Princess (Elton John song) and Cloudland Canyon State Park: Difference between pages
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#REDIRECT [[Jump Up!]] {{R from song}} |
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|name=Cloudland Canyon State Park |
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|image=Georgia Locator Map with US.PNG |
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|base_width=250 |
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|iucn_category = V |
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|caption=Cloudland Canyon State Park is located near the northwest corner of Georgia, near Chattanooga |
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| locator_x = 10 |
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| locator_y = 15 |
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| nearest_city =[[Trenton, Georgia]] |
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| area = 3,485 acres |
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| established =1938 |
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'''Cloudland Canyon State Park''' is a 3,485 acre (14.10 km²) [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] [[state park]] located near [[Trenton, Georgia|Trenton]] and [[Cooper Heights, Georgia|Cooper Heights]] on the western edge of [[Lookout Mountain]]. The park, one of the largest and most scenic in Georgia,<ref>Brown (1996), p. 11</ref> offers rugged [[geology]] and beautiful vistas to visitors, as it straddles a deep [[gorge]] cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, where the elevation differs from 1,980 to 800 feet (604 to 244 m). The most spectacular views are found in the picnic area [[parking lot]], though several additional views can be found along the rim trail. At the bottom of the gorge are located two waterfalls cascading overs layers of [[sandstone]] and [[shale]] into small pools below. |
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The park, previously known as '''Sitton Gulch''', was purchased by the state of Georgia in sections, beginning in 1938. A project of [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] built the first facilities and signs in the park, which opened the following year |
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==History== |
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[[Image:CloudlandRocks.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Cloudland Canyon as viewed from the top of the gorge]] |
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Cloudland Canyon was designated a state park in 1938 when the state began acquiring land from private owners. Two of these were the Mathews and McCaig families who still live in the area today. Land acquisitions continue sporadically as new property becomes available. The park, which was originally 1,924 acres, has grown to its present size of 3,485 acres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpb.org/sitestobehold/cloudland-canyon-state-park|title=Cloudland Canyon State Park|work=GTB Television|publisher=Georgia Public Broadcasting System|accessdate=2008-10-11}}</ref> |
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Until 1939 the only access to the area was through Tennessee or Alabama. That year Georgia began work on Highway 136 to connect U.S. 41 to the recently purchased park. The Civilian Conservation Corps did much of the early work to construct the state park and access roads. |
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==Geology== |
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The park resides in the Cumberland Plateau, straddling Lookout Mountain. The flat-topped mountains of the Cumberland Plateau are significantly different from the narrow Armuchee ridges beyond nearby Chicamauga Valley to the east. From a geological standpoint Lookout Mountain is transitional between the flat-lying sedimentary beds of central Tennessee and the ridges and valley lying to the east, which display more intensive folding and faulting.<ref>Brown (1996), p. 3</ref> Most of the canyon's rock formations consist of sandstone; shale layers below the snadstone are marked by pine trees. |
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Over 200 million years ago an great ocean covered the modern day park. Lookout Mountain was created through seismic activity. When it was first formed the entire mountain was still underwater, but slowly the water subsided, until the rim of the canyon was a beach on this ocean.<ref>Brown (1996), p. 11</ref> As the great ocean dried Daniel Creek took over and continued eroding the rock. The sandstone has a tendency to fracture into squarish blocks, creating unusual bolder formations.<ref>Brown (1996), p. 3</ref> The concave shape of the top of Lookout Mountain drains rainwater through fissures into the underlying [[limestone]]. This action has formed miles of caves in the area. |
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The bottom of Cloudland canyon contains a slope of rock [[tallus]], which are sanstone and shale fragments. The vallye floor is also rich in fossil-bearing limestone.<ref>Brown (1996), p. 11</ref> |
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==Hiking trails== |
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[[Image:Cloudland Waterfall 2.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Cloudland Canyon waterfall]] |
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A paved, wheelchair-accessable trail 1/4 mile in length goes along the rim overlooking the canyon.<ref>Pfitzer (2006), p. 35</ref> The park also features three more extensive hiking trails, including one backpacking trail. These trails are generally moderate in difficulty. |
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The Waterfalls Trail begins on a paved section, at the main overlook, and progresses into the canyon on a 40-degree slope. Most of the trail consists of gravel and stair-steps, numbering over 400. Both waterfalls cascade off of sheer faces at 60 and 90 feet, and are among the most beautiful in the state. The trail is a strenuous hike which may take 90 minutes.<ref>Pfitzer (2006), p. 35</ref> The first waterfall is at 0.3 miles; the second waterfall, at the bottom of the canyon, appears at 0.5 miles. The creek flow feeding the waterfalls varies considerably according to the season. |
