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Trail Bytes June 2026: Cloudland Canyon Chili & 4-Day Camping Menu
June 05, 2026
Hello Chef,

Dominique and I continued exploring Georgia State Parks last month with a 4-day, 3-night camping and hiking trip to the magnificent Cloudland Canyon State Park.

We hiked the West Rim Trail at the top of the canyon, with its breathtaking views, and the Sitton’s Gulch Trail at the bottom of the canyon, where Daniel Creek cascades over boulders through the lush forest.

The menu included eight of our favorite dehydrated meals and featured a new recipe for Cloudland Canyon Chili.

Photo: We tested a new Thermos food jar with pressure-relief stopper. It worked well.

Dinner at the campsite was always delicious and ready in minutes: Mashed Potatoes with Beef & Vegetables, Hoppin’ John topped with cheddar cheese, and Taco Mac & Cheese with Chicken & Vegetables.

Cloudland Canyon Chili

My new Cloudland Canyon Chili recipe is a fresh take on traditional beef and bean chili. It includes extra vegetables for texture, deeper spices for richer flavor, and just enough cayenne heat to keep things interesting.

Try it with shredded cheddar cheese.

Explore: Cloudland Canyon Chili

New Area of Exploration

As Dominique and I explore the state parks in Georgia, we’re focusing on showing the benefits of using dehydrated backpacking meals in camp settings. Staying in one location at walk-in tent sites also allows us to pack a few ready-to-eat goodies in a small cooler, like homemade biscuits, cream cheese and jam, orange juice, and shredded cheddar cheese.

For cooking, a backpacking stove and pot, plus an insulated food jar are the three tools we use to rehydrate meals. The kit is much lighter and compact than a 2-burner camping stove with two pots and a propane fuel canister.

For serving, Dominique put together a kit that includes cups, bowls, plates, and place mats; items we wouldn’t carry on a backpacking trip, but they add a homey touch to the table.

4-Day Camping Menu

The new page features the recipes and shows how we prepared the meals at the campsite and on the trail.

Explore: 4-Day Camping Meal Plan at Cloudland Canyon State Park

Please let us know if you would like to see more camping meal plans like this on Backpacking Chef. Feel free to share any camp-cooking tips that work well for you. And by all means, try the chili!

Freundliche Grüsse,

Chef Glenn & Dominique

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