CLOUDLAND
Last
week a last minute work assignment sent me to Trenton, GA, which is 20 miles
southwest of Chattanooga, TN. Cloudland
Canyon State Park has been on my to-do list for years, and it is just outside
of Trenton. I brought my pack, boots,
camera, and tripod with the intent of trying to squeeze in a quick hike after
work.
On
Wednesday I was supposed to go to the gym.
But with rain in the forecast for Thursday, plus a long drive home,
Wednesday evening was my only chance to hike.
I scooted out of work promptly at 5pm (or perhaps a few minutes before)
and raced up the mountain to the park.
Cloudland Canyon State Park sits on a plateau high above the Tennessee
River Valley. From below, the area looks
like Lookout Mountain outside of Chattanooga.
Like Lookout Mountain, the plateau above Trenton features a stream with
some impressive waterfalls. The park
features a one-mile trail to two waterfalls on Daniel Creek. I had an hour of daylight, which would allow
me just enough time for the round-trip hike to Cherokee Falls and Hemlock
Falls.
I
parked at the Waterfall Trailhead next to a picnic shelter. I paid the $5 parking fee, changed clothes in
the car, and grabbed my gear. I hiked
over to the rim of the canyon and took in the view. Surprisingly, there was an impressive
waterfall directly across the canyon from me.
This waterfall isn’t on the park map, but it is probably 200’ high. It is on a tributary, which may be
seasonal. It was so impressive,
I wanted to get a closer look at it.
Based on the park map, it looks like the Sitton
Gulch Trail passes below it. I don’t
know if it offers a view of the falls, or if it is possible to scramble up to
the falls from the trail. Unfortunately
I didn’t have enough time (daylight) to investigate.
From
the rim I followed the trail into the canyon.
Most of the descent is on steps.
If you’ve been to Amiacola Falls State Park,
you know what to expect. This trail is
actually more attractive though, as the stairs descend along the rugged wall of
the gorge.
I
was near the bottom when I reached a fork in the trail. Randomly I decided to hike to Hemlock Falls
first. I followed the trail down to the
creek, then upstream to an overlook just downstream from the falls. The viewpoint provides a great look at
Hemlock Falls, which is spectacular.
It’s a true free-fall, probably 100’ high. There is a huge boulder, perhaps 30’ tall,
right at the base of the falls. I took a
few photos there, but had trouble with the spray, even though I was a
considerable distance downstream. The water
was definitely way up!
From
there I hiked back downstream and followed the Sitton
Gulch Trail to a bridge over Daniel Creek.
Just beyond the bridge I found another waterfall. This one isn’t labeled on the park map. It’s only about 20’, but it is an impressive
vertical drop. Just downstream was an 8’
cascade that was quite pretty, too. I
was tempted to follow the Sitton Gulch Trail
downstream, but daylight was fading, and I still wanted to see Cherokee Falls.
I
hurried back up the steps to the junction I’d passed earlier. I descended another flight of steps to Daniel
Creek a short distance upstream from the brink of Hemlock Falls. I hurried upstream, and arrived at the pool
at the base of Cherokee Falls. Cherokee
Falls is a bit smaller than Hemlock Falls, but almost as impressive. The deep, broad pool at the base is
surrounded by impressive cliffs. I took
a few quick photos, but it was really too dark for effective photography. I packed up quickly and hiked out the same
way. Although it was virtually dark when
I left Cherokee Falls, once I climbed a few flights of steps it was much
brighter. There was enough lingering
light that I was able to hike all the way back out without turning on my
headlamp.
I’d
like to return to Cloudland State Park again when I have more time. Hemlock Falls is the most impressive
waterfall I’ve seen in Georgia, and Cherokee Falls isn’t far behind. Plus the park has a whole network of trails,
including one with backcountry campsites.
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