. I’ve gone with and without a dog and always had a great time. The canyon isn’t too bad either.

Very open campsite with views

This campground offers hiking trails to gorgeous waterfalls and views. There is a nice camp store and the staff is friendly and helpful. The campsites are first come first serve, but we happened upon a private site. The bathrooms were clean and the park is well-maintained. We look forward to going back again and swimming near the waterfalls when it is hot enough.

Amazing waterfalls & views

We hiked here! Although the waterfall was not as big as expected due to a low rainy season the hike was beautiful! And the oversight views incredible! Perfect place for fall in North Georgia! There are a ton of steps to and from the bottom of the canyon where we hiked, and there are several trails to take! Was a busy trail during the fall.

Beautiful in the fall 

One of my favorite campgrounds in Georgia! Absolutely beautiful!

Gorgeous 

My boyfriend and I stayed at one of the Primitive camping spots. We hiked about a mile into the woods and got to pick which site we wanted. It had an outhouse and a fire pit but everything else was on your own. Great first time experience and lots of pretty falls and trails to check out during the day. I was so sad to leave.

Awesome primitive camping experience!

I camped in the Backcountry loop. Very quiet spot. Very friendly staff. Lucas (my GSD) Andy I had a great stay. Beautiful waterfalls.

Absolutely beautiful park

Ranger Review: **Mountain House Freeze** **Dried Meals** at **Cloudland Canyon East Rim, GA**.

Campground Review:**East Rim Campground** Pro’s: 1-Handicap Accessible, there is a cabin which is also HDA. 2- If your visiting for a get together your right next to the day use area and there is a picnic pavilion within the campground. 3-The Interpretive Center is close by, the Main Overlook is close by and the Main trailhead is close by.

I like the West Rim Campground better. Few reasons: 1-**East Rim Campground** is adjacent to the day use area so there is A LOT more vehicle and foot traffic. 2-East Rim Campground is very open, not much shade and the sites are one after another, no privacy. Definitely suited for big rigs. 3-The cabins are right next to the campground also, more traffic.

So it really goes to preference and why your visiting.

The sites each have fire ring, grill, electric, water and gravel drives. Most are on wood patios, no stakes are going in this ground. There is a showerhouse with laundry facilities centrally located and a picnic pavilion and playground within the campground.

We enjoyed the Overlook Trail , easy walk and excellent views! The main trailhead gives you access to the falls below and the other nearby trails. It’s a LONG (down and up), somewhat strenuous hike so take water and snacks ;)

Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I get to review products while I review campgrounds.

My absolute favorite thing about **Mountain House Meals** [https://www.mountainhouse.com/](https://www.mountainhouse.com/), aside from the taste is the convenience! Back in the day when my kids were young I would drag out all the fixings and flat wear and pots and etc. then make whatever meal it was. Then we would eat, then we would clean up. Half the morning /afternoon/evening was gone. (Which at times had its perks) But now that my kids are grown I like to be up and on the trail as soon as possible. Mountain House is a key ingredient in that life style. Start a fire, throw on water to boil, pour in pouch, eat…DONE! Breakfast meals are my favorite. The only issue I have ever had with any meal was the rice being crunchy, but that was my fault. Even then it still tasted crunchy good :)

I had the Oatmeal with milk and blueberries this time. LOTS of blueberries!

So needless to say I had a supply of Mountain House before this opportunity to review the product; in my vehicle, in the camper and in the house for emergency situations.

I can see your house from here

Wat a beautiful park with great hiking and we'll maintained trails.

Beautiful Waterfalls 

One of my favorite campgrounds in Georgia is at Cloudland Canyon State Park. A small hike from the parking area, there's plenty of space in these woods for a quaint and quiet stay. Our backcountry campground had a fire pit and even a picnic table, and was nestled beside a babbling brook. We set up our tents, hung our hammocks and got cooking as soon as we arrived. The next morning, the sun's early rays could be seen from our tent opening, making for an epic start to the day. There are outhouses nearby and the visitor's center is only a few minutes' drive away if anyone in your camping party desires running water. A great balance! All the hikes around Cloudland are winners, and you can easily spend the weekend there.

Backcountry Camping That's Nicely Balanced

My best friend and I went camping here the first week of February last year. We missed the super bowl. It was so worth it. It was cold, but we were able to stay pretty warm with our big tent and electric heater. The hike to the falls is pretty, but there are a lot of stairs. Definitely worth the trek. The loop trail is also worth the walk. It’s not terribly strenuous, but it provides some great overlooks/views. 

Great park

3 night stay on the west rim. Large, level sites with lots of shade and privacy. Staff was friendly and helpful. Bathhouse is smaller than other campgrounds we’ve been to, but clean and functional. Lots of hiking (we only covered about 9 miles over the weekend so there’s lots more for other trips). Really enjoyed this State Park and will definitely be back. 

