8/9/2011 Chattooga River Trail – Burrell’s Ford – Walhalla Fish Hatchery – SC

HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Bill Hunt, Mike Jones, Jeanne O’Connor, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Bob Magee, George Otis, and Saranji Plata.

TRAIL INFO. – Starting at the Burrell’s Ford campground parking lot, hiking northward, this trail is mostly flat and follows the river all the way to the NC line at Ellicott Rock. Today, we turned to the right after the first 1.5 miles and hiked the East Fork trail to the SC State Fish Hatchery. The trail takes you up the beautiful East Fork Chattooga River. Total hiking distance today was almost 9 miles including the short side trail up to Spoon Auger Falls.

Directions: From Walhalla, take SC 28 north 8 miles to SC 107. Turn right onto SC 107 and follow for around 10 miles to Forest Service road 708 (Burrells Ford Road). Travel about 2 miles or so down this gravel road and park in the campground parking lot .

Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny, with temperatures ranging from the low 70’s to the mid 80’s F.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Rosinweed, Joe Pye Weed, Yellow-fringed Orchid, Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid, Cranefly Orchid Tall Goldenrod, Evening Primrose, Black-eyed Susan, Indian Plantain, Whorled Coreopsis, Daisy Fleabane, St. Andrew’s Cross Tall Bluet, Bluet, Yellowroot, Flowering Spurge, Spikenard, Tall Lobelia, Spiked Lobelia, Heal All, Yellow Wood Sorrell, Bergamot Spotted Jewelweed, Yellow Star Grass, Heart-leafed Aster, White Woods Aster, Split-leafed Coneflower, Woodland Sunflower Beggar’s Lice, Spiderwort, False Hellebore, Elderberry and Horsebalm.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Turkey Vulture, Blue Jay, Red-eyed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Kingfisher and Pileated Woodpecker.