Cloudland Canyon State Park has it all! Do you want beautiful mountain views? Do you want to see magnificent trees? How about explore a cave? Canyons? Picturesque hiking trails? Cute yurts? Waterfalls? At more than 3,500 acres of land, it is easy to see how they have so much to see.
Cloudland Canyon State Park is located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain (go ahead and GPS it and get on your way..)
Cloudland Canyon State Park’s address is:
122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road
Rising Fawn, GA 30738
We picked this park because they have backcountry camping and hiking areas. Perfect for our active backpacking family. We were ready to hike several miles into the woods and set up camp for the night. But the price was obscene (in my opinion). To go backcountry camping, (that means NO amenities like a bathhouse or access to power… just a spot of ground out in the woods) it is $10 a night a person. So that’s $40 a night for us. It is $42 a night for an RV site with full hook-ups and access to the bathhouse. For a single person going out for a few nights it isn’t that expensive, but it is absurd pricing for a family.
We did decide to go with the walk-in camping. Our campsite was less than a mile from the truck, so while we didn’t have to pack in too far it was still quite enjoyable. It is only $20 a night for walk-in sites. We set up for the night and had plenty of time to grab our Camelbak full of water and head for a trail.
Some other state parks we love:
Ways to Stay at Cloudland Canyon State Park
There are so many options on how to stay at the park. We were only able to stay one night, so we only stayed at the walk-in camping section.
The park has 16 cottages, 10 yurts, (no pets allowed at either), 75 tent/camper sites, 30 walk-in sites, 13 backcountry, and four pioneer sites (It looks like you rent a lean-to, so just a slight improvement from walk-in sites), and a group lodge. You can make Cloudland Canyon State Park reservations by clicking here.
The cottages are full of amenities, and the photos look fantastic. This would be perfect for a family that wants to hike the trails, but doesn’t want to “rough it” at the end of the day. These are around $215 a night (as of September 2023).
The yurts will have a little less amenities. You have to bring your sheets, and there is no attached bathroom. We were on a trail and wound up passing through the yurt area. It is on a circular road with an awesome playground our kids enjoyed. There is also a very nice bathhouse located here. We were hiking and were stopping in at the bathhouse for a moment and the camp host came out to greet us. We had our dog with us and he had thought we were staying in the yurts. He was a super nice guy and doing a great job keeping their pet-free in the yurts policy. So don’t try and sneak a pet by them. It won’t work.
The RV/tent improved camping area has 75 spots available. They look like level sites, but we didn’t have our camper, so I can’t say for sure. They do have a fire ring and table at each one. I did some looking, and while I am sure the price has a range for their busier times, it looks like you can get a site for as little as $42 a night. I did see that there is almost no availability in the fall… and it is easy to see why. So book early. This place is busy for a reason.
The trail to get to our campsite at the walk-in campground.
The walk-in camping sites are $22 a night with a maximum of six people. The sites have a picnic table, a fire ring, and a flat tent spot. We fit both two person tents next to each other on the tent pad. Not far from the parking area, there is a nice bathhouse. It has two modern toilets on one side of the building and two nice showers on the other side. Each toilet/shower is inside a private room with a locking door, so you get plenty of privacy. We went to fill our water bottles in the tap, and the sink water was so hot. The showers were also hot. I was pleased with the bathhouse, it was nice and clean.
When you park your vehicle there is a giant board where you put up your card showing someone is on that campsite. We could see there were so many people there when we were there. Some of the people you can hear at night, and some were quieter. Our site was away from the roads and the parking area, and I am so glad. I have a feeling those people staying in those areas (and near the bathhouse) had a lot less quiet than we did.
The backcountry camping area, as I said earlier, is $10/night/person. Fine for one person… excessive for a family of four or more. The sites, of course vary, but you could be seven miles from your vehicle on these sites. I did see lots of availability on these sites.
The group lodge sleeps 40. It has bunk beds and looks like a no-frills place to eat and sleep. It has a commercial-grade kitchen, and it appears to have tables and chairs to set up. It is $240 a night.
The lookout near Cloudland Canyon State Park
Things to do at Cloudland Canyon State Park
I could sit and stare at the water-carved canyon from the Overlooks off the overlook trail. We went in the morning after a light rain. It was magical watching the clouds begin to lift out of the canyon. Proof that any weather is good weather for hiking.
A portion of the West Rim Trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park
Hiking… there are several different trails. We went on the West Rim Trail, and I was shocked at the views. There were only three or four other people hiking the day we explored, and I couldn’t believe there weren’t more hikers on the trail. The West Rim Trail was voted one of the “Top Ten Hikes in the US” by Backpacker Magazine. It is easy to see why. We didn’t start our hike early enough to explore the entire thing and get back before dark, but we were so impressed with what we did get to see. It is labeled as moderately strenuous. There are some steeper climbs, but it was worth it.
We hopped on part of the Overlook Trail, and it is an easy trail. Parts of it are paved, but getting down to the best overlook does have some steeper steps and some places that could be concerning for someone not as steady on their feet… I would be a nervous wreck with younger kids out there.
On their website, they boast 64 miles of trails. I would love to see all 64!! So, we need to make a trip back soon. We didn’t even get to the waterfall… yet.
The playground near the yurts.
There are also bike trails, and they have rentals in the office. There are cave tours, (check their event page for scheduled tour) disc golf is $4 a person, and there is fishing, geocaching, and 16 miles of horseback riding trails.
We were visiting during the summer and stepped into the interpretative center, and there was a summer camp going on. It looks like they have a very active education group that teaches a lot of information/skills for their junior ranger program.
Check out their events page to get even more information on the programs they have coming up.
The walk up from the lookout. It is not a trail for all abilities, but is certainly worth checking out if you are able to climb some steps.
Things to do near Cloudland Canyon State Park
I can’t imagine needing to find anything else to do, but if you have never been to Chattanooga you need to check it out. One of our favorite spots is High Point Climbing (we have been to three of their locations). You can also check out Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway, and Rock City. Also located near the park you can find Chickamauga Battlefield, where you can learn more about the Civil War battle that took place here.
