Cartersville- Cooper's Furnace and Pine Mountain

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May had me in several different places, among them being Cartersville. Although I lived in neighboring Cherokee County, obviously, I never spent much time in Cartersville. I've never even been to the Etowah Indian Mounds or the science museum! We did camp at Red Top Mountain State Park once but the weather was bad so we didn't really leave our campsite very much. Although the weather was dicey during my recent stay in Cartersville, I decided to venture out as much as I could after work. 

Cartersville is an industrial town and this is evident in nearby recreation areas. Allatoona Lake is yet another man-made lake with a sunken town beneath it and the views from nearby mountains contain lots of factories and smoke stacks. A lot of the recreation areas pretty much border neighboring factories. After doing some research online, I decided to visit Cooper's Furnace on my first day after work.

As the name indicates, there is a very large, ominous looking brick furnace right of the parking lot. The trail begins near the furnace. The Cooper's Furnace trail is fairly easy with only a few inclines. Some of it goes along a gravel service road. Points of interest include a small creek, a beaver pond (I saw a large turtle but no beavers) and some wooden viewing platforms. I imagine in winter the views might be pretty nice, but the trees have completely leafed out at this point and there was not much to see from the platforms at this time. There is also mountain laurel along the whole trail and it is my favorite woodland plant, so I enjoyed seeing so much of it. 

After finishing the trail, I snuck a peak at Allatoona Dam. I don't know if you are supposed to get as close as I did but there are no signs saying not to and I didn't go behind the fencing. The Etowah River is not very scenic at this point and honestly, smelled terrible. It just has a very industrial feel to it and I cannot imagine swimming in it. Overall, I would say Cooper's Furnace is nothing to write home about but since the trail is relatively short it is a good option for a quick walk.
Here is the ViewRanger link for Cooper's Furnace. 

Later in the week, upon the recommendation from someone I met at work, I decided to go to Pine Mountain. I've seen a lot of pictures of it on social media and it seems to be a pretty popular place. I started at the Western parking area and followed the West loop to the overlook and then back down, taking a clockwise approach. There is an "Eastern pass" as well, which connects to another loop. There is also a trail connecting to the Cooper's Furnace recreation area. I believe if you hiked both loops of the Pine Mountain trail and the connector trail to Cooper's Furnace it would be around 9 miles total. 

I have to say, the Pine Mountain trail was one of the most clearly marked, well-maintained trails I have ever been on. It was also very clean despite its popularity. The only issue I saw was some trail degradation due to people cutting off the switchbacks (they are there for a reason, folks!). But overall, it was just a really nice trail. There were also some really interesting trees along the way, in addition to a intriguing pile of rocks (not sure what this was but I stopped to take a picture). 

The climb to the David Archer overlook is a consistent, steady ascent and makes for a great work out. There are plenty of large rocks to climb/sit on at the summit of Pine Mountain, as well as a few trees to hang hammocks from. It's a larger, flatter summit and not as precarious as some other places I've been recently. The view offers a glimpse of Allatoona Lake, some neighboring mountains, and unfortunately, a very large coal-fired power plant. A lot of reviews online describe it as "breath taking" which I don't necessarily agree with (I am spoiled with the views from mountains further north) but it really was a nice hike. 

I debated visiting the Pine Log quarry area but felt it was too far away to drive, especially given I was trying to hike in between rain storms. I also looked into the Vineyard Mountain trails but there is a fee to park there and I didn't feel like going to get cash. Pine Mountain is a great option because it is free, well maintained, and provides a great workout. Here is the ViewRanger link for Pine Mountain.

I never really gave Cartersville a second glance when I lived nearby, but just a few days here has shown me there are lots of options for recreation and history. 

Dawson Forest Wildcat Creek 5-6-18

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I have been concentrating heavily on visiting areas of Dawsonville recently. Dawson County is truly underrated but that being said, it is being rapidly developed so I do anticipate more residents and visitors in the near future. Nevertheless, solitary places still exist. Namely the Wildcat Creek area of the Dawson Forest. It's right on the county line near Pickens and I don't think many people drive up that way other to Big Canoe, which is just to the south. I have been to Wildcat Creek 3 other times prior to this visit, but never actually hiked far enough down the trail to see the waterfalls. So I decided to challenge myself (and James) and at least see one of the falls. We left the dogs at home for this one, due to this distance, but overall this is a dog friendly place. 

