Black Rock Mountain State Park
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Black Rock Mountain State Park is a
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
, United States, state park west of Mountain City in
Rabun County Rabun County () is the north-easternmost county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,883, up from 16,276 in 2010. The county seat is Clayton. With an average annual rainfall of over , Rabun County has the ...
, in the
Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Physiographic regions of the world, physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States, and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsy ...
. It is named after its sheer cliffs of dark-colored biotite
gneiss Gneiss ( ) is a common and widely distributed type of metamorphic rock. It is formed by high-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic processes acting on formations composed of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Gneiss forms at higher temperatures a ...
. Astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an
elevation The elevation of a geographic location is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § Ver ...
of , the park provides many scenic overlooks and vistas of the southern
Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...
. On a clear day, four states are visible: Georgia,
North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
,
South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...
, and
Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
. In addition to Black Rock Mountain itself, the park includes four other peaks over in elevation, making it the state's highest state park. As of 2019, it was open to visitors year round.


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 . Before the park was established, Rabun County native John V. Arrendale began assembling the area that would later become the park, making his first purchase in 1938. Numerous purchases have added to the park's area, including added in 1995 with funding received from then-Governor
Zell Miller Zell Bryan Miller (February 24, 1932 – March 23, 2018) was an American author and politician from the state of Georgia. A Democrat, Miller served as lieutenant governor from 1975 to 1991, 79th Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as U. ...
's Preservation 2000 land acquisition program. Several smaller acquisitions have added acreage to the park's southwest corner.


Climate


Hiking and camping

There are five hiking trails through forests, alongside mountain streams and around Black Rock Lake. The Tennessee Rock Trail crosses Black Rock Mountain's north slope before climbing across the mountain's summit and following the Eastern Continental Divide.Pfitzer (2006), p. 151 From the trail's namesake feature, Tennessee Rock, vistas can be seen that extend northward into the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an American national park in the southeastern United States, with parts in North Carolina and Tennessee. The park straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, w ...
, including
Clingman's Dome Clingmans Dome (or Clingman's Dome) is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina in the southeastern United States. Its name in Cherokee is Kuwahi or Kuwohi (ᎫᏩᎯ or ᎫᏬᎯ), meaning "mulberry place." At an el ...
, the highest point in Tennessee. The 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.''Black Rock Mountain State Park Trail Map'', published by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (rev 02/2006) At the trail's northern end, there are Lookoff Mountain and views of Wolffork Valley, the source of the
Little Tennessee River The Little Tennessee River is a tributary of the Tennessee River that flows through the Blue Ridge Mountains from Georgia, into North Carolina, and then into Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. It drains portions of three national ...
. 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 elevation change. The 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 Chattooga River (also spelled Chatooga, Chatuga, and Chautaga, variant name Guinekelokee River) is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Water course The headwaters of the Chattooga River are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carol ...
. 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 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 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 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. The Turtle Rock Fishing Pier, near Taylors Chapel Road, is 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.


Facilities

*38 Tent/ RV/Trailer sites *4 Backcountry Campsites *11 Walk-In Campsites *10 Cottages *2 Picnic Shelters *1 Pioneer Campground * hiking trail system *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 *Happy Birthday, America!


Tornado

On April 27, 2011, the park was hit by an EF-2 tornado spawned from the same supercell thunderstorm that had earlier in the evening tracked across central Alabama, heavily damaging Tuscaloosa. Thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted, and large parts of the park's camping areas and summit area were damaged. In the camping area, several cars and trucks were crushed by falling trees, however, no injuries were sustained. The park was re-opened to the public on May 6; however, large swaths of downed timber remain, especially on the mountain's westernmost flank above 3,200 feet. Most park trails were re-opened on May 13, with the exception of the Ada-hi Falls Trail. A large section of wooden steps was crushed by fallen trees and will have to be replaced before the trail is re-opened.


Gallery

Image:Black Rock Mountain Road.jpg, Road on Black Rock Mountain Image:Black Rock Mountain State Park.jpg, Another view from Black Rock Mountain State Park Image:15 18 0030 black rock.jpg, Black Rock Overlook Image:Black Rock Tennessee Rock.jpg, Tennessee Rock Overlook Image:16 23 414 black rock.jpg, Cowee Overlook


References

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Notes


External links

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History of Georgia State ParksAda Hi Falls Hiking TrailTennessee Rock Hiking TrailJames E. Edmonds
{{authority control State parks of Georgia (U.S. state) State parks of the Appalachians Protected areas of Rabun County, Georgia Protected areas established in 1952 Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest