1/26/2016 Tugaloo State Park Trails – GA

Today’s hike was on the trails at Tugaloo State Park in Franklin Co., GA.

HIKERS – Suzanne Belflower, Mike Bell, Phil Brownrigg, Joe Collins, Tim Hale, David Hinson, Jack Jacobi, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Bob Magee, Dick Metzgar, Dave Norton, Mary Lu Norton, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Malivia Swanson, and Carolyn Wright.

TRAIL INFO. – Tugaloo State Park offers plenty of hiking opportunites with the Sassafras Circle Trail, Muscadine Trail, Crow Tree Nature Trail along with the park roads between campgrounds and picnic areas. Nice views of Lake Hartwell are found all along the trails. Lake Hartwell has an amazing 962 miles of shorline situated on the border of Georgia and South Carolina.

Distance hiked today – 4.5 miles – difficulty level – Mostly Easy .

Directions: Take I-85 exit #173 north on Georgia 17; follow park signs to Gerrard Road, turn right. Go 1.5 miles to Ga. Hwy. 328 and turn left. Proceed 3.3 miles to park; entrance on right.

Another great day for a hike! Partly Cloudy Temp: low 40’s to mid 50’s degrees F.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Cardinal, Caroliina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker.

Parking at the Visitors Center parking area.

Hitting the trail

Hartwell Lake is visible for most of the hike.

Another great day for a hike!

Here, we stop by an amphitheater.

There are hills but they are gentle.

The trail is marked with blue blazes and an occasional trail marker.

Beautiful wintertime woodland.

We pass by several large downed oak trees but the path has been cleared.

We walk through several nice picnic and camping areas along the lakeshore.

Yard art!

Nice lake view from one of the docks.

Always comforting!

The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) David Hinson, Mike Bell, Dick Metzgar, Dave Norton, Suzanne Belflower, Tim Hale, Carolyn Wright, Bruce O’Connor, Joe Collins, Vic Robson, Bob Magee, Malivia Swanson, Mary Lu Norton, Jack Jacobi, Jean O’Connor, Phil Brownrigg and Tony Presley.