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In contrast, the 4.8 mile long West Rim Loop Trail is rated moderate, although it contains a few short, steep rocky places.<ref>Pfitzer (2006), pp. 35-36</ref> It is a scenic hike which offers panoramic views of the canyon. Beginning at the Daniels Creek Bridge, and climbing out of the canyon onto the plateau, the trail provides magnificent views of Trenton, Georgia, neighboring Sand Mountain, and of Cloudland Canyon itself. Cottages, West Rim, and Walk-In Camping areas are accessible via the West Rim Loop. Passing over varied terrain, most of the hike is moderately difficult, becoming strenuous on several short sections. |
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The 2.0 mile Backcountry Loop Trail provides access to the park's eleven secluded primative hike-in camping sites.<ref>Pfitzer (2006), p. 39</ref> The trail, which begins at the parking area for group camping, passes through hemlock groves, progressing down a moderate grade into a hollow, filled with spring and summer flowers. On the far end of the loop, a moderate walk brings hikers out of the hemlocks, back to level trail among oaks and hickories, and eventually back to the parking area. |
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==Facilities and activities== |
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Cloudland Canyon State park features a variety of camping and lodging options. There are 16 rental cottages as well as a group lodge. The park also offers 73 Tent/Trailer/[[RV]] sites, 30 walk-in campsites, and 11 backcountry campsites for backpackers. There are also four pioneer sites for groups of tent campers. Some of the tent/trailer/RV sites offer hookups and feature nearby washrooms. |
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Also in the park are picnicking areas including a group pavilion, tennis courts, a children’s playground and a Disc Golf course. The park has an interpretive center near the main parking lot and adjacent to the canyon. |
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Annual events hosted in the park include a Wildflower Program in April; Adventure Weekend, also in April; and a Kids' Catfish Rodeo in May. |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==References== |
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*{{cite book|last=Alden|first=Peter|title=National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States|publisher=Chanticleer Press|date=1999|location=New York|id=ISBN 0-679-44683-4}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Fred|coauthors=Nell Jones|title=The Georgia Conservancy's Guide to The North Georgia Mountains (3rd ed.)|publisher=Longstreet Press|date=1996|location=Atlanta, GA|id=ISBN 1-56352-314-0}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Molloy|first=John|title=The Best in Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos|publisher=Menasha Ridge Press|date=2007|isbn=0897329600|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4mZVrpcF7nYC&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=Cloudland+Canyon+State+Park&source=web&ots=r8eY2n_gYX&sig=59BSrSKw4pHL3IYTcnBgHuGMWzY&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA143,M1|accessdate=2008-10-11}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Nutt|first=Alex|title=Camping Georgia|publisher=Falcon Press|date=2002|location=Helena, MT|id=ISBN 0-7627-1077-2}} |
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*{{cite book|last=Pfitzer|first=Donald|title=Hiking Georgia|publisher=Morris Book Publishing/Falcon|date=2006|location=Helena, MT|id=ISBN 0-7627-3642-9|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wi-aHmpX9xkC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=Vogel+State+Park&source=web&ots=AQR93MvC4z&sig=JrNb17duk4FGdxanvu0lPuNCMZ8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result}} |
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==Further reading== |
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*{{cite book|last=Homan|first=Tim|title=The Hiking Trails of North Georgia|publisher = Peachtree Publishing|date=2001|location=Atlanta|id=ISBN 978-1-56145-127-2}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://gastateparks.org/info/cloudland/ Georgia State Parks] |
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{{commonscat|Cloudland Canyon State Park}} |
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{{coord|34.65361|N|85.47278|W|type:landmark_region:US-GA|display=title}} |
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{{Georgia state parks}} |
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[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) state parks]] |
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[[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps]] |
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[[Category:Canyons and gorges of Georgia (U.S. state)]] |
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Revision as of 18:58, 12 October 2008
| Cloudland Canyon State Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
| Nearest city | Trenton, Georgia |
| Area | 3,485 acres |
| Established | 1938 |
Cloudland Canyon State Park is a 3,485 acre (14.10 km²) Georgia state park located near Trenton and Cooper Heights on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. The park, one of the largest and most scenic in Georgia,[1] offers rugged geology and beautiful vistas to visitors, as it straddles a deep gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, where the elevation differs from 1,980 to 800 feet (604 to 244 m). The most spectacular views are found in the picnic area parking lot, though several additional views can be found along the rim trail. At the bottom of the gorge are located two waterfalls cascading overs layers of sandstone and shale into small pools below.
The park, previously known as Sitton Gulch, was purchased by the state of Georgia in sections, beginning in 1938. A project of Civilian Conservation Corps built the first facilities and signs in the park, which opened the following year
History
Cloudland Canyon was designated a state park in 1938 when the state began acquiring land from private owners. Two of these were the Mathews and McCaig families who still live in the area today. Land acquisitions continue sporadically as new property becomes available. The park, which was originally 1,924 acres, has grown to its present size of 3,485 acres.[2]
Until 1939 the only access to the area was through Tennessee or Alabama. That year Georgia began work on Highway 136 to connect U.S. 41 to the recently purchased park. The Civilian Conservation Corps did much of the early work to construct the state park and access roads.
