Black Rock Mountain State Park
Encyclopedia
Black Rock Mountain State Park is a 1,743 acre (7.03 km²) Georgia
state park
located west of 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 3000 feet (914.4 m) in altitude, making it the highest state park in Georgia.
The park is closed during the late fall and winter (December 1 until March 15).
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 acres (283,280.2 m²) purchase in 1938. Numerous purchases have added to the Park's area since it was established in 1952, including 301 acres (1.2 km²) added in 1995 with funding received from then-Governor Zell Miller
's Preservation 2000 land acquisition program. Several smaller acquisitions have added acreage to the park's southwest corner since then.
. 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 miles (11.6 km) 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. The campsites- Fern Cove, Lookoff Mountain, Laurel Ridge, and Creek Ridge- are completely undeveloped and offer no facilities. In places the Edmonds Trail weaves in and out of laurel-filled coves and follows cascading mountain streams with small waterfalls. At the trail's northern end, hikers reach 3162 feet (963.8 m) Lookoff Mountain and enjoy views of scenic 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 popular RV camping area and leads hikers 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 feet (67.1 m) elevation change. Note: this trail remains closed after sections of it were heavily damaged from a tornado strike on April 27, 2011.
The .85 miles (136.8 km) Black Rock Lake Trail was completed in August, 2007. 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 easy and can be enjoyed by hikers of most any fitness level.
The park's newest trail, the Norma Campbell Cove Trail, is short- only 200 yards- but nevertheless very scenic. 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. Hikers pass 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.
The park offers a variety of camping experiences. It has a 44-site campground featuring water, 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 primitive pioneer campsite designed for use by organized groups.
The Turtle Rock Fishing Pier, located near Taylors Chapel Road, is completely barrier-fee and offers easy lake access for fishermen with mobility challenges.
During the spring and early summer, Black Rock Lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. In addition, anglers fish for catfish, bream, yellow perch, and large-mouth bass (some weighing more than 10 pounds). Fishermen must have a Georgia fishing license, but are not required to have an additional trout stamp provided they remain on lake waters and do not venture up streams.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located west of Mountain City
Mountain City, Georgia
Mountain City is an incorporated town in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. The population was 829 at the 2000 census. The town straddles the Eastern Continental Divide in a deep gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain front. The gap allows U.S...
in Rabun County
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
. It is named after its sheer cliffs of dark-colored biotite
Biotite
Biotite is a common phyllosilicate mineral within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula . More generally, it refers to the dark mica series, primarily a solid-solution series between the iron-endmember annite, and the magnesium-endmember phlogopite; more aluminous endmembers...
gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
and encompasses some of the most outstanding countryside in Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. Located astride the Eastern Continental Divide
Eastern Continental Divide
The Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
at an altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
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
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
. On a clear day, four states are visible: Georgia, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. In addition to Black Rock Mountain itself, the park includes four other peaks over 3000 feet (914.4 m) in altitude, making it the highest state park in Georgia.
The park is closed during the late fall and winter (December 1 until March 15).
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 acres (283,280.2 m²) purchase in 1938. Numerous purchases have added to the Park's area since it was established in 1952, including 301 acres (1.2 km²) added in 1995 with funding received from then-Governor Zell Miller
Zell Miller
Zell Bryan Miller is an American politician from the US state of Georgia. A Democrat, Miller served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975 to 1991, 79th Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as United States Senator from 2000 to 2005....
's Preservation 2000 land acquisition program. Several smaller acquisitions have added acreage to the park's southwest corner since then.
Hiking and camping
There are five hiking trails through lush forests, alongside cascading mountain streams and around 17 acre (69,000 m²) Black Rock Lake. The 2.2 miles (3.5 km) Tennessee Rock Trail crosses Black Rock Mountain's cool north slope before climbing across the mountain's summit and following the Eastern Continental DivideEastern Continental Divide
The Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
. From the trail's namesake feature - Tennessee Rock itself - hikers enjoy vistas that extend northward into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
, including Clingman's Dome, the highest point in Tennessee.
