Black Rock Mountain State Park is a 1,743-acre Georgia, United States, state park west of Mountain City in Rabun County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is named after its sheer cliffs of dark-colored biotite gneiss. Astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an elevation of 3,640 feet, the park provides many scenic overlooks and 80-mile 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 elevation, making it the state's highest state park. As of 2019, it was open to visitors year round.
There are five hiking trails through forests, alongside mountain streams and around 17-acre Black Rock Lake. The 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail crosses Black Rock Mountain's north slope before climbing across the mountain's summit and following the Eastern Continental Divide. From the trail's namesake feature, Tennessee Rock, vistas can be seen 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 that allow backpackers with reservations to escape into the park's quiet backcountry. The campsites are undeveloped and offer no facilities. In places the Edmonds Trail weaves in and out of laurel-filled coves and follows mountain streams with small waterfalls. At the trail's northern end, there are 3,162-foot Lookoff Mountain and views of Wolffork Valley, the source of the Little Tennessee River.
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 RV camping area and leads into a moist north-facing cove filled with rosebay rhododendron. The lower portion of the trail becomes very steep and utilizes a series of wooden steps before ending on the observation platform for Ada-hi Falls, a small cascade typical of falls found in the upper reaches of mountain coves. The trail is short but strenuous due to the 220-foot elevation change.
The 0.85-mile Black Rock Lake Trail was completed in August, 2007. This gently rolling path encircles Black Rock Lake and features several wooden bridges that span streams, as well as trailside benches that afford scenic views of the lake.
The park's newest trail, the Norma Campbell Cove Trail, is only 200 yards. It begins on the southern edge of the Eastern Continental Divide near the Marie Mellinger Center and descends into the upper reaches of a south-facing cove filled with ferns, mayapple and trillium. It passes huge boulders and large rock outcrops, as well as small springs that flow into Stekoa Creek, one of the principal tributaries of the federally designated "wild and scenic" Chattooga River. The cove and trail are named for the late Norma Campbell, a popular park naturalist, who led the decade-long effort to acquire funding for the construction of the Marie Mellinger Center, the park's primary programming and special event facility.
Visitor Center & Tradig Post
Overlooks
Videos
Campgrounds
Lodges
Amphitheater
Coversations/Things we learned:
This is one of Georgia's better state parks. The park offers extensive hiking trails and the overlook views of the Appalachian Mountains are incredible. This park offers a break from the Georgia heat as one can expect a 10 degree swing at the visitor center. There is limited RV parking so plan ahead to ensure you get a spot. Overall, this is a park you should got out of your way to visit.
Contact Information:
Phone: (706) 746-2141
Website: