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, & 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.

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!

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!!

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

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/, 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.

Ranger Review: Nature’s Coffee Kettle at Cloudland Canyon West Rim Campground.

Campground Review: If you like scenery Cloudland Canyon State Park should be added to your list of must hikes. I found an info card at the Visitors Center for the “Canyon Climbers Club” and it was a no brainer that I would go for it. 4 Georgia Parks, 4 hikes with awesome scenery , 4924 steps, all in approximately 3 miles-ish, and a T-shirt when your done ;) Cloudland Canyon was the first.

After picking our tent site ( there are no reserve ahead sites, only reserve ahead choice. Once you check in you go pick a site. So no telling where you may end up only that you will have a site for the night. Good and bad.) which took some perusing for good trees (Tentsile configuration) I set up. I then hooked up the dogs and walked to the convenient in campground trailhead to the West Rim Trail. A right at the T and a through at the Y at which point we began our decent. This is a workout for sure wear your good shoes, A LOT of metal grate steps to get down to the falls! We went right at the next intersection and continued down to Hemlock Falls. A very picturesque and cool area. A lot of scrambling over rocks and high water debris, a lot of picture taking opportunities.

After huffing and puffing ( carrying two dogs that did not like the metal grating;) my way back up to the campground and supper. There are both fire rings and grills at each site plus electric and water hook up. Several of the sites have “patios” with gravel on hard packed dirt , NOT conducive for stakes! I noticed several sites had areas off to the side were people had set up tents near the fire rings. We were near the showerhouse which is newer, two showers , two sinks, three stalls, doors propped open, bugs flying about. There are laundry facilities in the same building. The camp hosts have wood for sale and I saw quite a bit of them throughout the visit. The campground was about 1/3 rd full so pretty quiet and good privacy. Phone signal one bar, no WiFi.

Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I have the opportunity to review outdoor products while camping. Nature’s Kettle Coffee (and Hot Chocolate) https://www.naturescoffeekettle.com/is a welcome addition to my camping pantry. I miss my morning coffee while out dispersed camping and sometimes don’t take the time to pack everything needed to make coffee at a campground. Nature’s Kettle Coffee has taken a lot of pre-planning/packing out of the equation by putting almost everything you need in one foldable pouch with pouring handle and sealed “spout”. Three steps, tear open pouch and pour in boiling water, let steep and re-pour same water for stronger coffee if wanted , enjoy. The pouches are reusable too with coffee filter refills available on the site. Which almost negates one of my con’s of the extra “material” filling up landfills. The only other con I had was pouring the hot liquid into the “floppy” pouch. Be VERY careful at this step, it got a little dicey and I pulled out my silicon oven mit to protect my fingers. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed the hot chocolate and Sumatra coffee. Can’t wait to try the other flavors of coffee and tea.