12/9/2014 The Stoneplace Trail – Tallulah Gorge State Park

HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Pam Euliss, Tim Hale, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Jeanne O’Connor, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Vic Robson, Pom Sinnock and Carole Wintle .

TRAIL INFO: The Stoneplace Trail is located in Tallulah Gorge State Park starting at the Jane Hurt Yarn Visitors Center and leads to the Stoneplace Boat Ramp on Lake Tugalo. A 10 mile round trip hike. On the way back, you can take the High Bluff Trail that leads to Inspiration Point with awesome views down into Tallulah Gorge.

DIRECTIONS: Directions: Tallulah Gorge is located in the town of Tallulah Falls, GA and the Stoneplace Trail begins at the Visitors Center. Hikers for the Stoneplace Trail must sign in at the center for a permit.

Another great day for a hike! Partly to mostly cloudy with temperatures ranging from 33 to 48 degrees F. – Terrain is rated only moderately difficult due to elevation change. Distance hiked – 10 miles.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Blue Aster, Golden Aster and Goldenrod.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Wild Turkey, Chickadee, Downey Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Crow and Nuthatch.

Our trailhead for the day.

Headed out on the Stoneplace Trail.

A nice wide path with mileage markers.

At the 1.2 mile mark we pass the Wildlife Management Sign .

We were surprised to find a few wildflowers today! Golden Aster

This trail shelter is near the 4 mile mark.

The is the Tallulah arm of Tugalo Lake – fed by Tallulah Gorge. The other arm is fed by the Chattooga River.

We arrive at Stoneplace.

Signs at the Stoneplace Boat Ramp.

Beautiful Lake Tugalo!

On the way back, we stop by Inspiration Point for breathtaking views down into Tallulah Gorge.

This is the part of Tallulah Gorge that Karl Wallenda walked a tightrope across in 1970.

Nik Wallenda plans to repeat the walk in July of 2015!

The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Joe Ragckas, Dick Metzgar, Bill Hunt, Pom Sinnock, Tim Hale, Jack Jacobi, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Vic Robson, Carole Wintle, Jeanne O’Connor and Pam Euliss. .