Black Rock Mountain State Park sits at 3,640 feet, which makes it the highest state park in Georgia. It straddles the Eastern Continental Divide near Clayton in Rabun County, and Georgia State Parks says its roadside overlooks give 80-mile views. It is a longer drive from Ellijay than most places on this site, about two hours, but it pairs well with a night in Rabun County and a visit to Foxfire.

What is there

According to Georgia State Parks, the park covers 1,743 acres and includes:

  • Roadside overlooks and a summit visitor center with a gift shop and picnic tables
  • A 17-acre lake popular with anglers and circled by an easy walking trail
  • Four hiking trails, about 11 miles in all, past wildflowers, streams and small waterfalls
  • 10 cottages, 44 tent, trailer and RV sites, 12 walk-in sites and 4 backcountry sites, with bear boxes at the walk-in and backcountry sites

On the Continental Divide

The park sits on the Eastern Continental Divide, the line that separates rivers flowing to the Atlantic from those that drain to the Gulf of Mexico.

Planning your visit

  • Parking: $10 per vehicle per day, or covered by the $70 annual ParkPass. See our ParkPass guide.
  • Roads: the park warns that RVers should be comfortable driving steep, winding roads.
  • Weather: the park is often cooler than other Georgia parks and may close during icy weather. Bring a layer.
  • Hours: park 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Pets: allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. See our dogs guide.
  • Phone: 706-746-2141

Nearby

  • Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center is also in Mountain City and on the park’s list of nearby attractions. Read our Foxfire guide.
  • Tallulah Gorge State Park, south of Clayton, is on the park’s list of nearby attractions, along with Moccasin Creek State Park and the Burton trout hatchery. Our waterfalls guide has more North Georgia falls.
  • Fall color tends to arrive at higher elevations first, so Black Rock often turns before Ellijay. See our fall color guide.

Sources and further reading

Facts in this article were checked against these sources on October 30, 2026. Hours, fees and seasons change, so confirm before you go.