4/3/2018 – Stoneplace Trail – Tallulah Gorge Visitors Center to Tugalo Lake

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Hikingsouth Hike of the Week

The Stoneplace Trail – Tallulah Gorge State Park – GA

April 3, 2018

Today, we hiked the Stoneplace Trail at Tallulah Gorge State Park. A 10 mile round trip hike from the Interpretive Center to the Stoneplace Boat Ramp on Tugalo Lake.

HIKERS: Jenny Bell, Mike Bell, Ray Clark, Pam Euliss, Angela Evans, Tim Hale, Kim Johnson, Ray Lovett, Christopher Collier, Renee Corbett, Dick Metzgar, Jeanne O’Connor, Terre Pratt, Tony Presley, Alex Purcell, Vic Robson,

TRAIL INFO. – The Stoneplace Trail is an excellent trail that has moderate difficulty terrain with lots of flat areas. This 5 mile one way trail leads from the Interpretive Center to Stoneplace Boatramp which is in a cove on the Chattooga River end of Tugalo Lake. The State Park requires each hiker to get a permit before hiking this trail.

Total round trip hiking distance today – 9.8 miles – Difficulty rating – moderate.

DIRECTIONS: The Stoneplace Trail is located in Tallulah Gorge State Park, GA beginning at the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center.

Another great day for a hike! Sunny with temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees F.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Green and Gold, Dwarf Iris Verna, Small Belwort, Birds-Foot Violet, Foamflower, Halberd Leaf Violet, Purple Violet, Robin’s Plantain, Redbud, Horse Sugar, Service Berry and Fringed Polygala.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Cardinal, American Crow, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Goldfinch, Black and White Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch and Pileated Woodpecker.

Scroll down for Video and photos

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Leaving the parking lot at the Tallulah Gorge visitor’s center.
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Plenty of nice trail signs to point the way.
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Here we can see Currahee Mt. in the distance (zoomed view).
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The Stoneplace Trail is an old roadbed converted into a hiking trail.
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A good day for wildflowers – Small Bellwort.
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Mile markers are very useful along the trail.
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Bird’s Foot Violet
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Here we see the upper gorge end of Tugalo Lake. The Tallulah River forms this arm of the lake and the Chattooga River forms the other arm of the lake forming a Y-shped lake and becomes the Tugalo River below the dam.
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Fringed Polygala / Gay Wings
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Our destination – Stoneplace boat ramp and dock.
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Lunchtime at Stoneplace!
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Horse Sugar / Common Sweetleaf
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Our GPS path today out and back.
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Elevation profile and distance.
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As we near the finish of the hike, we swing by Inspiration Point for a great view of the gorge.
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The OFHC gang for today’s hike (l-r front) Alex Purcell, Christopher Collier and Pam Euliss. (l-r back) Tony Presley & “Coco”, Dick Metzgar, Terre Pratt, Ray Clark, Angela Evans, Ray Lovett, Renee Corbett, Tim Hale, Jeanne O’Connor, Mike Beill, Jenny Bell, Kim Johnson and Vic Robson.

See Video from this hike below: