2/3/2015 Lake Russell Trail & Sourwood Trail – GA

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Lake Russell Loop Trail – Sourwood Loop Trail – Cornelia, GA

February 3, 2015

Today’s hike was on the Lake Russell Loop Trail and Sourwood Loop Trail in the Lake Russell Recreation Area in Habersham County, GA.

HIKERS – Rebecca Andrews, John Bellamy, Joe Collins, Pam Euliss, Stephen Gales, Tim Hale, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Bob Magee, Dick Metzgar, Jeanne O’Connor, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Sandy Robson, Vic Robson and Carole Wintle.

TRAIL INFO. – The Lake Russell Loop is a very nice hike around the lake.(4.6 mi) The hike is rolling but mostly flat. The Sourwood Trail is more hilly and is a 2.7 mi. loop that leads up to Nancytown Falls with nice views of Nancytown Creek. The total mileage hiked today was 8.2 miles including the walk between the two trails.

Directions: The Lake Russell Recreation Area is off the Dicks Hill Parkway East of Cornelia, at Mt. Airy, GA near the railroad bridge, turn onto the Lake Russell Recreation Area access road. Drive about 2.5 miles to the parking lot at Nancytown Lake.

Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny and cold. Temperatures ranged from 23 – 38 degrees F. Total distance – 8.2 mi.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM: none

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: American Crow, Canada Geese, Red Shouldered Hawk, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse.

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Parking at Nancytown Lake.
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The trail starts out through a beautiful woodland.
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The the trail follows the park road for a short distance past the boat ramp.
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Nice reflections on a mirror surface lake!
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This sign is a little more than halfway around the loop.
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Lake Russell dam.
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As we walk across the earthen portion of the dam, we get this view of the 100 acre lake!
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More nice reflections!
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At the end of the Lake Russell Loop, we pass by Nancytown Lake Dam.
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Now we head over to the Sourwood Trail which is a 2.7 mile loop.
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The icy waters of Nancytown Creek!
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Beautiful Nancytown Falls!
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A very nice spot on Nancytown Creek.
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The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Joe Collins, Rebecca Andrews, Bill Hunt, Tim Hale, Pam Euliss, Jeanne O’Connor, Dick Metzgar, Stephen Gales, Bob Magee, John Bellamy, Vic Robson, Jack Jacoby, Sandy Robson, Carole Wintle and Joe Raguckas. .