February 14, 2006
| This week, we hiked the Stone Place Trail which begins at the Interpretive Center at Tallulah Gorge State Park and ends at the Stone Place Boat Ramp on Tugalo Lake.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, Terry Doyle, Jack Jacobi, Bryan Lambert, Trevor Lyn, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, David Tate, David Whitaker, and Geri Whitaker . TRAIL INFO. – The Stone Place Trail is the longest of the trails at Tallulah Gorge State Park. A permit is required to hike this trail. Permits are free in the Interpretive Center. Old logging roads have been converted into a nice trail. It has no extreme hills and we rated it moderately easy. It leads from the Interpretive Center to the Stone Place Boat Ramp and dock on Tugalo Lake. Round trip is a little under 10 miles. Directions: Take Highway 441 to Tallulah Falls, GA and turn onto Jane Hurt Yarn Drive (coming from the south, the road is on the right about a quarter mile past the bridge.) and follow the signs to the Interpretive Center. A $4 parking permit (or GA State Parks Pass) is required every day except Wednesdays. Total hiking distance today, 9.3 miles (GPS) Another great day for a hike! Sunny with temperatures ranging from the low 30’s to the mid 50’s F. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Crow, Robin, Pine Warbler, Titmouse, Carolina Wren. For the quicktime movies below, you may need a high-speed connection. |
 The starting point for our hike. The Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center. |
 17 OFHC members on the trail! |
 Short break at the intersection of the High Bluffs Trail. |
 Crossing under the power lines, we can see Currahee Mountain in Toccoa. |
 The trail has informative signs along the way. |
 The trail ends approximately 5 miles from the start at the Stone Place Boat ramp and dock on beautiful Tugalo Lake. |
 From Stone Place, we head back toward the Interpretive Center. |
 Lunchtime at the trail shelter! |
 With all of the nice trail markers, it would be difficult to get lost here! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike! (l-r front) Jeanne O’Connor, Bruce O’Connor, Tony Presley, and “Jet” the trail dog. (l-r standing) Dan Ross, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Bob Presley, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker, Terry Doyle, Donna Presley, Bryan Lambert, John Bellamy, Doug Russell, David Tate, Jack Jacobi, and Trevor Lyn. |