Amazing Views

Cloudland Canyon SP in Georgia is on the top of Lookout Mountain. A small stream runs through the park, and has cut a deep gorge into the mountain. 
The view down the gorge is spectacular in fall.
There are 2 campground loops, walk-in tent sites and a yurt village.
The west loop is larger, mostly wooded, with level sites, with water and electric.
The east loop sites are closer together, and not as private.
The Waterfalls Trail is a steep climb, with stairs down to Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls. There is also a cave to explore with a guide.

Best in the Fall

Our absolute favorite spot is #3 but we were very happy with #5! They went to an online specific reservation system now so no more guessing which spot you'll fight for. A long side trail off the main loop, you'll get some mountain views between the winter trees and climb up to what feels like the top of the mountain. Very private. There's a nice flat spot for the tent and plenty of running space for the pup to play fetch. The picnic table is right next to the fire pit which was nice and I was able to hang my hammock up on the other side! The only downside is your water source is down at the main loop so you'll want to get that on your way in or out. 

There's a little trail that leads to the park border and private property I assume. 

Backcountry #5

Very clean with both day areas and multiple camping areas. Lots of rv sites and tent camping, along with walk in camp sites. Also have cabins and glamping!

Lots of trails, frezby golf and a fishing pond.

Waterfalls and hiking

Cloudland is absolutely beautiful!! I used to come up to this area every summer growing up but never visited the park. I’m so glad my wife recommended we actually go to the park. I’ll be honest, the hike down to the falls wasn’t to bad. The hike back up was pretty difficult. Tons of stairs. But the trails down by the falls were nice and level and very scenic. When we went it was pretty dang cold but because we were down in the valley we didn’t get much wind.

I love that Cloudland is pet friendly as well. We can’t have a dog right now but we got to see many friendly pups on the trail. It’s also really nice that Cloudland has areas with vending machines because I always forget something. The hike in camp sights are nice. They have picnic tables, which is nice for us because we normally eat on the ground with the trails we do. Overall Cloudland was awesome and I will definitely be going back.

Breath taking. From the views to the hike back up! Lol 

Cloudland Canyon is my family’s top destination for our autumn camping experience. Between the rock cliffs, amazing overlooks, beautiful waterfalls and great hiking trails... Cloudland Canyon really has it all! Definitely worth a trip if you have never been there!

Always amazing

This is my favorite! Gorgeous views all around! We have tent camped on site #33 and can't wait to go back!! West Rim campground is the best one, with plenty of space between large sites and most sites are shaded. If at all physically possible, hike to the waterfalls! Going down is fine but the coming back up is a challenge for this old girl from the flat lands of south Georgia, but so worth it! If you can only do one, I think Cherokee falls is the easiest and it's beautiful!

My favorite State park in Georgia!

We travel around the country and stay at many campgrounds.  This is one of the few places we would plan a trip to just for the campground/park.  They have two campgrounds each providing a unique experience depending on what your looking for.  The East rim campground is close to all the amenities.  Very nice sites within easy walking distance of all the overlooks and playgrounds.  The West rim campground is in the forest and takes a drive or hike to get to the day use amenities.  We chose the West rim and it's peaceful and beautiful sites.  Most the outer sites provide a raised parking pad with a private viewing area of the forest below.  Our site not only had a large area for the picnic table but had a separate deck like area for looking out over the forest.  Down the hill beside the retaining wall for the pad was our fire pit thus providing us three different relaxing spots in one campsite.  We have already planned on coming back just for this campground. 

It's a 13 mile half hour drive to Lookout Mountain

Put at the top of your list

The drive is one of a lovely country side, but about 10 miles from the park, you notice you are going up... up...  with an occasional clear peep at the beautiful farm valley below.  Sometimes those same views are veiled with clouds.  

  

Upon entering the park you check in with friendly, helpful staff. The store is filled with items you may have forgotten, various treats and branded goods.

  

The wooded campsites are roomy and comfortable with picnic tables and fire rings.  Our campsite had a little unmarked path that went down to a little stream with a foot-bridge and intersected with a larger path.  Close by the campsite are various well marked trailheads.  

  

If you want to take in the beauty nearby, there are various levels of hiking available, from easy to very challenging.  If it is a more easygoing level you seek, just head over to the Nature Center in the middle of the park.  Right behind it the view that is stunning.  When they say “pictures  don’t do it justice” they mean it.  You see a 800-900 ft gorge and a multilevel waterfall.  You must just sit and listen to the waterfall and feel the cool breeze.  If looking for a challenge, take one of the several trails to see waterfalls or overlooks.  There is no lack of photo opportunities.

  

The park is well kept.  The comfort stations were a bit disappointing and not maintained well, though this could have been an anomaly.

  

Whether you want to walk in, drive in, tent camp, RV, cabin or yurt, your adventure sensibilities will not be hurt!!

