Afoot and Afield: Atlanta. MARCUS WOOLF
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that stands before the 60-foot falls draped over a wall of rough, grey stone.
Return to Waypoint 3, go straight a few feet, and turn right to descend the steps toward Falls #1. The payoff at the end of this path is even greater than that of the previous waterfall. Rather than ending at a wood platform that confines you, the trail ends practically at the edge of a large pool that catches water falling 100 feet. From here, retrace your steps to Waypoint 2.
At Waypoint 2, if you’ve followed the trip as described so far, you will have hiked a little less than a mile. To continue on the West Rim Loop Trail, turn right, traveling southeast. Walk about 20 feet, and then turn right to descend the steps.
Mountain laurels and oaks border the rocky path, which has a view of the creek below as it bends wide to crash and slide over a floor of rock the color of chocolate. At 1.1 miles, turn right and cross the creek via a wood footbridge. After a hairpin curve to the right, the trail climbs northwest. Then, at 1.2 miles, turn sharply left and climb to a small but obvious cave. Continue to the top of the bluff, where you will have winter views of the far side of the canyon.
At 1.3 miles (Waypoint 4), bear right at the Y intersection and descend, following yellow blazes. At 1.6 miles, the path crosses wide rock outcrops free of any railings, and you can enjoy stunning views of cliffs opposite the gaping canyon. Here, its vastness is on full display.
Falls #1 at Cloudland Canyon State Park
West Rim Loop Trail
The path then drops to a stream. At 1.8 miles (Waypoint 5) turn right, cross the wood footbridge and then proceed east back toward the canyon. The path crosses a series of bluff outcrops that are more developed, with railings of stone and wood. But these high stations are still inspiring, offering long views down the great gorge.
At 2 miles bear right at the intersection to walk to an overlook. From this perch, you can look north down the length of the canyon to where it spills into Lookout Valley. From the overlook, continue northwest on what becomes an easy walk through typical pine and hardwood forest. One of my favorite rest spots lies at 2.4 miles (Waypoint 6). To the right, several yards away from trail there is a rock outcrop surrounded by scrub pine. This spot is less obvious than other overlooks and is free of human-made structures. You can sit on the white stone and have a completely unobstructed view looking north down the canyon.
Farther down the trail at 3 miles (Waypoint 7), another overlook lies to the right, down a steep, rooted slope. Here you are closer to the northern end of the canyon and Lookout Valley, and the broad sweep and scope of the scene below is reminiscent of a western US landscape.
From the overlook, the trail turns to the south, and at 3.2 miles (Waypoint 8), your route turns left and follows yellow blazes. The trail crosses a road, and then winds through a pine-and-hardwood forest that is at first unremarkable but soon transitions to more oaks and crosses a modest stream. Thick heaps of leaves cover the forest floor where oaks are joined by holly trees and hemlocks. On a gradual descent, you’ll follow a stream drainage, turn right at 4.2 miles (Waypoint 5), and travel southeast to take the West Rim Loop Trail back to the day-use parking area.
WAYPOINTS
1. N34º 50.087' W84º 28.865'
2. N34º 50.007' W84º 29.006'
3. N34º 50.086' W84º 28.955'
4. N34º 49.987' W84º 29.154'
5. N34º 50.333' W84º 85.483'
6. N34º 50.624' W84º 28.924'
7. N34º 50.953' W84º 29.335'
8. N34º 50.803' W84º 29.404'
8 CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK: Sitton’s Gulch Trail
Distance 5.3 miles, semiloop
Hiking Time 3 hours
Difficulty Moderate to strenuous
Elevation + 2,277'/ -2,245'
Trail Use Leashed dogs and good for kids
Best Times Winter (for canyon views), spring, and fall
Agency Cloudland Canyon State Park
Recommended Map Cloudland Canyon State Park is available at the ranger station or online at gastateparks.org/info/cloudland.
HIGHLIGHTS Rolling gently across the floor of Cloudland Canyon, Sitton’s Gulch is an interior trail that you can reach via the park’s Waterfall Trail. If you’re exploring the falls in the canyon, the Sitton’s Gulch trail can extend your journey with a scenic walk that requires little extra climbing. Near the Sitton’s Gulch trailhead, hikers are greeted by twin waterfalls that gush and roar after a good rain. Beyond the falls, the path skirts the tumbling waters of Sitton Gulch Creek, and boulders along the bank make great spots to relax. At the far end of the canyon lies Sitton’s Cave, which can be explored with the assistance of a local guide. (Do not enter the cave without a guide!)
DIRECTIONS From Atlanta, take I-75 north to Tennessee and merge onto I-24 west at Exit 2, going toward Chattanooga/Nashville. Travel 17.1 miles and take I-59 south at Exit 167. Travel south on I-59 8.3 miles and take Exit 11 for GA 136, toward Trenton. Turn right onto GA 136 and travel east. Go 4.3 miles and turn into the Cloudland Canyon State Park entrance on the left. Travel 0.1 mile and bear right after the guard shack to go to the ranger station. Or proceed past the guard shack and go 1.3 miles to the day-use parking lot on the right. From the parking lot, facing the canyon, the trailhead is to the left of the canyon overlook.
FACILITIES/TRAILHEAD There are restrooms and soda-vending machines at the day-use area parking lot. Water is not easily accessible along the trail, so carry what you need. The day-use fee is $5. To purchase an annual Georgia State ParkPass for $50, call 770-389-7401. The park has 72 campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs ($25–$30); 30 walk-in campsites ($16–$20); 13 backcountry campsites ($6–$8 per person); and 16 cottages ($140–$170).
From the north side of the day-use parking lot, begin at the trail kiosk and take the paved path that leads to the canyon overlook (Waypoint 1). Enter a dirt-and-gravel path (Waypoint 2) and begin your descent into the canyon. At the first trail junction, take a sharp right and an immediate left to descend metal-and-wood stairs. At 0.2 mile (Waypoint 3), turn right at the T intersection and descend, following the trail marked WATERFALL 0.3 MILE. At the next trail junction, turn right and descend toward Hemlock Falls. Near the floor of the canyon, you reach a wood footbridge (Waypoint 4) and a sign marked SITTON’S GULCH TRAIL. Turn right and cross the footbridge with Daniel Creek flowing below. Just beyond the bridge, steps lead you into the shade of hemlocks, and the trail skirts two stocky waterfalls that burst through seams in the rock like a broken dam. A little farther on, the roar of the falls recedes and the trail rolls easily through more hemlocks and hardwoods. During your trek, take time to wander down to the creek bank and rest on the large boulders that overlook broad swimming holes (Waypoint 5). Periodically, the path drifts away from the creek, but it eventually sidles back up to the bank. At 1.7 miles, the land flattens and the creek widens to flow more slowly through younger forest. At the 2-mile mark (Waypoint 6), bear right at the Y junction to continue on the Sitton’s Gulch Trail. After another 0.1 mile (Waypoint 7), a trail intersects on the left, and you should continue straight and travel north to stay on the Sitton’s Gulch Trail. You’ll reach another Y junction at 2.2 miles, and you can bear right to continue another 0.3 mile to the end of the trail at a parking lot (Waypoint 8). From the end of the trail, retrace your steps. Then, at the 3-mile mark, turn right at Waypoint 7 to take an interior loop trail that stretches 0.7 mile. When you return to Waypoint 6 at 3.3 miles, turn right and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
WAYPOINTS
1.