Approximately 34 miles in length, the route begins at Cloudland Canyon State Park near Rising Fawn, Georgia, and follows the mountain north to the base of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee where it connects to Chattanooga’s Greenway System. The RCR is a unique combination of multiple trail systems years in the making that showcases Chattanooga's natural beauty and some of the best trails in its system
The RCR challenges the most seasoned adventure cyclists, runners, and hikers. Users can expect to encounter rocky technical sections, scenic overlooks, tumbling mountain streams, waterfalls, hidden hollers, unique rock formations, abandoned mines, and several historical sites.
The River to Clouds Route links together several public lands managed by different organizations, including Lookout Mountain Conservancy, National Park Service, Lula Lake Land Trust, Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, Covenant College, and Georgia State Parks. To find out where you can park overnight and camp, please consult the map and make sure to follow the rules and guidelines set by each land manager.
Lula Lake Land Trust requires a $5 permit to traverse the route. Information and permitting here: https://www.lulalake.org/river-to-clouds-route.html
Route and Information available on Trailforks- https://www.trailforks.com/route/river-to-clouds-route--full-route-including-hike-only-section/
Comments
Planning to do this route (out and back) with my girlfriend on 3/21-3/22.Â
Can someone fix the GPX so there's not a straight line back to the start?
Good catch Adam! I reviewed the route file last night, and there are a couple of minor issues with it. The River to Clouds Route follows the Cloudland Connector Trail (CCT) from Covenant College until you reach Cloudland Canyon Park itself. To follow the River 2 Clouds trail, follow the small placards placed along the trail. They are usually near every major intersection. I will grab a picture of what they look like for you and provide an updated GPX file.Â
I am the Course designer for the River 2 Clouds 100 trail in February 2026 if you're interested. Send me an email at kalbuskj31@gmail.com for more information.Â
Stacy Greenberg and I plan to attempt this route (Round Trip) again on 11/26-11/27.
Update: I will be attempting River to Clouds Round Trip solo starting in St. Elmo Friday, 11/27. I have gone in and cleaned up the GPX file for those that want to attempt this. The Vert profile is similar in either direction. Merging these 2 routes has been messy, so I kept them separate.Â
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St. Elmo Start:Â https://www.strava.com/routes/3429176617924291942
Cloudland Start. Updated River to Clouds Route - Cloudland Start | 34.8 mi Trail Running Route on Strava
St. Elmo Start:Â Updated River to Clouds Route - St. Elmo Start | 34.7 mi Trail Running Route on Strava