Cloudland Canyon: West Rim

Angela and I spent the last day of 2013 hiking the West Rim Trail in Georgia’s Cloudland Canyon State Park. This 5 mile loop was a somewhat challenging hike that offered fantastic views of the valley below. It was a cold New Year’s Eve morning, and in some places the ground was still frozen.

This is the view from our cabin deck, overlooking the canyon below. This was our second time staying at Scenic View Log Cabins, and once again good folks there took care of us. I do recommend Scenic View, but I suggest you bring back -up toilet paper and coffee filters. The cabins are a quick 5-10 minute drive to the heart of the state park.

Here’s something that I’d never even heard of before – Yurts! These ancient structures, most commonly associated with Mongolia, are known for their durability and portability. Frankly, I think they look cool too. These yurts are raised, insulated, animal proof, heated/cooled, and have accessible water. In addition, the Cloudland yurts have a fire pit and a raised deck. So if you’re in the mood to sort of rough it, I think the Yurt might be a great option. Think of it as a very fancy tent. The Yurt Village was opened in 2013 and prices at the time of our visit were $80, as compared to the $16 camping or the $140 cabins.