Black Rock Mountain State Park
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Black Rock Mountain State Park is a 1,743 acre (7.03 km²) Georgia state park located near Mountain City in Rabun County. It is named after its sheer cliffs of dark-colored biotite gneiss and encompasses some of the most outstanding countryside in Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Located astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an altitude of 3,640 feet (1,109 m), the park provides many scenic overlooks and spectacular 80 mile (130 km) vistas of the southern Appalachian Mountains. On a clear day, four states are visible: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In addition to Black Rock Mountain itself, the Park includes four other peaks over 3,000 feet in altitude, making this scenic natural area the highest state park in Georgia.
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[edit] History
Most of the rock outcrops found throughout the park are made of biotite gneiss, a metamorphic rock that underlies a large portion of the Georgia Blue Ridge. Black Rock Mountain State Park was established in 1952 and originally consisted of 1,000 acres (4 km²). Long before the Park was established, Rabun County native John V. Arrendale began assembling the area that would later become the Park, making his first 70 acre purchase in 1938. Numerous purchases have added to the Park's area since it was established 1952, including 301 acres (1.2 km²) added in 1995 with funding received from then-Governor Zell Miller's Preservation 2000 land acquisition program.
[edit] Hiking and camping
There are four hiking trails through lush forests, alongside cascading mountain streams and around 17 acre (69,000 m²) Black Rock Lake. The 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail crosses Black Rock Mountain's cool north slope before climbing across the mountain's summit. From the trail's namesake feature- Tennessee Rock itself- hikers enjoy vistas that extend northward into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including Clingman's Dome, the highest point in Tennessee.
The 7.2-mile James E. Edmonds Trail is named for "Mr. Eddie" Edmonds, one of the park's earliest and longest-serving rangers. This rugged trail features four secluded campsites which allow backpackers with reservations to escape into the park's quiet backcountry. In places the trail weaves in and out of laurel-filled coves and follows mountain streams cascading with small waterfalls.[1] The Ada-hi Falls Trail is named for the Cherokee word for "forest." The quarter-mile trail begins near the entrance of the park's popular RV camping area and leads hikers into a moist north-facing cove filled with rosebay rhododendron.
The .85-mile Black Rock Lake Trail, completed in August, 2007, is the park's newest trail. This gently-rolling path completely encircles Black Rock Lake and features several wooden bridges that span cascading streams, as well as trailside benches which afford scenic views of the lake. The trail is exceptionally easy and can be enjoyed by hikers of most any fitness level.
The park offers a variety of camping experiences. It has a 44-site campground featuring electricity and cable TV hookups for recreational vehicles. There are also 12 isolated walk-in tent sites located in Hickory Cove on the mountain's southeastern slope. On the park's westernmost ridge are ten rental cottages and Camp Tsatu-gi, a primative pioneer campsite designed for use by organized groups.
[edit] Facilities
- 44 Tent/RV/Trailer sites
- 4 Backcountry Campsites
- 12 Walk-In Campsites
- 10 Cottages
- 2 Picnic Shelters
- Pioneer Camping
- Summit Visitor Center
- Wheelchair-accessible Fishing Pier
[edit] Annual events
- Junior Fishing Rodeo (May)
- Happy Birthday, America! (July)
[edit] References
- Molloy, Johnny (2007). The Best in Tent Camping: Georgia. Birmingham, AL: Menasga Ridge Press. ISBN 978-0-89732-724-4.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Black Rock Mountain State Park Trail Map, published by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (rev 02/2006)