The 7.2 miles (11.6 km) 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. The campsites- Fern Cove, Lookoff Mountain, Laurel Ridge, and Creek Ridge- are completely undeveloped and offer no facilities. In places the Edmonds Trail weaves in and out of laurel-filled coves and follows cascading mountain streams with small waterfalls. At the trail's northern end, hikers reach 3162 feet (963.8 m) Lookoff Mountain and enjoy views of scenic Wolffork Valley, the source of the Little Tennessee River
Little Tennessee River
The Little Tennessee River is a tributary of the Tennessee River, approximately 135 miles long, in the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States.-Geography:...
.
The Ada-Hi Falls
Ada-Hi Falls
Ada-Hi Falls is located within Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County, Georgia. The name is Cherokee for "forest." It is the highest elevation falls in the state. The amount of water present is highly variable due to its high elevation. The falls are surrounded by a forest of rhododendron....
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 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 feet (67.1 m) elevation change. Note: this trail remains closed after sections of it were heavily damaged from a tornado strike on April 27, 2011.
The .85 miles (136.8 km) Black Rock Lake Trail was completed in August, 2007. 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 easy and can be enjoyed by hikers of most any fitness level.
The park's newest trail, the Norma Campbell Cove Trail, is short- only 200 yards- but nevertheless very scenic. It begins on the southern edge of the Eastern Continental Divide
Eastern Continental Divide
The Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
near the Marie Mellinger Center and descends into the upper reaches of a south-facing cove filled with ferns, mayapple and trillium. Hikers pass 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
Chattooga River
The Chattooga River is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina, and it stretches to where it has its confluence with the Tallulah River within Lake Tugalo, held back by the Tugalo Dam...
. 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.
The park offers a variety of camping experiences. It has a 44-site campground featuring water, 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 primitive pioneer campsite designed for use by organized groups.
Marie Mellinger Center
The park's newest facility, the Marie Mellinger Center, was completed in July 2010. Named for one of the region's most noted botanists, the 1484 square feet (137.9 m²) facility is designed to accommodate a variety of uses including special events; country, bluegrass, and gospel music programs; nature arts and crafts; and other naturalist-led programs. A 1150 square feet (106.8 m²) deck overlooks densely-forested Norma Campbell Cove. A separate construction project to add restroom facilities to the Mellinger Center was completed in March, 2011. The facility was formally dedicated during a public ceremony on October 8, 2011.Black Rock Lake
In September, 2010, Black Rock Lake was officially opened for boating for the first time since its construction in 1974. Canoes, kayaks, and other small boats are authorized. No boat ramps exist, so all craft have to carried a short distance. Electric trolling motors may be used, but gasoline motors are prohibited. U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices are required for each occupant.The Turtle Rock Fishing Pier, located near Taylors Chapel Road, is completely barrier-fee and offers easy lake access for fishermen with mobility challenges.
During the spring and early summer, Black Rock Lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. In addition, anglers fish for catfish, bream, yellow perch, and large-mouth bass (some weighing more than 10 pounds). Fishermen must have a Georgia fishing license, but are not required to have an additional trout stamp provided they remain on lake waters and do not venture up streams.
Facilities
- 44 Tent/RV/Trailer sites
- 4 Backcountry Campsites
- 12 Walk-In Campsites
- 10 CottageCottage__toc__In modern usage, a cottage is usually a modest, often cozy dwelling, typically in a rural or semi-rural location. However there are cottage-style dwellings in cities, and in places such as Canada the term exists with no connotations of size at all...
s hiking trail system - 2 covered picnic shelters
- Multiple picnic areas
- Camp Tsatu-gi Pioneer Camping Area
- Summit Visitor Center Black Rock Lake
- Turtle Rock Fishing Pier (wheelchair-accessible)
- Marie Mellinger Center
- Children's playground
Annual events
- Junior Fishing Rodeo (Saturday, May 5, 2012 tentative)
- Happy Birthday, America! (July, 2012 event date to be determined)