7/12/2016 Tallulah Gorge State Park Trails – GA

Today, we hiked the trails at Tallulah Gorge State Park at Tallulah Falls, GA. The Shortline Trail, Tallulah Falls Lakeside and Tallulah Gorge South Rim Trail.

HIKERS – John Anderson, Jenny Bell, Mike Bell, John Bellamy, Joe Collins, Stephen Gales, Kanchan Garg, Bill Hunt, Deena Johns, Ronnie Johns, Tony Presley and Vic Robson.

TRAIL INFO. – We hiked the Shortline Trail as a loop starting at the Historic Jail end and hiking to the lower of the Shortline Trail by walking down the old highway along the Tallulah Falls Lake and looped back to the start on the Shortline Trail. Next, we followed the shoreline of Tallulah Falls Lake on the park road past the swimming area up to the new highway 441 and hiked the South Rim Trail. Spectacular gorge views along the rim trail!

Total hiking distance today – 5 miles with only a couple of gentle hills. Difficulty rating – mostly easy.

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 at the historic Tallulah Falls Jail 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! Mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from 74 to 82 degrees F.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Coreopsis, Rattlesnake Weed, Queen Ann’s Lace and Yarrow.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: American Crow, Turkey Vulture, Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch and Red-tailed Hawk.

Parking lot at the Historic Tallulah Falls Jail.

Sign at the Jail.

Beautiful Tallulah Lake with the old railroad piers.

Walking down the old highway 441 along the lakeshore.

Crossing the bridge across the Tallulah River where it empties into the lake.

Now on the Shortline Trail along the river.

Educational sign

Headed for the gorge rim trails.

Vintage Tallulah Falls street light from the early 1900’s

Massive rock cliffs in Tallulah Gorge

Many great overlooks all along the rim trails!

Beautiful Tempesta Falls. One of several waterfalls which led to the naming of the town Tallulah Falls!

There is a nice rock bench under a rock ledge at the end of the South Rim Trail.

The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r kneeling) Tony Presley, Joe Collins, Jenny Bell and Bill Hunt. (l-r standing) Vic Robson, Kanchan Garg, John Bellamy, Ronnie Johns, John Anderson, Deena Johns, Stephen Gales and Mike Bell.