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Old 05-16-2012, 01:50 PM   #1
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Cloudland Canyon and Tallulah Gorge Georgia

We're passing thru northern GA this summer but only have time to
visit one of these parks.
Cloudland Canyon and Tallulah Gorge Georgia state parks.

We're day hikers and bicycle riders but not off road bikes.
No kids so activities for kids don't matter to us.

IF you had to choose only one park, which one??
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Old 05-16-2012, 02:14 PM   #2
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I have stayed at both places for 7+ days. Cloudland canyon was fantastic for walking, privacy, animal life, and views. Roads not as steep. A lot to see and do, just depends on the month.
Tallulah has a lot more outside activities. The roads can be very steep. The walks are very strenous at times. You MUST have lots a water and bug spray. Touring around offers a lot more.
I would look at the sat views prior to going. We loved our time there.
Both places we would go back and stay.
If I can find the pics I'll post them.
If you like white water rafting, tubing etc. then tallulah is the choice.
Either one enjoy.
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Old 05-16-2012, 02:37 PM   #3
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How did you come up with those 2 KyDan? They are pretty far apart. We are planning a trip to N. Ga in October and were looking at Cloudland Canyon, Blackrock Mountain or Amicacola Falls. I think the first 2 are about 1 hour further than I may want to drive. Tallula Gorge looks nice too though.
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Old 05-16-2012, 03:16 PM   #4
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While staying in the area, we drove through Blackrock Mtn State Park and Tallula Gorge State Park. Some of the sites in both were on the short side but usable; if you had a short rig. Now at Blackrock(highest st park in GA) you better not have a rig over 25' or so. Tight turns and a steep road up the mountain. Better have a TV to pull a steep grade. The views once up there are magnificent. Also cooler temps. Hiking at Tallula Gorge is strenuous but doable. 1,099 steps down to the bottom, and guess how many back up? When they say bring some water to hike, DO IT!!! There is also a trail that goes around the top if you don't want to do steps.

We have stayed at Cloudland Canyon before and found it to be kinda woodsy but with easy driving distance to Chattanooga.
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Old 05-16-2012, 04:27 PM   #5
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Kydan...
Dang you will be just about in my backyard!

Two beautiful parks.. and so different yet so much alike.

I would pick Cloudland Canyon! Cloudland has some great hiking trails and views. On Lookout Mtn, you can go hang gliding if you are that adventurous. Closer to Chattanooga TN (lots to do!), not far from Desoto State Park in Ft Payne Al. Desoto has a FABULOUS campground, and good hiking trails.

That's my two cents...for what its worth!
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Old 05-17-2012, 07:38 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LFugate View Post
How did you come up with those 2 KyDan? They are pretty far apart. We are planning a trip to N. Ga in October and were looking at Cloudland Canyon, Blackrock Mountain or Amicacola Falls. I think the first 2 are about 1 hour further than I may want to drive. Tallula Gorge looks nice too though.
Thanks everyone! This is our rough draft for this summer trip.
Louisville, KY 40291 to Louisville, KY 40291 - Google Maps

Basically Louisville KY to Pisgha NF, to Charleston to Savannah back to
Cloudland, then Fall Creek Falls TN and back to the home of the
Louisville Slugger Bat!

A buddy suggested Tallulah Gorge GA. He had a saved clipping that made
it sound good. They have a paved rails to trails bike trail there but haven't
done any research to see how long it is.

We don't mind strenuous but don't necessarily go out of our way to
find it...... well maybe we do a little

Last summer we hit Shenandoah NP and then New River Gorge WV.
We hiked up and down the gorge or mountain in both parks.
Also visited Breaks interstate park on the KY/VA line. That gorge trail
is awesome but one end of the loop is literally straight up the side of
the gorge!

Anyway, looking at roads on this trip I'm now leaning towards
Cloudland because it's near major interstate.
Looks like getting to Tallulah would be a lot of 2 lane?
Maybe next time.

Getting excited!!

It's always a struggle for me to get the bare bones of a trip laid out but
once I've got a rough draft and it starts to fit together, then it's fun!

Thanks again!!

