Date: 11/28/2023
Name: Rhododendron Trail and Chenocetah Tower Loop at the Lake Russell Recreation Area near Mt. Airy, GA
Distance: 5.7
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Total Climbing Elevation: 951
Type: Loop
Notes: It was a cold start, but later warming up to the mid-40's on an otherwise sunny day and much less winds than forecasted. The path was dry and in good condition and showed some ongoing maintenance with no blowdowns or other obstructions. The trail is fairly easy with a gradual uphill slope until reaching the base of Chenocetah Mtn. where the slope was steep for 0.3 mile. The fire tower is impressive and there is a clear view of Lake Russell from an overlook from the road around the tower. We took an alternate route down Chenocetah Mtn that joins the return leg of the Rhododendron Trail and avoids the narrow and steep approach trail. Thanks Stephanie for pointing this out. We saw three waterfalls along our route, but there were actually three more we did not see, requiring a bit more bushwhacking than we wanted to do. Just one wildflower cluster of Gentian near Little Dancer Falls.
AllTrails Link: Rhododendron Trail and Chenocetah Tower Loop at the Lake Russell Recreation Area near Mt. Airy, GA
Additional Search Terms: November