9/17/2013 Chattooga River Trail – Sandy Ford Rd. – GA

Today’s hike was on the Chattooga River Trail in Rabun Co., GA starting at Sandy Ford Rd and hiking southward. – 6 miles round trip.

HIKERS: John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Pam Euliss, Stephen Gales, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, David Hinson, Dick Metzgar, Don Preece, Vic Robson and Carole Wintle.

TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the Chattooga River Trail is very nice with great views of the river and some nice mountain viewsalong the way. The trail has some hills but we give it only a moderate difficulty rating.

Directions: Take Warwoman Road 5.9 miles from Clayton and turn right on Sandy Ford Road. Cross the bridge and stay on Sandy Ford Rd. for a few miles and cross a ford and continue about a mile until the Boulder on the right side of the road engraved with “Chattooga River Trail – 10 mi. Highway 76”. Park here and hike southward toward Highway 76.

Another great day for a hike! Fair with temperatures ranging from 68 to 74 degrees F.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Boneset, White Snakeroot, Joe Pye Weed, Ironweed, Hairy Hawkweed, Yellow Stargrass, Wingstem, Gray Goldenrod, Sweet Goldenrod, Giant Goldenrod, Whorled Rosinweed, Black-eyed Susan, Green-headed Coneflower, Lion’s Foot, Grassleafed Golden Aster, Jerusalem Artichoke, Woodland Sunflower, Narrowleaf Sunflower, Common Sneezeweed, Rabbit Tobacco, Pilewort, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Horseweed, False Aster, White Heath Aster, White Wood Aster, Eastern Silvery Aster, Woodland Phlox, Spotted Jewelweed, New England Aster, Mountain Mint, Blue Lobelia, Evening Primrose, Southern Harebell, Heal-all, Hog Peanut and Pinesap.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse and Blue Jay.

from today…….