April 15, 2008
| Today’s hike was on two trails in north GA. First, we traveled to Black Rock Mountain State Park and hiked the Tennessee Rock Trail. After that, we traveled down the road to Tallulah Gorge State Park and did the rim trails there. Total hike today – 5.8 miles.
HIKERS – Ken Adams, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Russell Burken, Chuck Crisp, Terry Doyle, Greta Driggers, Dan Euliss, Pam Euliss, Bill Hunt, Phillip Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Deena Johns, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Wanda Miller, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Carole Raguckas, Joe Raguckas, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Pom Sinnock, Faye Sisson, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – The Tennessee Rock trail is a 2.2 mile loop in Black Rock Mountain State Park. It is a beautiful hike with great views. It is a very rich wildflower habitat and today featured hundreds of bloodroots, purple and yellow ToadshadeTrilliums, Cut-leaved Toothworts, several species of violets and others. The Tallulah Gorge trail is nice this time of year because of the opportunity to see the rare Persistent Trillium along with Polygala (Gaywings) and others. Both of todays hikes were hilly but not long. Hiking distance – 5.8 miles total. Directions: Black Rock Mountain State Park is located on Black Rock Mountain Parkway, 3 miles north of Clayton, GA off U.S. Hwy. 441. Look for brown directional signs in Mountain City. Tallulah Gorge State Park is located in the town of Tallulah Falls, GA. Parking is available either at the Interpretive Center on the North rim of the gorge or at Tallulah Park on the South side of the Gorge. State Park Parking fees apply. If it is your first visit, it is best to go to the Interpretive Center on the North Side for maps and iformation. Direction signs are very visible on Highway 441 in Tallulah Falls. Another great day for a hike! Fair, with temperatures ranging from the mid 40’s to mid 50’s F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Mouse-eared Chickweed, Star Chickweed, Cut-leafed Toothwort, Bloodroot, Purple Toadshade Trillium, Yellow Toadshade Trillium, Purple Violet, Halberd-leafed Violet, Yellow Round-leafed Violet and Serviceberry, Gaywings, Persistent Trillium, Crested Iris, Cinquefoil. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Tennessee Rock – Towhee, Crow, Oven Bird, Pine Warbler, Ruffed Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow Throated Vireo, Red Eyed Vireo, Carolina Chickadee. Tallulah Gorge – Red Tailed Hawk, Great Crested Flycatcher, Pigeon/Rock Dove, Cliff swallow, Phoebe, Carolina wren, Titmouse, Turkey vulture, Ruby crowned kinglet, and chimney swift. |
 Sign at the start. |
 Another of natures marvels…Tree appears to be walking. Seedling grew on a dead tree stump and over the years, the stump rotted away, leaving the tree on stilts. |
 This area is thick with wildflowers. |
 There were hundreds of these Purple Toadshade Trilliums. . |
 The highest elevation for any State Park in Georgia. |
 View from Tennessee Rock. |
 Another View. |
 About a half mile from the finish of the loop. |
 The view from just below our starting point. |
 Headed down the steps into Tallulah Gorge. We climbed approximately 1,178 stair steps! |
 Looking straight down into the gorge. |
 Crossing the foot-bridge on Tallulah Falls Lake. |
 Some of today’s wildflowers. Top left then (clockwise) Bloodroot, Persistent Trillium, Yellow Toadshade Trillium and Purple Toadshade Trillium. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike – (front row l-r) Dick Metzgar, Vic Robson and Wanda Miller.(middle l-r) Carole Wintle, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Donna Presley, Bob Thompson, Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Dan Euliss, Joe Raguckas, Carole Raguckas, Deena Johns, June Bellamy, Greta Driggers, Faye Sisson, Chuck Crisp and Tony Presley. (Back row l-r) Phillip Hunt, Pom Sinnock, Dan Ross, Wayne Miller, Ken Adams, John Bellamy, Russell Burken, Doug Russell, Jack Jacobi, Bill Hunt and Terry Doyle. |