August 13, 2013
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TRAIL INFO. – Tallulah Gorge State Park has lots of hiking trail options. Today, we hiked the Shortline Trail which follows the old Tallulah Falls Railroad bed. Then we hiked the lake shoreline followed by the Tallulah Gorge North and South Rim Trails. Breathtaking views are always the greatest features of the hike here! TODAY’S HIKERS: Wayne Barrios, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Dave Hinson, Jeanne O’Connor Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Lynne Saporito, Marvin Tabor, Geri Whitaker and Carole Wintle. Total hiking distance today – 6.5 miles with lots of flat walking and a steep gorge staircase walk for those who did it. Difficulty rating – moderately easy except for the staircase. DIRECTIONS: Tallulah Gorge State Park is about 10 miles south of Clayton, GA on Highway 441. For the Shortline Trail, turn to the right at the traffic light in Tallulah Falls (if coming from the north) then turn right and cross the old lake bridge and immediately turn right up the hill to the Shortliine Trail parking lot. Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the upper 60’s to the mid 70’s F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: spotted jewel weed, blue lobelia, virgin’s bower, flowering spurge, Joe Pye weed, poke weed, black eyed Susan, cut leaf cone flower, duck potato, blazing star, early goldenrod, two unknown coreopsis, boneset, day flower, white heath aster, Carolina lily, spreading fox glove, Virginia button weed, butterfly weed, Southern harebelle, mountain mint, self heal, stachys, Queen Anne’s lace, meadow beauty, sundrops, evening primrose, partridge pea, St. Andrew’s cross, crane fly orchid, Pennsylvania smart weed, morning glory, wild sweet potato, yellow star grass BIRDS IDENTIFIED: cardinal, mourning dove, pileated woodpecker, turkey vulture, Carolina wren |
 Start of our hike. Crossing the old bridge with the historic railroad piers in the lake. |
 The Shortline Trail is asphalt and it follows the old Tallulah Falls Railroad bed. |
 We saw lots of Virgin’s Bower Clematis along the trail. |
 We cross the suspension bridge across the Tallulah River. |
 We get this view as we cross the old highway bridge over the Tallulah River just above the point where it empties into Tallulah Falls Lake. |
 More trail options! |
 The first overlook of the gorge on the South Rim Trail. |
 The breathtaking suspension bridge across the gorge. |
 One of the famous waterfalls in Tallulah Gorge. Tempesta Falls |
 Across the gorge you see the Park Visitors Center. (Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center) |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 The staircase that leads to the suspension bridge and on down to the gorge floor if you choose! |
 Words for the wise! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike! (l-r) Wayne Barrios, Geri Whitaker, Donna Presley, Marvin Tabor, Carole Wintle, Dave Hinson & trail dog “Angus”, Jeanne O’Connor, Lynne Saporito, June Bellamy, Vic Robson, John Bellamy, Pam Euliss, Phil Brownrigg and Tony Presley. |
Click below for a video and many more photos from this hike!
Click photo below for many more nice photos from the hike!