They don’t call it Cloudland for nothin’!

We stayedHere in 2018 And enjoyed it thoroughly. The new campground was a little bit stark and treeless to suit us but the other side up in the trees was really fabulous.  the scenery is incredible nice place all around well-kept well-maintained

Beautiful area

If you are looking for options this State Park has a little bit of everything. This is an extremely large campground spread out all over the park. We stayed in the west rim campground and the sites were giant and secluded. Bathrooms were nothing special but clean and accessible. There is plenty of canopy cover in this west rim whereas the east rim was far more wide open, without much cover. They have Pioneer/walk-in sites, a Yurt loop as well as cottages. The sight seeing and hiking is awesome in this area. There is a day use area for those who just want to checkout the main overlook and or waterfall. We are most certainly looking forward to coming back to this campground and state park to explore. If needing a campsite near Chattanooga it is close enough even though it’s located in north Georgia. Be sure to do some exploring and at least check out the overlook! 

Plenty of options in this State Park Campground

Cloudland Canyon State Park is located in North Georgia at the end of Lookout Mountain. The views there are breathtaking! There are trails to a waterfall and several overlook spots, perfect for pics! The campground is divided into two sections- east rim and west rim, plus there are backcountry sites, pioneer sites, and a yurt village. There’s so much to explore here, I can’t imagine getting bored, but if you do, Chattanooga is just a short 20 min drive. 

The campgrounds are gated, so if you will be arriving late, you’ll need to call and get a gate code. Also, there’s a two night minimum on the weekends, however if a site is only open for one night, you can call the park directly and they will book it for you. 

We stayed in the west rim loop on site #47, it was a 50amp pull through. All the sites were very spacious, and I love how the fire rings were off the picnic area, and there was a charcoal grill as well. The west rim loop is heavily wooded, so there’s lots of privacy and also lots of good hammock space. The restrooms were ok, nothing special. 

The east rim loop looked to be much more open, not in the woods, but it is very close to the main overlook, so there could be some really nice views there. 

The yurt village looked really cool, I’m hoping to stay there sometime. The bathhouse in that area looked really nice too. 

I really love this area, and the camping is great! 

Beautiful Park

I actually took this trip back in 2017 with a group of random people from my university. It was an amazing campground and hiking experience!

Amazing trip

We stayed at the walk-in campground for tents only. Lots of space per site with picnic table and fireplace. Bathrooms were clean. Shower was available. Trails start right at the campsites, so no need to drive to a different hiking parking lot. Dog friendly. Water spigot is available near the bathhouse. Campsite was clean and level. 

Beautiful place to camp

Love this State Park, tons of hiking around and down into the canyon to the falls. Sites were well maintained and the staff was helpful and friendly! We will definitely be returning to this Georgia State Park again!

Georgia does it again!

The walkin sites are amazing here! We had site number 21 and it had plenty of trees to hang our 4 hammocks. The west rim hike was nice and accessible from the campsite. It was in the 90s while we were there, but enjoyable under the shade of the trees. Rangers were super helpful with any questions we had. Bathrooms were ok at the walkin area, but not the best I've seen. The showers were hard to manage for my husband who is 6 ft. He said the shower head was at his chest and the stall was on the small side. Other than that, I have no complaints and would definitely go back.  There were no mosquitoes when we went in July. The crickets are super loud when it gets dark. Drove around the west and east campgrounds too.  The west have more privacy and tree coverage. the east is closer to the falls with less trees and more traffic through. The cabins looked super nice on the east side and the yurts were on the west side of the park. I would totally stay in the walkin sites again.  We also visited nearby Lula Lake while we were there. They have certain weekends when they are open to the public. Hiking trails and more waterfalls to see.

Peaceful and scenic 

Great clean campground with awesome trails and easy access. Love the shade provided by the forest. Clean ablution facilities and friendly staff. 

Tranquility 

This park is kept up top-notch people all day long going around keeping each site clean as people leave the waterfalls are beautiful 700 steps 1000 foot down into a canyon hiking trails catfish pond great place

Super clean

We stayed in the East Rim Campground on site #63. The campground has clean bathroom and was very family friendly with a playground and little free library. There was a path to take you to a gorgeous lookout and the trail head. This trip we did the waterfall trail which is a 2 mile hike, it hasn’t rained a ton lately so the falls weren’t as flowing as I’m used to them being but still a gorgeous hike! I would recommend this campground if you enjoy hiking, there is also some good mountain biking near by. 

Great Family Campground with Gorgeous Hikes

Absolutely beautiful waterfalls, fun activities, and clean camp sites. 

Hanfs down our favorite camp ground ever

We arrived at this place and was taken on the views it has. The park had easy access and great cabins. The hikes to the waterfalls was challenging but well worth it. The campground store was great and friendly. 