There are a lot of trails within the Wildcat tract and multiple different ways to combine them to form loops, but if you want to see the falls, expect about a 7 mile hike no matter what. I believe what we did was the shortest method, but it was an out and back hike and some people prefer a loop. I used the ViewRanger app to develop the route I wanted to take. I am still playing around with ViewRanger and figuring out how it works, but so far I have been very pleased. Maybe I'll write a separate post in the future about ViewRanger once I use it a little more. Again, no paid posts or sponsors here. If you plan to visit Wildcat Creek, I would recommend studying maps in advance and figure which trails you would like to take. 

As I said, I've been to Wildcat Creek multiple times and I've only ever seen about 5 people TOTAL on the trail. It's very secluded. No garbage. No noise. On this particular visit, we didn't see any other people on the trail. Over 7.3 miles, no other people! It's honestly kind of weird, especially considering there is a developed campground at this property. Wildcat Creek is truly a hidden gem. The hike itself starts at the back of the campground and there are signs for the Wildcat Creek trail. The trail winds through the woods for a while, mostly near the creek, which is actually called Fall Creek. There are several good spots for swimming and we've brought the dogs here before, but be aware there are lots of snakes (I've seen more snakes than people here). 

Eventually the Wildcat Creek trail hits a bridge and the trail to the waterfall continues to the right, going uphill. If you cross the bridge, you connect to some other trails that move away from the water. I've done this route before in the past. Eventually the Wildcat Creek trail connects with the Fall Creek trail and continues on toward the waterfalls. During this section, there is a rocky ledge with a very small waterfall spilling over the top you must cross. It can be wet/muddy but is not difficult. After that, there is also a water crossing but ropes are strung across the creek to help guide. When we did it, the water was less than knee high and the crossing was quite easy. 

There is a waterfall off to the side of the trail after the water crossing, but you can really only see from the top down. From what I could tell, there was no way to get to the bottom of it. It was a very full, rushing waterfall and caution is needed near the top of it. It's slightly off trail, so you do have to look for it (you can hear it, though!). After this waterfall, the "main event" is not too far away. I'm honestly not sure if this is the last waterfall along the trail, but I believe it is the biggest. I've read on other sites about multiple waterfalls in this area but this one shows up on the map as the "Fall Creek Waterfall" so I assume it is the most notable. 

I'm not really sure the waterfall really even has a name but it sure is pretty. Be aware when searching "Fall Creek waterfall", there are waterfalls with similar names in Tennessee and other parts of Georgia. It's a classic cascade style waterfall and is about 60 feet in height (I would guess). Since we were the only people there, we really enjoyed taking it all in and appreciating the beauty of the falls. It was also a beautiful day with blue skies overhead and perfect temperatures. We saw lots of mountain laurel and other wildflowers along the way, as well as a little snake. 

The hike took us about 4 hours total, after which I wanted to visit nearby Fainting Goat Vineyards, but James could only focus on getting Mexican food. Well deserved after our 7.3 mile hike. I would like to return and camp at Wildcat Creek and then explore more of the trails. Here is the actual track of our hike from ViewRanger.

Be aware this is not a free site, but possessing a hunting/fishing license or other lands pass is sufficient. I keep 2 copies of mine- one in my wallet and the other on the dash of the car. The entrance road to the parking area is also unpaved however I have done it in a sedan and had no issue. Just be aware of the potential conditions after heavy rains. 

George Disney Trail 5-1-18

After going to Dalton for about the 100th work related trip, I decided to see if I could find any trails to explore after work. While I've been to Dalton a lot, it tends to be for day trips usually or in winter when it's bitterly cold, but recently I was there overnight and had great weather. From what I've researched, there is a lot of recreation in the Dalton "area" but not so much close enough to drive to after work. For example, places like Fort Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, and the Cohutta wilderness area are in the same general region, but are too far away to drive at 5 pm once the work day is over. 