Geology
The park resides in the Cumberland Plateau, straddling Lookout Mountain. The flat-topped mountains of the Cumberland Plateau are significantly different from the narrow Armuchee ridges beyond nearby Chicamauga Valley to the east. From a geological standpoint Lookout Mountain is transitional between the flat-lying sedimentary beds of central Tennessee and the ridges and valley lying to the east, which display more intensive folding and faulting.[3] Most of the canyon's rock formations consist of sandstone; shale layers below the snadstone are marked by pine trees.
Over 200 million years ago an great ocean covered the modern day park. Lookout Mountain was created through seismic activity. When it was first formed the entire mountain was still underwater, but slowly the water subsided, until the rim of the canyon was a beach on this ocean.[4] As the great ocean dried Daniel Creek took over and continued eroding the rock. The sandstone has a tendency to fracture into squarish blocks, creating unusual bolder formations.[5] The concave shape of the top of Lookout Mountain drains rainwater through fissures into the underlying limestone. This action has formed miles of caves in the area.
The bottom of Cloudland canyon contains a slope of rock tallus, which are sanstone and shale fragments. The vallye floor is also rich in fossil-bearing limestone.[6]
Hiking trails
A paved, wheelchair-accessable trail 1/4 mile in length goes along the rim overlooking the canyon.[7] The park also features three more extensive hiking trails, including one backpacking trail. These trails are generally moderate in difficulty.
The Waterfalls Trail begins on a paved section, at the main overlook, and progresses into the canyon on a 40-degree slope. Most of the trail consists of gravel and stair-steps, numbering over 400. Both waterfalls cascade off of sheer faces at 60 and 90 feet, and are among the most beautiful in the state. The trail is a strenuous hike which may take 90 minutes.[8] The first waterfall is at 0.3 miles; the second waterfall, at the bottom of the canyon, appears at 0.5 miles. The creek flow feeding the waterfalls varies considerably according to the season.
In contrast, the 4.8 mile long West Rim Loop Trail is rated moderate, although it contains a few short, steep rocky places.[9] It is a scenic hike which offers panoramic views of the canyon. Beginning at the Daniels Creek Bridge, and climbing out of the canyon onto the plateau, the trail provides magnificent views of Trenton, Georgia, neighboring Sand Mountain, and of Cloudland Canyon itself. Cottages, West Rim, and Walk-In Camping areas are accessible via the West Rim Loop. Passing over varied terrain, most of the hike is moderately difficult, becoming strenuous on several short sections.
The 2.0 mile Backcountry Loop Trail provides access to the park's eleven secluded primative hike-in camping sites.[10] The trail, which begins at the parking area for group camping, passes through hemlock groves, progressing down a moderate grade into a hollow, filled with spring and summer flowers. On the far end of the loop, a moderate walk brings hikers out of the hemlocks, back to level trail among oaks and hickories, and eventually back to the parking area.
Facilities and activities
Cloudland Canyon State park features a variety of camping and lodging options. There are 16 rental cottages as well as a group lodge. The park also offers 73 Tent/Trailer/RV sites, 30 walk-in campsites, and 11 backcountry campsites for backpackers. There are also four pioneer sites for groups of tent campers. Some of the tent/trailer/RV sites offer hookups and feature nearby washrooms.
Also in the park are picnicking areas including a group pavilion, tennis courts, a children’s playground and a Disc Golf course. The park has an interpretive center near the main parking lot and adjacent to the canyon.
Annual events hosted in the park include a Wildflower Program in April; Adventure Weekend, also in April; and a Kids' Catfish Rodeo in May.
Notes
- ^ Brown (1996), p. 11
- ^ "Cloudland Canyon State Park". GTB Television. Georgia Public Broadcasting System. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- ^ Brown (1996), p. 3
- ^ Brown (1996), p. 11
- ^ Brown (1996), p. 3
- ^ Brown (1996), p. 11
- ^ Pfitzer (2006), p. 35
- ^ Pfitzer (2006), p. 35
- ^ Pfitzer (2006), pp. 35-36
- ^ Pfitzer (2006), p. 39
References
- Alden, Peter (1999). National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States. New York: Chanticleer Press. ISBN 0-679-44683-4.
- Brown, Fred (1996). The Georgia Conservancy's Guide to The North Georgia Mountains (3rd ed.). Atlanta, GA: Longstreet Press. ISBN 1-56352-314-0.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Molloy, John (2007). The Best in Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos. Menasha Ridge Press. ISBN 0897329600. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- Nutt, Alex (2002). Camping Georgia. Helena, MT: Falcon Press. ISBN 0-7627-1077-2.
- Pfitzer, Donald (2006). Hiking Georgia. Helena, MT: Morris Book Publishing/Falcon. ISBN 0-7627-3642-9.
Further reading
- Homan, Tim (2001). The Hiking Trails of North Georgia. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishing. ISBN 978-1-56145-127-2.
External links