Any suggestions for RV parks in either Charleston or Savannah?
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Old 05-17-2012, 08:08 AM   #7
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Sounds like fun Dan. I think we decided to go to Tallulah. I ran the distances and times on Mapquest and it's actually 40 minutes closer in driving time then Amicacola Falls and Cloudland. We wanted to stay on the east side of Ga because the wife wants to hit the shops and other things in Helen.

As far as bike trails at Tallulah, they have 1.7 mile of rails to trails. They also list seperately more than 20 miles of hiking and bike trails.

Anyone know how full these parks are in Oct? I don't want to make reservations, but I hate to arrive and not have a camp site.
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Old 05-17-2012, 02:13 PM   #8
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If you go in octplan on a park early as the helen oct fest is in full swing. There are many festivals around that time. A great time to go there. On the weekends the lines in helen Sep-Oct can be very long. Roads packed.
Helen has a great web site for info. A great time of year to go play in helen and the gold rush days.
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Old 05-17-2012, 02:31 PM   #9
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If you go in octplan on a park early as the helen oct fest is in full swing. There are many festivals around that time. A great time to go there. On the weekends the lines in helen Sep-Oct can be very long. Roads packed.
Helen has a great web site for info. A great time of year to go play in helen and the gold rush days.
We were hoping to catch the changing of the leaves. Thanks for the info.
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Old 05-17-2012, 02:51 PM   #10
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Any suggestions for RV parks in either Charleston or Savannah?
I can only recommend that you not to stay at Red Gate CG. Camping there would be like camping in an open field with no trees.

We stayed here for a weekend and had a good time: Savannah South KOA | Camping in Georgia | KOA Campgrounds

It has a small pool and a lake where you can fish. It's a little ways from downtown Savannah, probably 20 minutes if I remember correctly.
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Old 05-17-2012, 05:57 PM   #11
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We were hoping to catch the changing of the leaves. Thanks for the info.
If you are looking for a nice view of the changing leaves then check out Brastown Bald it is the highest elevation in Ga. You can see 4 states from there. Take 75 north out of Helen aprox. 10 miles to 180 go left . I would definitely make a reservation October is the busiest time of the year in north Ga. We travel through that area at least twice a year. Hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
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Old 05-17-2012, 07:41 PM   #12
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We just stayed at Cloudland. You have two options for areas. East Rim and West Rim. West Rim was more wooded and secluded. East Rim was open and grassy. I liked West Rim. The hiking was nice.

We will hit fall creek falls in two weeks!
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Old 05-23-2012, 01:59 PM   #13
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We will hit fall creek falls in two weeks!
Do you have reservations?? I've been calling for 2 days and it's just busy
all day long.
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Old 05-23-2012, 02:07 PM   #14
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Dan, Have you gone to the Georgia State Park web site? You can make reservations there... you can reserve a spot but not an exact site.

Georgia State Park Reservations :: Home Page
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Old 05-23-2012, 02:18 PM   #15
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For Fall Creek, half of the park is reservations, the other is first come first serve. We are going up Thursday at 0700.

For Cloudland they are 100% reservations.
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Old 05-23-2012, 02:29 PM   #16
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I have reservations for our entire trip EXCEPT Fall Creek Falls Tenn.
Their 800 reservation number is busy all day long. I'm sitting on the
back porch sipping a cold one and hitting re-dial over and over......
Maybe there is a certain time of day that's better?

We'll be driving up from Cloudland and don't expect to arrive at the park
until early afternoon. I sure would like to know I have a site when I get there!
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Old 05-23-2012, 02:42 PM   #17
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Finally got thru!!
We have reservations!!

Woo Hoo, my entire trip is nailed down!!
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Old 05-23-2012, 02:55 PM   #18
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...and Fall Creek is where? I don't think it is a Georgia State Park. HIGH Falls IS a state park. Is Falls Creek a Fed campground?
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Old 05-23-2012, 03:04 PM   #19
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Amicalola Falls campground is at the TOP of the mountain! Steep road and yes the campground was rehabed several years ago... do the site are tight. Many are elevated... really strange. Pretty park, good hiking, camping good for tents, pop ups small rigs. I know... I use to work there and live a short distance away.
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Old 05-23-2012, 03:05 PM   #20
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If you are gonna stay at amicola st pk or any state park in north ga in oct, you better mak reservations NOW. They will sell out fast
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