Great family vacation 

**Campground Review: **

  

This is the second year in a row for us visiting Cloudland Canyon in the fall. Cloudland Canyon is a large state park with 72 water and electrics campsites, 30 walk-in primitive campsites, and 13 backcountry campsites. There are also cabins and yurts to rent. The RV sites are split between the east rim where the sites are close together and are in more of an open field, and the west rim, where the sites are in a wooded setting, shaded, and slightly separated. All of sites include a picnic table and fire ring. 

  

Check-in was easy at the office at the entrance of the campground. We stayed on site 36 on the west rim. This site was mainly level and close to the bathhouse. 

  

The bathhouse is centrally located and older, but functional and cleaned daily. There are also laundry machines available between the men’s and women’s area.. 

  

Firewood, ice, limited supplies, and souvenirs were available at the office. At the office, you can also pick up the phone number to a local that sells firewood by the cord or half cord and will deliver right to your site. We got a half cord(equivalent to about 6 bundles) for$23. 

  

We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The campground did not have wi-fi. 

  

There is tons of hiking in and around the state park. On this visit, we hiked about 14 miles on trails in different areas of the park. The west rim campground also has connector trails to some of the main trails and we had our own personal connector off of site 36 to the trail system. The view on both the west and east rims area amazing, and if you decide to take on the 600 stairs to the bottom of the canyon there are two impressive waterfalls. 

  

With this being our second year to stop here, we have fallen in love with the area. We recommend this campground and will keep returning to this area. I really like that it is less than 2 hours away from home, so we can visit this park often.

  

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**Product Review: **

  

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the [RovR RollR 60 Cooler](https://rovrproducts.com/product/rollr-60-quart-cooler-with-wheels/moss). This cooler from [RovR](https://rovrproducts.com) is a new addition to our standard camp gear list. The RollR 60 is a sturdy cooler that has the ability to hold temperature for long periods. During our 5 days of use, we did have some ice melt, but the ice water stayed super cold, kept our items very cold, and some ice remained the entire time. The all-terrain tires and handle made it easy for moving throughout the terrain found at our campsite. The wagon bin that fits on top is great for storing miscellaneous gear and the dry bin inside the cooler is perfect for keeping those items you want cold, but not wet. I also like the fact that is has heavy-duty rubber latches to keep the lid closed tight and the critters out. I highly recommend this cooler and am excited to have this as part of our gear loadout.

Ranger Review: RovR RollR 60 Cooler at Cloudland Canyon State Park

Have a very nice view mountain to die for. Campground is nice it’s just they had plumbing problem when we were there so we didn’t have water running. Other wise I would give 5 stars 

Nice view!

Our criteria for a good campground was met at Cloudland: 

  

*   Level sites– check 
*   On-duty hosts– check (there were three in the west rim loop)
*   Clean bathrooms– check

*    Reasonable separation between sites– check 

  

Wow, we were surprised when we arrived here at 2:30 pm on a Tuesday in November to find only four available campsites still available (out of 72), so I would recommend making reservations! This is our second Georgia state park, and both have been consistently good in terms of quality. The sites are all level with water and electric and gravel pads. Each site has a very large picnic table, lantern hook, bbq, and fire pit with a grate. Two of the sites in the west rim loop were clearly defined as ADA accessible. There are also 10 yurts and 16 cottages in the park. 

  

Cloudland is a very large park with lots to do, including hiking, biking, fishing, caving, and disc golf. There is also a nice visitor center/store where you check-in. You can buy firewood at the visitor center or there was a number you could call to have it delivered to your campsite. The person checking us in was very friendly. 

  

We appreciate a campground where you can directly access trails, and this automatically earns an extra star in my reviews. The West Rim campground has access to several trails (it did not look like direct access was available from the East Rim campground). The trails were very well marked with signs and blazes. We hiked to the two waterfalls, likely the most popular trail in the park. Note that there are 600 steps down to the bottom of the canyon to view the waterfalls (and 600 steps back up) and during droughts, the waterfalls can all but disappear. The All Trails app indicated they were dry a week before we were there but the recent significant rainfall just before we arrived had both falls flowing again. 

  

The bathrooms/showers were clean although one shower looked a bit worn. 

  

As with many other campgrounds, you will hear the mournful wail of the train whistle at times throughout the night, but it was not as loud at Cloudland as in other campgrounds where we have recently stayed.

Better than expected stay!

My brother and I booked several nights on the backcountry loop - the views were spectacular, and the campsite was awesome! The grounds are well taken care of, and no matter what kind of outdoor adventure you’re into, you’ll find it at Cloudland Canyon!

The only thing I do have to warn you about is the hiking path down to the waterfalls - I enjoy hiking, but stairs are hard for me due to some health problems. And there are a lot of them in this path.

What an adventure!

This is a 3,500 +/- acre State Park. It’s well maintained with nice amenities. The site seeing and hikes were great. The camp sites were mostly level and easy to access. We were parked next to an ADA site. Their was plenty of space between sites for privacy but not totally isolated that you were alone.  