I was looking at Google maps and happened to notice a place called the "George W. Disney" trail that was only one exit away from my hotel. I began to research it online and saw it's only about 2 miles total in length (more on that later), yet has the reputation of being the "steepest short trail" in Georgia. I also learned George Disney was a Confederate soldier whose grave is along the trail. With it being so close by, what did I have to lose? 

I had no trouble finding the trailhead; it's literally 5 minutes off I-75 and shares a parking lot with a church (so no driving down remote, unpaved roads). There's also a very clear sign with an actual description of the trail (again stating how steep it is). So far, so good. I began going up the trail and soon noticed another trail diverting on the opposite side, but stayed to the trail on the right. The trail starts out relatively flat but then does begin to go up quickly. I saw beautiful, unique wildflowers all along the trail.  

There are several point where the trail splits off but they all reconnect eventually after a very short distance; not sure why these splits are in place but probably because numerous people have tried to do shortcuts and degraded the actual trail. Just keep going up, as there is really no other option. You'll soon see very large rocks ahead of you and this is where the trail disintegrates even further. You can climb onto the top of the rock formation but there is no defined way of doing this, from what I could tell. It seems many people have climbed up and around this rock face, as there are a lot of small, loose rocks to watch out for. 

There was only one other person on top of the rock face when I got up there and I would not recommend trying to climb up there if there were lots of people around. One wrong turn or slip could probably be fatal (not really exaggerating). The top of the rock face is gorgeous and the most clear angle faces west. The other sides are surrounded by trees, but still very pretty. I think in winter it would be even better. Sure, you can see/hear I-75 and other traffic below but that really didn't take away from the beauty. 

I saw a few other people on the trail, including kids, so it is reasonably easy and accessible. Regarding the "difficulty" of the trail, yes it is hard for a very short period of time. I tend to underrate rails and make them seem easier than they really are. I downloaded a GPS hiking app just before hiking this trail and according to it, I hiked 1.10 miles with 550 feet of ascent. So take from that what you will. 

One other thing to note, I didn't actually make it to the grave of George Disney. Oops. I thought it was unmarked/unknown and once I reached the rock formation, I stopped I also started talking with someone else near the rock formation and got distracted. I believe the grave is a little further down the south side of the rock formation. There is a trail continuing in this direction and I believe it goes for several more miles. More on that here

While I would not drive to Dalton specifically to do this trail, it is worth  visit if you live in the area or are driving through on I-75 and want to stretch your legs. As is the case with many accessible, relatively urban trails, extra care is needed to leave no trace. The degradation of the trail and some graffiti on the rocks (though not a lot) is evident of this. I'll be in Dalton again in the upcoming weeks and I would love to give this trail another shot around sunset to enjoy the view even more. 

Dawson Forest WMA Amicalola Creek 4-28-18

Sometimes I wake up really early on weekends because I'm used to waking up early during the week for work. Most of the time, if this happens, I get up and run errands or do chores before the rest of the world wakes up. But, sometimes I say screw it and go do fun things. Especially if the forecast is sunny with a high of 70! Recently I had such good fortune so I decided to go off hiking somewhere. James is not a fan of waking up early, so I went without him. Initially I planned to go to Sawnee Mountain but once I started driving, I kept going up Hwy 9 and into Dawson County. It was an absolutely beautiful day and the countryside looked so pretty. I eventually decided to go to the Dawson Forest WMA at Amicalola Creek, since I hadn't been there in a while. 

Amicalola Creek is also known as the "Edge of the World" due to the rapids along the river. It can get pretty crowded with people swimming and hanging out on warm days, but when I arrived around 8:30 am, there was only one lone fisherman there. It was perfectly quiet and peaceful. There were tons of wildflowers growing along the river and the abundance of fir trees in the area gives off a wonderful scent (it also gives the area a flair of the Pacific Northwest, in my mind).

On the surface, this part of the WMA seems pretty basic. There is a short boardwalk leading to a viewing platform and a little beyond that you can walk off the boardwalk into the woods closer to the water. Most people go there to fish or hang out on the rocks in the water. It doesn't really seem like a hiking spot. More of a drinking spot (oh wait, that's against the rules so why am I seeing so many beer cans...?). 

