Cloudland Canyon State Park in Rising Fawn, Ga., welcomes hikers to two outings this weekend.
* The Sitton’s Gulch Hike, 10 a.m-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, will be a chance to “hike like the locals,” according to park officials. Adventurers will start at the bottom of Sitton’s Gulch, traveling up 600 stair steps and passing Hemlock and Cherokee falls. The reward when hikers reach that point is a 3-mile hike downhill. Along the way, participants will learn about the plants, animals, geology and history of the canyon.
The 6-mile round trip is considered moderate to strenuous. Hikers should bring a day pack with lunch, water and snacks and wear clothing appropriate for the weather.
Reservations are required; call 706-913-7170. The fee is $15 plus $5 for parking. The hike repeats Saturday, Feb. 18; Sunday, March 12; Saturday, April 1; and Sunday, April 30.
* The New Year’s Resolution Hike, 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, is one of a series designed to “hold each other accountable” to meet new year’s activity goals. Led by Georgia Girl Guides, this 1-mile hike into the canyon to the waterfalls also includes a brisk 600 stair steps out. Cost is $5.
This hike repeats twice a week through February: 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $5 plus $5 parking.
Additional outings, including night hikes and Pokemon hikes, are scheduled in February.
Cloudland Canyon is at 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road off Route 136, 8 miles east of I-59 at Trenton, Ga., and 18 miles west of LaFayette, Ga.
For more information, visit http://gastateparks.org/info/cloudland.