Lookout Mountain & Cloudland Canyon

Georgia's side of Lookout Mountain from LaFayette: the route climbs GA-136 onto the mountain, rides out and back to Cloudland Canyon State Park, follows GA-157 south along the crest to Cloudland, drops to Menlo and returns on GA-337. It's 70 miles. The canyon overlooks are inside the park, out and back on the park road, and Georgia state parks charge $10 per vehicle per day to park. The route stays in Georgia: it doesn't follow GA-157 north to Tennessee or GA-48 west to Alabama.

Lookout Mountain is a long plateau that runs from Alabama through the northwest corner of Georgia into Tennessee. From LaFayette the route climbs onto it on GA-136, whose Walker County stretch was designated the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway, and rides out to Cloudland Canyon State Park. The canyon is more than 1,000 feet deep, cut by Daniel Creek and Bear Creek, which join to form Sitton Gulch Creek. The route turns around on the park road: the main overlook and the rim trail are a short ride farther into the park, and parking costs $10 per vehicle per day.

Back on top, the route follows GA-157 south along the crest of the mountain to Cloudland, drops off the plateau to Menlo and returns to LaFayette on GA-337 through the valley. It's 70 miles with two climbs and two descents. The route stays in Georgia on purpose: GA-157 north runs to the Tennessee line, and GA-48 west of Menlo goes into Alabama. Fall color peaks late in October.