Cloudland Canyon State Park
A thousand-foot-deep gorge is the centerpiece of this tri-state park.
A thousand-foot-deep gorge is the centerpiece of this park on the western edge of Lookout Mountain at the border of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Sandstone rimrock and steep cliffs line the gorge above, while Sitton Gulch Creek gurgles below. Try the 5-mile West Rim Loop Trail, which is open year-round and accesses side trails to the gorge bottom, where solitude abounds. Backcountry camping is available for $4 per person. Located on GA 136, 8 miles east of Trenton.
drive time: Atlanta: 2 1/2 hours
guides: Hiking Georgia, by Donald W. Pfitzer ($17) and free maps are available at the park office.
contact:Cloudland Canyon State Park, (800) 864-7275; www.gastateparks.org