Black Rock Mountain State Park | Mountain City, Georgia
Black Rock Mountain Pkwy. off US Hwy 441Javascript must be enabled to view this map.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Black Rock Mountain State Park, named for its sheer cliffs of dark granite (biotite gneiss), has the distinction of being Georgia’s highest state park. It stretches over 3 miles along the Eastern Continental Divide, the spine of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Containing six different peaks above 3,000 feet in elevation it covers more than 1,800 acres. From park overlooks on a clear day, visitors may enjoy views extending more than 80 miles. Among the areas of the southern Appalachians visible are the Nantahala Mountains, the Cowee Range, and, on especially clear days, the Great Smoky Mountains.
The park is noted for its many spring wildflowers, including several varieties of trillium, violets, bloodroot, and flame azalea. In early summer, masses of mountain laurel and rhododendron are in bloom. In the fall, leaves of oak, maple, sourwood, and other deciduous trees and shrubs create a spectacular blaze of yellow orange, and red. Evergreens present a contrasting note. Golden rod and other fall blooms add to the show. The most common natural environment in the park is a deciduous hardwood slope forest with red oaks dominant. Chestnut oak in drier places and white oaks in certain areas lend diversity.
Animals in the park include gray squirrels, chipmunks, opossums, black bears, foxes, woodchucks, bobcats, skunks, and occasional deer. There are wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and, in season, many songbirds.
