Georgia Natural Wonder #10 - Cloudland Canyon. 606

[Top Row Dawg]

We have covered the original and current 7 Natural Wonders list. However, my HOTD friends, you know how I go overboard. I can stretch the Natural Wonders of Georgia way past seven.

Georgia Natural Wonder #10 - Cloudland Canyon

Chiseled by wind, water, ice and gravity, Cloudland Canyon is Georgia's most mystically named state park. West and south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the park features hiking, camping, swimming, and even tennis. Cloudland Canyon State Park is a 3,485 acres Georgia state park located near Trenton and Cooper Heights on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. One of the largest and most scenic parks in Georgia, it contains rugged geology, and offers visitors a range of vistas across the deep gorge cut through the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, where the elevation varies from 800 to over 1,800 feet. Views of the canyon can be seen from the picnic area parking lot, in addition to additional views located along the rim trail. At the bottom of the gorge, two waterfalls cascade across layers of sandstone and shale, ending in small pools below. The walk into Cloudland Canyon is challenging even for experienced hikers.



Cloudland Canyon was designated a state park in 1939 when the state began acquiring land from private owners. Three of these owners, from the Mathews, McCauley and McKaig families, still reside in the area. Expansion of the park continued sporadically as new land is purchased for it. In 1939, the only access to the area was through Tennessee or Alabama. That year Georgia began work on Highway 136 to connect U. S. 41 to the recently purchased park. Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Civilian Conservation Corps did much of the early work on Cloudland Canyon including the signage along the highway. This is a winding two-lane highway whether you approach from the east or the west. Be prepared for switchbacks and low-gear driving to ascend Lookout Mountain.



The park is located on the Cumberland Plateau, atop Lookout Mountain. The steep edge of the plateau terrain changes to rolling hills. Even from a few hundred feet away the canyon is not visible. The entrance from Highway 136 is well marked, on the north side of the road. A day pass is required, or yearly system passes may be purchased at the Ranger Station. Once inside, a park office offers books and T-shirts, and the rangers we talked to were very knowledgeable on the hiking and the natural history of the area.



Once, more than 200 million years ago, a great ocean covered this land. Lookout Mountain was created by either a single earthquake, or more likely, several earthquakes. When it was first formed the entire mountain was still underwater, but slowly the water subsided, until the rim of the canyon was a beach on this ocean. As the great ocean dried Daniel Creek took over and continued eroding the rock.



On the summit of Lookout Mountain, the waters of Daniel Creek and Bear Creek cut gorges through the rock, converging to form Sitton Gulch Creek. The flat-topped mountains of the Cumberland Plateau are significantly different from the narrow Armuchee ridges beyond nearby Chickamauga Valley to the east.



Most of the canyon's rock formations consist of sandstone; shale layers below the sandstone are marked by pine trees.



The sandstone forming the bluffs has a tendency to fracture into blocks, creating unusual boulder formations.



The concave shape of the top of Lookout Mountain also drains rainwater through fissures into the underlying limestone, forming miles of subterranean caves in the area.


 
Sitton Cave in Cloudland Canyon.



From the Ranger's office continue down the road to the last parking area. This park is normally lightly used, so parking is rarely a problem, even on weekends. From this lot it is only a few steps to the first magnificent view and the start of the West Rim Trail. You are actually on the East side at the main park.



Within a few feet of the parking lot spectacular scenery hints at pleasures to come. The view from the East Rim of the canyon opens to the Cumberland Plateau. On a clear day the vista can seem endless, with another hill just beyond the last. The best time for dramatic views is late Winter and early Spring, before the haze of Summer takes over. Well-planned overlooks afford frequent scenic views of the Canyon. This natural wonder makes my signature with my wife and dog.



Both the West Rim and the Waterfalls Trail begins on a paved section, at the main overlook, and progresses into the canyon along a 40-degree slope. Go past the cabins to your left. Most of the trail consists of gravel, and a 600-step staircase. Again we start on the East Rim.



About .8 of a mile from the parking lot the Waterfall Trail comes off the Rim Trail to the right. The West Rim Trail crosses the suspension bridge over the creek to the left. The Waterfall trail descends a series of steps to a large rock overhang.



Great halfway spot.



Shortly after the overhang the trail splits again. The left trail goes to the upper falls. Cherokee Falls is 0.3 miles from the trailhead.



The trail to the right goes to the more dramatic lower falls. Hemlock Falls, at the bottom of the canyon, appears at 0.5 miles.



Each waterfall cascades down sheer faces at 60 feet and 90 feet. The trail is generally considered to be a strenuous hike, which can take up to 90 minutes to complete. Each cascades into small pools at the base of the canyon, and continue down through a boulder-strewn stream bed.


My image Hemlock falls drug young son down here years ago during rain storm.

The creek flow feeding the waterfalls varies considerably according to the season. The Sitton's Gulch Trail, commencing at the bottom of the Waterfalls Trail, runs parallel to the creek until it ends in a parking area in Trenton.



In contrast, the 4.8-mile long West Rim Loop Trail is rated as moderately difficult, although it contains a few short, steep rocky sections.



A scenic hike beginning back up at the Daniels Creek Bridge.



It offers panoramic views before climbing out of the canyon and onto the plateau. where Daniel Creek starts its 900-foot drop, then on around to the West Rim of this canyon.



Twisting, climbing out of the Canyon far side away from main parking lot.



The boulders and views on this side of the Canyon, away from the crowds, are very rewarding.



The 2.0-mile Backcountry Loop Trail provides access to the park's eleven secluded primitive hike-in camping sites. Beginning at the parking area for group camping, the trail passes through hemlock groves, before descending on a moderate grade into a hollow filled with spring and summer flowers. At the far end of the loop, hikers emerge from the hemlock groves onto level trail, among oaks and hickories, before returning to the parking area.



In the fall of 2011, the park reopened the Bear Creek Trail, which had been closed to hikers for nearly a decade. This approximately 9.0-mile trail is the longest trail in the park. This trail begins as a spur off of the Back Country Trail and drops down to Bear Creek. After crossing the creek, the trail continues up until it becomes a loop around the northeast portion of the park.



The park varies in altitude from 800 feet to almost 2,000 feet at Cloudland Canyon's rim. From the rim the floor of the canyon is as much as 1000 feet below.


Me and my son years ago at Cherokee Falls.

This Cloudland canyon is really something, if there ever was a shuffle of wonders, this has to be the first alternate.



As you drive down Hwy 136 west toward Trenton, the is a road right on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. It is on the right and called Sunset Lane (or something like that). There are probably some beautiful homes all along there now and private property, but 28 years ago there was some vacant lots with these huge boulders right on the edge of the plateau.



A great place for a picnic looking off over Alabama in the distant Western Horizon.



The area nearby is packed with things to do, all within an hour's drive. Beside Rock City (GNW #22), Ruby Falls, The Incline and the Battles for Chattanooga Museum are all part of Lookout Mountain. For the more adventurous soul hang-gliding is available. Civil War buffs can spend days at Chickamauga - Chattanooga National Military Park. Or you can scoot over to our next #11 Natural Wonder, Pigeon Mountain.


Today's GNW Gal. These Georgia gals love to use nature for romance.