June 10, 2014
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Today, we hiked the trails at Tallulah Gorge State Park at Tallulah Falls, GA. The Shortline Trail, The Terrora Lake Loop, Tallulah Falls Lakeside and Tallulah Gorge Rim Trails. HIKERS: Aubrey Anderson, Stephen Gales, Bill Hunt, Martha Hunt, Karen Brown, Kaytlyn Brown, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, David Hinson, Kim Johnson,Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Sandy Robson, Vic Robson, Dolly Tabor, Dan Ross, Marvin Tabor, and Carole Wintle . TRAIL INFO. – We hiked the Shortline Trail as a loop starting at the upper end and hiking to the lower end and looped back to the start on the old highway 441 on the shoreline of Tallulah Falls Lake. Then we hiked the Terrora Lake Loop Trail back to our original parking lot. Next, we hiked the shoreline road past the swimming area up to the new highway 441 and hiked the South Rim Trail and a portion of the North Rim Trail. Spectacular gorge views along the rim trails! Next we hiked down to the lakeside picnic area for lunch. 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 park at the gravel parking lot on the right just before the bridge. Walk across the bridge and turn right up the short hill to the start of the Shortline Trail. Another great day for a hike! Fair to Partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from 68 to 76 degrees F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Daisy Fleabane, Philadelphia Fleabane, Sensitive Brier, Butterfly Weed, Butterfly Pea, Goat’s Rue, Crown Vetch, Smooth Creeping Bush Clover, Hop Clover, White Clover, Japanese Spirea, Climbing Hydrangea, Mt. Hydrangea, Hawkweed, Oxeye Daisy, Carolina Rhododendron (r. minus), Galax, Indian Pipe, Blue-eyed Grass, Horse Nettle, Yarrow, Elderberry, Large Bluet, Fire Pink, Heal All, Smooth Phlox, Queen Anne’s Lace, Flowering Spurge, Sweet Shrub and Florabunda Rose. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Black & White Warbler, Pine Warbler, Canada Geese, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Crow, Turkey Vulture, Cardinal, Pileated Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch and Robin. |
 Parking at the historic Tallulah Falls Jail parking lot. |
 One of our original hikers was back on a visit! Dan Ross (left) with some of the original O.F.H.C. hikers. |
 The view from our parking spot. The piers of the old Tallulah Falls Railroad in Lake Tallulah. |
 Our first trail today was the Shortline Trail which follows the path of the old Tallulah Falls Railroad. |
 The Shortline Trail is a nice asphalt nature/exercise trail. |
 Proud grandpa and granddaughter on the suspension bridge over the Tallulah River! |
 Crossing the Tallulah River on the old highway 441 bridge near the Terrora power plant. |
 The Terrora Hydroelectric Plant. Tony and Bob’s grandfather was the plant operator in the 1950’s. |
 Next, we hiked the Terrora Lake Loop. |
 We spot a series of Bream Beds in the shallows of the lake. |
 Next, we hiked the Tallulah Gorge Rim Trails for some spectacular views! |
 The beautiful series of waterfalls in the gorge is the origin of the name of the town “Tallulah Falls, GA”. |
 Walking across the Highway 441 bridge you get a nice view of the dam and Tallulah Falls Lake. |
 Lunchtime at picnic area of the lake! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Sandy Robson, Carole Wintle, Bill Hunt, Martha Hunt, Aubrey Anderson, Dan Ross, Kaytlyn Brown, Karen Brown, Vic Robson, Dolly Tabor, Marvin Tabor, David Hinson, Linda Jones, Trail dog “Angus”, Donna Presley, Dick Metzgar, Kim Johnson, Bob Presley, Stephen Gales, Wanda Miller, Jim Driggers, Wayne Miller, Greta Driggers and Tony Presley. |
SLIDESHOW OF TODAY’S PHOTOS BELOW!