Cloudland Canyon - West Rim and Waterfalls Trail (Dade County, Georgia)

 

The world is deep in the grip of a global pandemic and just about every government entity has ordered citizens to stay at home to slow the spread. I've been following the order for several weeks now, and only getting out for essentials and to get a run in around my neighborhood a few times a week. However, I had made camping reservations for Cloudland Canyon several months ago and figured I could maintain social distancing just as well in the woods as I can near my home. So, last night I left work a little early and drove up to the state park in Northwestern Georgia. I arrived about 6:30 PM, but with no dry firewood due to the recent rains, I had little to do after setting up my camp. I crawled under my backpacking quilt on top of my new sleeping pad and listened to podcasts until sleep took me. I awoke in the middle of the night to more rain passing through. I knew there was a chance for rain, but I was hoping to beat the odds. It didn't happen.

After falling back asleep and finally rising at about 7:30 AM, I decided to get up and make the most of whatever hiking I could get in before the next wave of storms that I could see on Doppler radar from my phone passed through. I decided to do part of the West Rim Trail, which would give me a view of the canyon and follow it to the Waterfalls Trail, which would lead me to the two waterfalls for which the area is most famous.

Making my way through the walk-in campground, I finally reached the trail and begin skirting the top of the cliff on the western side of the wide and deep canyon. Occasionally, the trees opened up and offered some stunning views of this landscape, which is reminiscent of Utah, but with far more green flora covering everything. The views are quite stunning and I can certainly see why this is such a favorite of the locals. It's wet everywhere and the trail is pretty muddy in places, but it's still a good trail. I do encounter a few other hikers along the way, but not nearly as many as I would have expected. I'm not sure if it was the pandemic or the rain that was keeping people away, but whatever the reason, this is definitely the way I prefer it.

Reaching the head of the canyon, I switch routes to the Waterfalls Trail and begin the descent down the canyon wall, aided by wooden, stone, and steel steps - lots and lots of them. Approaching the bottom the trail splits. To my left is Cherokee Falls and to my right is Hemlock Falls. I decide to go left first. It's only a short distance to the magnificent waterfall. Plummeting sixty feet over the edge of a cliff, the waters of Daniel Creek meet a deep pool at the bottom of a nature-carved semi-circle. It's truly a gorgeous setting and with only a couple of other people here this morning, I can take my time to enjoy it.

Heading the other direction and passing the junction, I then make my way further down the creek to the even more stunning Hemlock Falls. This waterfall is very similar in appearance to its upstream relative. Just as the previous fall carved out a semi-circle from the cliff, this one has as well, though it is a bit taller at approximately ninety feet in height. The addition of a gigantic boulder rising out of the pool below the falls adds character. I must say these two waterfalls in conjunction with each other are among the most beautiful sites I've seen since moving to Georgia.

After climb back up the many, many steps to the top of the canyon, I make my way back to the fork in the trail where the Waterfalls Trail departs the West Rim Trail. Heading right instead of the way I came, my plan is to complete the loop around this mesa before returning to my campsite. The rains have different plans though. After only a quarter-mile or so a light sprinkle begins to fall from the gray skies and instead of getting soaking wet, I decide to return to my camp. Once there and after checking the weather report, I decide to hastily break camp and head out instead of spending the evening in my tent while the storms dump more rain on me. Though short, it was still a great stay. I was able to hike about 5.4 miles this morning, but just being out in nature again after so many weeks couped up in the house made it all worthwhile.