The bathrooms were clean and warm which is a plus for winter months. The staff was friendly and helpful. 

The waterfalls were the best. The walking paths were well marked and maintained as well. 

Best Keep Secret of Georgia

This is our first time at the park and we love it! I would highly recommend staying on the west rim. You are really packed in on the east rim and it’s just off the entrance to the overlook so there’s a lot of activity throughout the day. The sites at the west rim are a little spread out so you will have some privacy. We stayed at site #8 and it was perfect. There’s one site to the right, site #9 and nothing but trees to the left. It’s not close to the bathroom so do not wait until the last minute if you have to go lol. Cheers! 

West Rim Site #8

We stayed for a week at site 31 in the west rim. I will not pick that site again because it floods when it rains. Other than that it was a nice site close to 2 grey water dump stations and the bath house was really close. The sites are gravel with only electric and water hook ups .Also there was a washer and dryer in the middle of the bathhouse as well as a play ground .There was a open field behind the site so you could have some where to play football or corn hole or what ever you would like to do. Firewood you can buy on site 6.00 bucks. You can get it from the camp host or get it delivered if you buy a lot. Plenty to do within the park with amazing views or head to Chattanooga for the day as we did! Great park will definitely be back

Nice state park nestled on top of the mountains 

We stayed in #43 it was awesome we had water and electric, a picnic table and a fire pit. . We had an end spot with woods on one side and behind the site very private. It's a big site I think one of the better in this loop. Nice wooded site very quiet.  The camp host was great he helped us figure out a few things the TV for one. It was chilly out we had a nice fire and had our water resistant blanket on the keep us warm. They are one of the best items we bought. Dark sky just beautiful.

Great hikes in our loop we walked the rim, checked out the walk in sites they are cool. The trail started near our site and went through the primitive camp along a creek to the rim where there are lookouts with great views.


The waterfall across from the other rim is nice we hit it perfect timing there was a rainbow across the falls towards the bottom. Just sat there, relaxed taking it in.  We checked  out the entire park I like this side better. There was a visitor center there but it was closed. It was in the 40's to low 50's. 

Beautiful park I would stay here again.

Beautiful Park woodsy sites

My first experience with Cloudland Canyon State Park was on a day hike, and my second was photographing a wedding here--which should set the stage for what type of place this is! 

  

The park can be spoken of in two separate sections; the East Rim and the West Rim. The East Rim is home to several cabins, the group lodge, one of the full service campgrounds, and the main trailhead, as well as the ADA accessible overlook trail which is where many of the iconic photographs of this park come from. This side is very popular for day use as the one mile out and back hike to Cherokee Falls draws in campers and people from Chattanooga coming in to enjoy the towering waterfall and the swimming hole below. The campground here is smaller, and less private than the west rim loop, offering 24 tent/RV sites that have 30A electrical hookup, gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, along with a bathhouse and playground. The main road to the trailheads and day use area runs past this loop and while there are trees for shade they do not offer any privacy. 

  

The West Rim side houses the pioneer camping, west rim loop, the yurt village, and the remaining cabins. We have not been able to see the inside of the yurts, but they are spaced away from each other and off the road, and offer a lot of privacy; the loop that serves the yurts it not connected to any other road, and has a shelter, playground, and bathhouse. 

  

The West Rim camping loop has a total of 48 tent/RV sites with 30 or 50A hookups, water, gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings. This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it. If the east rim is good for those using their campsite as a home base for exploring, the west rim is perfect for campers who want the convenience of a bathhouse with running water and/or the ability to run electric in their RVs, but without giving up the feeling of being immersed in nature. Sites 4-9 are well spaced from each other and great for tent campers and families who want their kids to have room to play, and while site 37 does not have as much privacy being in the center of the loop, it does have one of the most perfect climbing trees I have ever seen in a public campground. 

  

There are 16 cottages/cabins, and Georgia State Park cabins really cannot be overstated; they are well appointed, well maintained, and absolutely beautiful, and are spaced out to offer a feeling of seclusion: perfect for winter getaways, or for people who enjoy total creature comforts at night with nearby adventure during the day. Word of advice; cabins 1-5 are on the east rim and the waterfall trail runs almost directly behind them, so there is a loss of privacy there, especially on busy weekends. 

  

Finally, the park offers 4 pioneer sites and 30 walk-in backcountry sites. I have not seen these in person yet, but it is worth noting this park has accommodations for every type of camper out there.

  

There is not enough good I can say about Cloudland Canyon. About 45 minutes from Chattanooga, it is a must-see for anyone traveling from out of state who want to add adventure to their tour of the city, a home base for the many hiking and climbing opportunities within the park, or just a beautiful and peaceful place to spend a few nights out in nature.

