11/25/2014 Tugaloo Bend Trails and Panther Creek

HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Karen Brown, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Tim Hale, Bill Hunt, Tony Presley, Sandy Robson, Vic Robson and Carole Wintle.

TRAIL INFO: The Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site in Stephens County offers three nice nature trails for visitors to enjoy. The River Loop takes the hiker down by the Tugaloo River for a nice flat relaxing walk with nice views of the river and the wetland area and several picnic tables along the path. The Upland Loop trail is a beautiful walk up the higher elevation of the property featuring some nice mountain views especially in the Fall and Winter seasons along with several rest stops with benches. The third trail is a very nice paved handicapped accessible trail from the outdoor pavillion to an observation deck overlooking the wetland area of the property.

The current open hours of Tugaloo Bend are Thursday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.. Sunday from 1:00 p.m – 5:00 p.m.

DIRECTIONS: From East Tugalo St. in Toccoa, GA Turn onto Prather Bridge Rd. (Hwy. 184) and contine 5.2 miles and continue straight onto Yonah Dam Rd. and continue 2.3 miles to Tugaloo Bend on the right. (2104 Yonah Dam Rd.)

Another great day for a hike! Sunny with temperatures ranging 48 to 60 degrees F. – Terrain is rated easy on the River Loop and Moderate on the Upland Loop with considerable elevation change. Distance hiked – 2.7 miles for the 3 trails then 2 miles on the lower Panther Creek Trail.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: none.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Carolina Wren, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay, Crow and Towhee.

Entrance to Tugaloo Bend

Information board near the parking lot.

A very nice outdoor pavillion.

The start of the River Loop Trail.

A beautiful flat trail loop.

Many opportunites to view the Tugaloo River.

Most of the wildflowers are gone for the winter but here is a nice specimen of Snow Fungus / Silver Ear Fungus.

Next, we enjoy the nice handicapped accessible trail.

This trail leads out to a nice observation deck overlooking the wetlands area.

Next, we hiked the Upland Loop Trail.

There are several rest areas with benches provided by the Boy Scouts!

Next, we drive a few miles up the road to the lower end of the Panther Creek Trail.

We hiked a mile or so out along beautiful Panther Creek!

The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) June Bellamy, Rebecka Collins, John Bellamy, Tim Hale, Bill Hunt, Karen Brown, Greta Driggers, Vic Robson, Sandy Robson, Jim Driggers, Carole Wintle and Tony Presley. .