April 24, 2012
| Today’s hike was on the Bartram Trail and Chattooga River Trailstarting at Sandy Ford Road. We first did the hike down to Dicks Creek Falls then back up to the Chattooga River trail for a hike down to the river a little more than 3 miles southward. This hike is in Rabun County, GA and the total distance was 7.5 miles .
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Pam Euliss, Anthony Harrison, Dave Hinson, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Don Preece, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Lynne Saporito, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – The hike from Sandy Ford Road to Dicks Creek Falls is about a half-mile and it is absolutely beautiful. It is important to walk down to the bottom of the falls onto the rocks on the side of the river in order to get a good view of the falls. The awesome rapids on the river roar loudly at this point. Next, we hiked back up to the intersection of the Chattooga River Trail for a nice hike down 3+ miles to a nice spot on the river for lunch. Total hike – 7.5 miles. Rated moderate difficulty due to elevation change. Directions: Take Warwoman Road 5.9 miles from Clayton, GA, turning right onto Sandy Ford Road and traveling 0.6 mi. down Sandy Ford Road, turning left and crossing a concrete bridge, then procede 3.3 miles further on Sandy Ford Road to a ford of Dick’s Creek, then up to the top of the next hill, you will find a nice parking area. Another great day for a hike! Fair to partly cloudy and cool with temperatures ranging from 48 to 68 degrees F. Distance hiked – 7.5 miles. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Partridgeberry, Deerberry, Blackberry, Dewberry, Buckberry, Catesby’s Trillium, Dog Hobble, Lyre-leaf Sage, Yellowroot, Yellow Star Grasss, Robin’s Plantain, Rattlesnake Weed, Indian Cucumber, Tall Bluet, Cinnamon Fern, Cinquefoil, Hearts-a-bursting, Solomon’s Seal, False Solomon’s Seal, Sweet White Violet, Purple Violet, Stemmed Violet, Primrose-leaf Violet, Foam Flower,Gay Wings, Big-leafed Snow Bells, Mountain Laurel, Cow Wheat, Wild Ginger, American Holly, Rue Anemone, Devil’s Bit, Green and Gold, Rue Anemone, Frazier Magnolia, Phlox, Galax, Yellow Wood Sorrel and Pink Ladyslipper. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Dark-eyed Junco, Robin, Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ovenbird, Pine Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler. |
 Our parking lot on Sandy Ford Rd. |
 We had to cross this ford to get to our parking lot. |
 Trail sign on Sandy Ford Rd. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 The view from the top of the falls. |
 Taking in the nice view from the bottom of the falls. |
 The federally designated “Wild and Scenic River” makes a loud roar here. |
 A Pink Lady Slipper! |
 Taking a short break on the Chattooga River Trail. |
 Nice views along the river. |
 We saw lots of Bigleaf Snowbells blooming. (Styrax grandifolius) |
 Lunchtime on the Chattooga! |
 Our lunchtime view! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike! (l-r kneeling) Lynne Saporito & “Angus”, Dave Hinson, Vic Robson, Geri Whitaker & “Gabby”, Donna Presley, David Whitaker & “Nugget” and Bruce O’Connor. (l-r standing) Tony Presley, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Don Preece, Phil Brownrigg, Dick Metzgar, Dan Ross, Anthony Harrison, Carole Wintle, Bill Hunt, Jeanne O’Connor, Pam Euliss and Jack Jacobi. |