Unrivaled Beauty and Adventure 

Well kept campground with a mix of sites. Fire pits are in odd spots but still beside the pad. A fair amount of kids running around and riding bikes and boards so watch out when driving! Plenty of hiking and nature with multiple waterfalls for you to enjoy!

East Rim Campground 

I wouldn’t really suggest this location for a camping trip. It’s better to drive for the day and see the canyon, then head home. The campground is wide open and no privacy. Very clean with a centralized bath house. The main road for the park runs right next to the campground with no trees or barriers. The canyon however is worth the trip and beautiful. 

Not much to write home about 

We only stayed here 1 night in site 8, but we LOVED IT and will be back. The site was peaceful and “away from it all”. The bathrooms were not in the best shape but did the job. 

Beautiful and peaceful 

Stayed here in OCt. 2019 with family. Site was level, Had water and electric hookups. No full hookups at this campground. Gray water dump close to campsite. Black water dump quite a was away. Hiking here was amazing. Many metal steps and wonderful views. Park overall was clean and well maintained. Staff helpful and nice. Will go back.

Nice campground. Beautiful scenery and great hiking.

I’ve been to Cloudland several times. It’s always a wonderful camping experience with great hiking.
There are 2 camping loops, the East Loop has 30 mostly RV sites. They have 30 &amp; 50 amp service, and water. Bathroom and shower are centralized.
This loop is closer to the trail heads.
The West loop is larger, with 42 sites. These are more wooded and offer better privacy.
The west loop is water &amp; electric only as well, with 2 shower/bath houses.
There are 2 dump stations in the park.
There are also 20 yurts, a pioneer camping area, 30 walk-in camp sites, and cabins.
The bathrooms are showing some wear. They are not the most modern, but there was plenty of hot water and the water pressure was adequate. 
The park offers a catch &amp; release pond, disk golf and caving with a guide.
There is a security gate that automatically closes at 10 pm, so be sure to get the gate code if you are planning to be out of the park in the evening.
The park is only 20 miles from Chattanooga, TN, and the Chickamauga National Battlefield, and an easy drive to Russell Cave National Monument &amp; Little River Canyon.

Always a great camping experience 

1. Driving there: it’s not as steep as Black Rock or Vogel, for reference. While a lot of folks are worried about the grade, it isn’t bad at all. I’d classify it as more of a “big hill”. 

2. West rim is older but sites are more spaced out, private, and shaded. Bathrooms are older but clean and well kept. East Rim is closer to the overlooks and main trailheads, and newer, but sites are closer together and less shaded. We were on site 21 and it was right by the bathroom, gray water dump, camp host, and next to the west rim connector trailhead. 

3. Do Hemlock falls in the morning (before 10am) to avoid large crowds (due to Covid, the park often reaches capacity around that time on weekends). The stairs are not bad, although smaller dogs may have issues. People were wading in the pool by the falls. See the sunset at the Main Overlook. Shout into the canyon to hear your echo at the second overlook. 

Beautiful park

Great park. There are so many great trails and waterfalls here. There are two main waterfalls but if you continue the trails there are many more. We stayed in west camp site #9. We loved our site.  It backed to wooded area and was spacious but there is no buffer between sites. Water and electric and site was gravel and there are gray water dumps throughout camp. We could get to trails from the back of our campsite which was awesome. There is an east camp which is closer to the canyon rim but sites are closer together and not much shade. The 2 main waterfalls are a short hike once you go down 300 stairs. But  therefore you must go up 300 stairs. There are plenty of platforms to rest.  There are also yurts to rent. There is a small town with grocery and fast food about 30 minutes away. Chattanooga is not far from this park. We stayed 5 days and it was not enough time to hike and relax. We absolutely loved this park. Beware waterfalls are dependent upon rainfall. We camped here in April. Water flow was great. Temps were great 70s in day and got down to 40s at night. Perfect camping weather.

Excellent park

We stayed for 4 nights in walk in site 21.  It was bit interesting to get all our stuff to the site, and thank goodness we had 2 wagons and teens to help carry.  It was a great private site, allowing for a good size tent and 3 hammocks.  Easy access to the West Rim trail which was a terrific hike.  Waterfalls were dry, which was disappointing but the hike to them from the West Rim Trail was quite pretty.

Note that the Visitor Center had no wood left, having arrived on a Sunday.  We saw a sign for wood delivery and called Mac.  He was very accommodating, delivered wood within a couple of hours to us in the parking lot.  A great price!  Call Mac at 423-596-4805.

All in all we had a great experience.

Beautiful Park.  Great for remote tent camping

Bathrooms have hot showers and flushing toilets the trails and waterfalls are beautiful the sites are nice and private would definitely come here again absolutely wonderful place 

Love this place 

Great park. Nicely maintained, friendly staff, spacious and spread out sites. We stayed in walk-in 19. It's a half mile from parking and the comfort building, and the trail is covered in tree routes, so wheeled items (coolers, wagons) may not do very well. But what a great place to get outside! No bugs in October. Did see some armadillos!

