Cloudland Canyon State Park: Waterfalls Trail (Blog Hike #953)

Trail: Waterfalls Trail
Hike Location: Cloudland Canyon State Park
Geographic Location: east of Trenton, GA (34.83562, -85.47959)
Length: 1.6 miles
Difficulty: 9/10 (Difficult)
Dates Hiked: May 1998, May 2023
Overview: An out-and-back with 600 stairs to 2 major waterfalls in Cloudland Canyon.
Park Information: https://gastateparks.org/CloudlandCanyon
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=935762
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: In extreme northwest Georgia, take I-59 to SR 136 (exit 11).  Exit and go east on SR 136.  Drive SR 136 east 6.6 miles, ascending Lookout Mountain in the process, to the state park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive 1.4 miles on the main park road, continuing straight at each intersection.  Park in any of the parking lots near the Interpretive Center.

The hike: For my general comments on Cloudland Canyon State Park, see my hike on this park's West Rim Trail.  The hike described here takes you to 2 spectacular waterfalls deep in Cloudland Canyon.  The 600 stairs on this hike make it one of 4 hikes in Georgia required for scouts to earn their Canyon Climbers badge, and they provide a strong workout for most people.  For people willing and able to make the journey, the rewards are immense, and this hike is easily one of the best dayhikes in Georgia's state park system.

Main trailhead

            Before you head to the waterfalls, take a quick detour to the park's Interpretive Center.  The Interpretive Center has some interesting exhibits, but the main attraction is the park's main canyon overlook, which is right behind the Interpretive Center.  This viewpoint looks down the canyon all of the way to its mouth, and it gives you a bird's eye view of where you are going to be in a few minutes.

Main overlook

            After taking in the view, walk southwest along the canyon rim, passing a few more overlooks.  Some rhododendron just starting to bloom brightened my path when I came here in early May.  Keep the park cabins to your left, and just shy of 0.6 miles reach a trail intersection.  The aforementioned West Rim Trail continues straight here, but you need to turn right twice to begin descending the iron-grate stairs into the canyon.

Top of the stairs

            Next you pass under a large rock overhang and descend the longest flight of stairs to reach another trail intersection at 0.7 miles.  The option going left leads to Cherokee Falls, the upper of the two waterfalls in this canyon.  You will want to go that way either now or on your way back up.  I chose to save Cherokee Falls for the return trip by turning right and continuing to descend.

Large rock overhang

            Steel stairs turn into stone stairs just before you reach the bottom at 0.8 miles.  The Sitton Gulch Trail exits right here; it leads 2.2 miles downstream to a trailhead near Trenton and does not form a loop.  To get your first waterfall, turn left and walk through a wet area to reach the base of Hemlock Falls in a few hundred feet.

Bottom of the stairs

            At 88 feet high, Hemlock Falls is the taller of the two waterfalls in this canyon.  The ledge-type falls occupies a stark amphitheater with vertical rock walls surrounding you on three sides, but greenery and boulders partially obscure the plunge pool.  An observation platform with benches invites you to admire the waterfall while resting for the climb back up.

Hemlock Falls

            When you get up the ambition, start retracing your steps back up the stairs.  Benches spaced about 75-100 stairs apart provide ample opportunities to rest, but the climb still requires exertion.  1 mile into the hike, you return to the midpoint trail intersection.  Continue straight to head for Cherokee Falls if you did not take that side trip on the way down.

Cherokee Falls

            Perhaps surprisingly, the next set of stairs leads down instead of up, and at 1.1 miles you reach the base of Cherokee Falls.  Even though Cherokee Falls is only 59 feet high, I find it more aesthetically pleasing than Hemlock Falls due to its gently curving rock walls and larger plunge pool.  After admiring this waterfall, retrace your steps to the main trail, then turn right to climb the remainder of the stairs to the parking lot to complete the hike.  Congratulations!  You climbed all 600 stairs at Cloudland Canyon.