Cloudland Canyon State Park offers campers an extensive range of accommodation options beyond its glamping sites. The park features walk-in backcountry camping with 30 designated sites and four pioneer campgrounds for larger groups. The park's elevation ranges from 800 to 1,980 feet, creating varied ecosystems and camping conditions across the property. Temperatures can fluctuate significantly between day and night, especially in spring and fall.
What to do
Waterfall hiking trails: The waterfall trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park leads to memorable swimming experiences during warmer months. "Great park. Quick getaway for some hiking fun. East Rim campground has the most access to hiking but the road can be busy for all the hikers/visitors. West Rim is secluded. You can get to the other trails by virtue of the West Rim trail," notes Richard F.
Mountain biking: Fort Mountain State Park offers technical trails with elevation changes for experienced riders. "Most of the trails except the Gahuti are multi use and there is a strong community of mountain biking here. We didn't bike the trails here with our hybrid specialized bikes because we felt the trails (other than the lake trail and the park roads) to be too technical for us due to the major elevation changes, loose gravel and rocks," reports Travyl Couple.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Guntersville State Park provides excellent fishing access with boat slips available. "The park is one of the nicer parks. Great mountainous drive to get to the entrance of the park. Right on the banks of Guntersville lake which has great fishing and watersports," says Brad W.
What campers like
Platform camping: For those seeking a unique camping alternative to yurts near Menlo, Georgia, Fort Mountain State Park Campground offers raised platform sites. "I've never slept outside of a tent. I've always wanted to, but never had the guts to do it. The site itself was in a beautiful location, had a hand pump on site, and also had a shared bear proof storage box," shares Miranda H.
Walk-in tent sites: For privacy-focused campers seeking alternatives to yurt camping in Menlo, many appreciate the walk-in sites. "Love the tent-only serenity of the walk-in sites. There is a separate parking lot at the back of the park for the walk-in sites, which are a short distance away (easy to haul your gear). The sites have a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring, and lots of privacy as the sites are very far from each other," writes Abby M.
Backcountry options: John's Mountain WMA offers free dispersed camping options near streams. "Nice place to spend the night. If you come up from the south, the first spot contains about 5-6 campsites. If you proceed up the road, you will find other designated spots off both sides of the road," explains Clayton S.
What you should know
Shade variations: West Rim camping areas tend to be more wooded than East Rim sites. "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," reports Stephanie J.
Bear activity: Lake Guntersville State Park Campground and Fort Mountain have active wildlife. "For our camping group, this place was amazing. We had bear visitors, something they'll warn you about upon arrival. The bears just added to the appeal of this place though," mentions Shelly C.
Seasonal water levels: Waterfalls can be minimal during dry seasons or late summer. "Beautiful park. Great site and lots to do! We stayed for 4 nights in walk in site 21. Waterfalls were dry, which was disappointing but the hike to them from the West Rim Trail was quite pretty," notes Michelle D.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Lookout Mountain-Chattanooga West KOA offers unique play features. "The coolest aspect of this campground for me was the massive jumping pad they have, and I had to promise my kids we would take an overnight trip here just so they could use it! It is restricted to ages 16 and under," says Stephanie J.
Swimming options: Cedar Creek RV offers water recreation suitable for children. "Great little place to camp on the river. Family friendly and awesome river but crowded sites and bath house is poorly located and not big enough to accommodate the campground," notes Nick C.
Diverse activities: Marion County Park offers multiple recreation options. "Swimming, soccer, baseball, boating, disc golf, para course all right here. Water and electric at site and dump site. At 20. it was a nice stop for a night," explains Cori H.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: When choosing yurt camping near Menlo, Georgia or RV sites, check site levelness and approach angles. "The online pictures looked like it was a fairly private spot, but no. Just out of frame was the campground host site. Lastly, gravel from most of the sites was washed out into the road. That could, and should have been cleaned up," comments Mike N.
Hookup locations: Wills Creek RV Park has some placement challenges. "We were placed in the new addition of the park, where the sites were very tight and the utility hookups where in a strange position (the neighbors' utilities actually were under our awning when extended). The turn at the end of the new sights was a bit sharp if you have a long rig," warns Randy G.
Cell service considerations: Fort Mountain has variable connectivity. "We had inconsistent cell coverage even with a Winegard booster with AT&T and Verizon. Mornings were best reception and evening were not so good," reports Travyl Couple.
