CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK: WEST RIM TRAIL & CHEROKEE FALLS
Type: "Lollipop" loop
Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2.5 hours
Traffic level: Moderate-high
Dog-friendly: Yes
Fee: $5 for Cloudland Canyon day pass
Highlights: Panoramic views, canyon views, waterfalls
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Cloudland Canyon State Park is just 40 minutes south of Chattanooga, near the town of Trenton, Ga., making it a great day or weekend trip for the whole family. The park is well maintained and offers a variety of camping options, including tent sites, RV/trailer sites and cabin/yurt rentals. There is even a full disc golf course, as well as guided cave tours through G3 Adventures (g3adventures.com).
For my first trip to Cloudland Canyon (Bryant visited in his youth), I decided we should do the classic West Rim Trail. It is a well-marked, moderate, 5-mile trail with fairly low elevation change - perfect for a laid-back but rewarding morning outside.
Start at the parking lot and follow the signs for the "Main Trailhead" (not to be confused with the "Main Overlook," which is cool, nonetheless). Once you reach the main trailhead, follow the signage left, toward the West Rim Trail, denoted throughout the hike by bright yellow trail markers.
The trail begins with a steady descent into the canyon where you cross the beautiful Daniel Creek. This section of the trail is quite different from what lies ahead, offering lush greenery even in mid-winter. I believe we saw several rhododendron trees, but I would love a confirmation on that from a true arborist.
Around 0.5 miles, you begin the climb out of the canyon. Overall, this little dip into the canyon is the most arduous part of the trail, and it's moderate at that. You do have to retrace this portion later on your return to the trailhead. Otherwise, the rest of the hiking is relatively easy.
Once you climb out of the canyon, the trail remains fairly level, passing a couple of yurts to the left that are available for reservation (gastateparks.org/CloudlandCanyon). As you continue ahead, the views open up on the right. You reach the first stellar overlook around 1.1 miles. Drink some water and take a second to admire the beauty of this canyon that's practically in Chattanooga's backyard. But don't hang around too long - there are plenty more overlooks ahead.
At 1.3 miles, you encounter the actual loop portion of this trail. We call this style of trail a "lollipop loop" because it is not quite a complete loop, but rather a mixture of out-and-back and loop style trails. Only part of the trail loops and then reconnects with the initial hike in, so it looks sort of like a lollipop on a map. We decided to go clockwise and take a left at the loop intersection.
If you choose to go left, you'll enter a flat and forested area of the park. It is very peaceful, and I imagine the fall colors are amazing when the leaves change. However, compared to the canyon side of the trail, this mile-long stretch is pretty unremarkable. I will note that a paved, two-lane road appears abruptly at 2.1 miles. Please be extra cautious, especially if you have dogs or children with you.
About 200 yards past the road, you approach the next major overlook. From this point forward, the loop follows along the western edge of the canyon, providing spectacular views for the next mile. There are a few man-made overlooks with safety rails, allowing hikers to approach the very edge of the canyon rim. I personally can't wait to come back in the spring and fall to observe how these views change with the seasons.
At 3.4 miles into the trail, you begin to gently descend toward the start of the loop. Once you reach the end of the loop, retrace your steps back toward the main trailhead. Remember, the trail begins by going down into the canyon and climbing back up, meaning you will end the hike with a fairly moderate uphill push.
Before returning to the car, we decided to also check out the Waterfall Trail. Keep in mind, this trail is marked as "strenuous" by the state park, but only because you must walk down and then back up several flights of stairs. If you don't want to climb too many stairs back to the parking lot, I recommend visiting Cherokee Falls. It's definitely worth the quick leg workout. Viewing Hemlock Falls requires significantly more stairs, and we were hiking with the dogs (stairs are not their friend). Next time, we'll probably leave the dogs at home and check out both of the falls.
Overall, we had a fabulous morning at Cloudland Canyon State Park. We didn't see many people early in the day, but we saw a significant increase in visitors as the clock approached noon. I also recommend wearing hard-sole shoes, because the trail is often covered with roots and large rocks. I know I will when I return in the spring!
Bryant and Elise HawkinsIn late December, Bryant and Elise Hawkins, recent Chattanooga transplants, kicked off a yearlong hiking project. Every week, they choose a different trail, varying in length and difficultly and located within one hour of Chattanooga, to hike and review.
Bryant is a photojournalist whose works has appeared in The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, among other places. Elise is currently working on a Master of Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Together, the outdoor enthusiasts hope to discover the region's endless outdoor opportunities.
You can follow the Hawkinses' hiking adventures by "liking" Get Out Chattanooga on Facebook, where we share their write-ups every Friday.
Have a trail suggestion for the Hawkinses? Email them at info@bryanthawkins.com.