February 26, 2019
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This week’s hike was on the trails of the Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site and the Lower portion of the Panther Creek Trail in Stephens County County, GA. HIKERS: Jenny Bell, Mike Bell, Renee Corbett, Angela Evans, Tim Hale, Julia Kennedy, Bob Magee, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Carole Wintle and Jack Wintle. TRAIL INFO: The Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site in Stephens County offers nice nature trails for visitors to enjoy. The River Loop takes the hiker down by the Tugaloo River for a nice flat relaxing walk with nice views of the river and the wetland area and several picnic tables along the path. The Upland Loop trail is a beautiful walk up the higher elevation of the property featuring some nice mountain views especially in the Fall and Winter seasons along with several rest stops with benches. The third trail is a very nice paved handicapped accessible trail from the outdoor pavillion to an observation deck overlooking the wetland area of the property. From here there is an extension that takes you along the wetland area of the property. DIRECTIONS: From East Tugalo St. in Toccoa, GA Turn onto Prather Bridge Rd. (Hwy. 184) and contine 5.2 miles and continue straight onto Yonah Dam Rd. and continue 2.3 miles to Tugaloo Bend on the right. (2104 Yonah Dam Rd.) Another great day for a hike! Mostly to partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid to upper 40’s F. – Terrain is rated easy on the River Loop and Moderate on the Upland Loop with considerable elevation change. Distance hiked – 3.3 miles for the 3 trails then 1 mile on the lower Panther Creek Trail. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Trout Lily. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Carolina Wren, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Crow and Tufted Titmouse.
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