  

Once settled, go hike! The West Rim trail is manageable. Be careful with dogs, as parts of the trail have grated stairs, and dog feet don't do well on the grates. 

But the view are spectacular.  

  

With more time, we would have done the waterfalls trails as well. 

  

In all, excellent place. Will certainly go back.

Worth it.

I’m a mom and aunt to 4 kiddos and decided to go camping with them but they are 10, 8, 6 and 3 so I knew I would struggle to get the tent up for all of us, and it was a bit chilly for the littles. So, I opted for the yurt option at Cloudland Canyon! It was a beautiful spot! Had everything we needed within the state park. Snacks/drinks at check in. Felt secluded but had other yurts nearby and a very clean bathroom and shower area! I’ve tent camped a lot and this was a very memorable experience for all the kids! We made breakfast on the campfire, watched Hocus Pocus late inside the yurt (using my computer and Hot spot from my phone) and hiked during the day! The views were spectacular (but whoa if you are afraid of heights) 😬 I will go back!

Cloudland Canyon Camping Solo with 4 kids! 

Great sites, and close walks to waterfalls, Cherokee Fall super close.

Cloudland Canyon REPEAT!

On this trip (May 2020) we stayed in one of the cabins on the east rim. It was right in the loop for camping. 

It's an amazing campground with sites in the east and west rims of the canyon. The views were amazing and there are a ton of hiking trails. My kids keep asking to go back. 

Amazing canyon

We stopped in for a few hours on our drive home from Tennessee. We drove through the campgrounds to scout out our site. The campgrounds themselves seem a little crowded but I think for the surroundings it’s worth it. Can’t wait to go in the spring.

Beautiful canyon, will return to camp 

We really enjoyed camping at Cloudland Canyon.  We took our first trip in our new Casita camper there in August.  But, prior to that we had scouted out the campground back in March.  Book on the west rim, as there is more privacy and space between campsites.  Clean facilities and well kept state park overall.  Lots to seek in the park if you like hiking; beautiful views of the canyon and waterfalls.  Lulu Land Trust is a short drive from the campground, which  has a breathtaking waterfall (reservation needed).   We will be returning.

Nice place to getaway from it all

Campground is ok, most sites are close, many trees, electric and water, gravel pads. Amenities here are great, Cloudland park has so much to do, hiking,bike riding, picnic’s with breathtaking views, waterfalls, kayaking a couple miles away

Beautiful views

Incredible views at a great state park! Stayed three nights over Easter Weekend in the East Rim. The East Rim is located on the main park road and about 5 minutes walk from the Trail Heads. Your camper is on display for all the day trippers but TOTALLY WORTH IT for the majestic views! Your afternoon stroll includes 2 waterfalls, multiple overlooks, woodlands, and gorgeous canyons.  We drove over to the West Rim and it was much more woodsy and secluded, but we were there for the walking so did not mind the activity and open sites of the East Rim. 

Bathhouse was tidy, stocked, and heated. Could use a deep cleaning, but nothing that was unsanitary. Super hot showers!  Washing machine had been removed but did have a sink to hand-wash and a dryer. Each bathhouse in the West Rim was supposed to have laundry as well so could drive over if necessary. 

Our site did have plastic and debris scattered around including inside the fire pit, so we left it cleaner than we found it. 

Loved the fact that they had aluminum recycling!

The surroundings absolutely deserve 5 stars, just docking one for the trash left at the site.  Will be back to tackle more of the trails!

Those views tho

We stayed one night as a half way point on a long drive, and I am so glad that we did.  Cloudland Canyon is BEAUTIFUL.  We stayed in the West Rim campground.  The spaces are close together, but it is quiet and shaded.  In the morning we hiked a bit and went to the overlook for the most gorgeous view of the canyon.  

  

We will definitely be back to hike into the canyon, see the waterfalls, and check out the activities in the surrounding area.

Beautiful Views

Great place. Amazing overlooks and some of the most beautiful waterfalls you will find.  We stayed at site 27 which was one of the nicest. Restrooms are dated but welcome center / store is super nice. We would love to visit again. 

Amazing views and waterfalls 

We really enjoyed our visit to Cloudland Canyon State Park. We camped in the East Rim campground. As others have noted, many of the campsites are close together, but the sites are actually quite large. They have gravel bases edged with railroad ties. The campground is pretty spread out, with lots of trees and a perfectly good restroom. Showers have plenty of hot water. There is a playground. 

An advantage of the East Rim campground is that you can walk a short distance to the day area, which has trailheads for most of the park. This would be great for families, I think. There is also an interpretive center nearby. A guide leads some hikes from it,  but the schedule for the  center is not posted and seemed unpredictable. It was not open when we were there. 

The west rim campground was farther from this area, which has its pluses and minuses. We drove through it, and it did seem to have more trees. You can access at least one of the trails, the five-mile West Rim Trail, from this campground. 

You can buy a bundle of kiln-treated firewood for $6 from the Visitor Center when it is open, 9-5. Otherwise you can buy it from camp hosts. 

The town of Trenton is maybe 20 minutes away. It has a nice grocery store, CVS, fast food restaurants and the like. 

That’s the skinny on the practical points of the campground. The park itself is wonderful, with gorgeous views and a range of hikes from easy to strenuous. One trail features two waterfalls and a long, steep set of stairs to reach them. Most trails are lined  with rocks and tree roots, so bring your walking sticks and your good shoes! 

Nice campground, fabulous park

Campground is good with lots of options including yurts. Cabins have a great view, but at least some of them have the hiking trail right behind them. But this is an amazing park! Terrific hiking that will really give you a challenge, with lots of stairs up and down, but with some amazing waterfalls that make it all worth it. I definitely want to come back and spend more time camping here in the future.

Stunning park!

What a pretty place! Nice size campsite with no dedicated spot to pitch the tent but multiple options bc it is multi level with the fire pit down low in a separate hang out area. We did have a difficult time staking the tent with our tiny stakes so make sure you have titanium, the gravel is tough! We absolutely loved the hike, you can get to the waterfall and back in a bit 2 hours or so. There was so much further we could have gone and more to do if we had the time but that will have to be for next visit. Cloudland was our favorite campground the entire trip and we stayed at 5 different spots. We stayed 2 nights and will definitely come back since it’s about an 8 hour drive for us from home. 

Beautiful and stuff to do!

Beautiful campground with great hiking and incredible views! West rim is more secluded and quiet but East Rim is more convenient access to the visitor center, trail head and other activities. Wonderful camping here… we can’t wait to go back. 

Scenic Site

Loved it here!! Nice level sites that are easy to maneuver into, functional bath houses, not the most up to date but had hot water and private shower stalls. Amazing views and challenging hikes which were was we came for. Nice camp store and easy check in process. 

Will go again!

Updated review with photos from a recent visit. They have been doing some serious construction at this park and are renovating all the campsites. Although the work isn't done yet they still have some sites available and you can still access the views and hiking. Will be very nice when all the renovations are completed.

Update

This place is so beautiful with trails and waterfalls. 

Such a beautiful park 

You can definitely tell there has been lots of recent work completed. The West Rim was closed during our visit but we stayed at the newly renovated East Rim and it was very nice. Flat sites, well spaced, some pull through sites that are very large for big rigs. There are also a few handicap paved sites near the bath house. Access to trails directing behind cabins. 

Brand new campground

While this campsite was a little bit of a walk from the parking area, and the parking area needs more spots, we had a blast being this far away other campsites and being so close to the west rim trail.  
The seclusion was wonderful and quiet, and the showers and bathrooms were clean and appeared to be new.  
If you don’t mind walking to your site, the walk-in campsites are a great option for a weekend stay!

Great Location near Trails

Wow! The great folks at Cloudland are doing major improvements. New camp sites, new bath houses,  new laundry machines. Wonderful hosts. Easy to get into sites, trees are trimmed up high. 
Did a bit of hiking, a bit of laundry and a lot of relaxing. 

Cloudland has great camping

Stayed in the East Rim for 7 nights. Amazing park with plenty of great hiking trails for all level of 'hikers'. We had a very young fawn come through our site and hang around all morning. 

The facilities were the best I have ever seen in a state park.

Website does not mention it but there is laundry facilities in the campground.

NICEST STATE PARK WE'VE STAYED IN SO FAR

First time to this State Park, but won’t be the last.  Large pull through sites with fire pits, grills, picnic tables, and lantern poles. Close proximity to several hiking trails with sweeping vistas and gorgeous waterfalls. Clean and warm bathrooms/shower house. Friendly hosts. 

Beautiful Winter Camping

We stayed in the West Rim Campground and i love the way it's laid out. Site 34 has multi levels, one for the camper, one which could be a sitting or tent area, and one for the firepit. It backs up to woods but also has an open area that you could play numerous games(cornhole, football, frisbee etc) It also has a picnic table, grill and fire ring(all were in amazing shape). We purchased firewood from the visitor center but you can also purchase from camp host. Currently it's$6 a bundle and they keep it in a cute little outhouse looking storage building lol. It is a very clean, well maintained and quiet(while we were there) campground. If you are even slightly considering staying here, just go ahead and book it. It's an amazing campground surrounded by an equally amazing State Park.

An amazing place to stay and explore! 

The park is beautiful with a nice modern campground. The sites are very nice. The bathroom and showers are very new and well-maintained. The views of the canyon below are breathtaking. There are wonderful trails leading down tobthr valley the views of waterfalls. 