BUT, off of the boardwalk, there is a trail marked with blue blazes leading off into the woods. I'd never really noticed this trail before, so I decided to follow it. It is a very nice, narrow but clearly defined path, and it has different signs highlighting local wildlife and vegetation. On maps, this trail is labeled the "interpretive trail". It winds nicely through the woods with some inclines but nothing too crazy. 

Eventually I reached a point where the trail hits a gravel road. I knew this was a forest service road near a dove hunting area but wasn't entirely sure where it went, other than out to Hwy 53. I turned around and followed the trail back to where I started along the boardwalk. It was a good workout, especially since I was in a hurry to get home and watch the Atlanta United game! Upon closer inspection of a more detailed map, it looks like the gravel road connects back to the blue forest trail after a short distance and then the blue trail forms a loop back to the Amicalola Creek boardwalk. I will definitely return to do the blue trail again. It would be great for the dogs to do this trail and get a little worn out before going to the river (so hopefully they'd chill a little and not act like fools- hopefully!). 

One other thing to note about all of the Dawson Forest areas- you do need a hunting or fishing license to lawfully access them. I have a fishing license because it seems to be the least expensive option. 

Marginally Outdoors Activities

Obviously we don't spend all our time hiking. We have full time jobs, a house to maintain, and other obligations (well, honestly, the house and chores are usually the last priority). And sometimes we just do other things for fun besides hiking. They are usually somehow connected to the outdoors, though. My favorite "marginally outdoors" activity is going to vineyards. We have so many nearby and they are all in the mountains, so we can enjoy the views and scenery without actually hiking. Win/Win! Sometimes we'll do a short hike (so we don't end up all sweaty and gross) and then head to a more casual vineyard. Or if we start out intending to hike but then it starts to rain, we have a back up plan.  

Most recently we went to Cavender Creek Vineyards, which is not far outside Dahlonega at all. It's not new; we just hadn't been there yet. Cavender is very casual and rustic. It's surrounded by farms and there are some farm animals onsite. The Cavender donkeys are well known and adorable. They also have some livestock guard dogs, who also enjoy "guarding" the tasting room (to allow those to pass give out pats or treats). I'm hardly a wine expert or snob, so everything we had tasted great! In particular, we liked the peach sangria and would have taken a bottle of that home if possible. The staff were very friendly as well and there was a great live musician outside on the back patio. They also have an old log home onsite available for rentals. Overall, I would say Cavender Creek has something for everyone to enjoy. 

We have been to a lot of vineyards over the years and we've celebrated many special occasions at them. I tend to categorize them in terms of fancy or casual, so here are two lists of our favorites so you can plan accordingly! Again, no paid advertising or compensation, we just like supporting small businesses. 

More fancy:

1. Wolf Mountain- Dahlonega

2. Kaya- Dahlonega 

3. Yonah Mountain- Cleveland

More casual:

1. Cartecay- Ellijay

2. Cavender Creek- Dahlonega

3. Frogtown- Dahlonega

Chattahoochee Grand Tour

The month of April had me in Cobb County for work most days and driving from one suburb of Atlanta to the next is no easy feat. It's a lot of driving up and down GA-400 and around I-285 in rush hour traffic. It's not as bad as driving to Atlanta but suburban traffic is no joke. It makes me question my life choices every day...

So after driving over the Chattahoochee dozens of times (seriously, it topped 100 by the end of the month), I decided to try to hit up some recreation areas located off of I-285. I've never really been to the Chattahoochee outside of Roswell or where we live now. During April I visited 3 different parks in Cobb or Fulton and got my money's worth from purchasing an annual CRNRA pass. I also went to Bowman's Island, so yeah, that $40 pass is in full effect.

But anyways, back to the wilds of Cobb and Fulton, I will now review and discuss the places I went:

1. Powers Island/NOC outpost

I initially chose to go to Powers Island because they have an automated machine where you can buy a annual pass. However, I was very pleasantly surprised with the actual trail and scenery. I arrived in the early evening and there was literally no one else there. There is a small trail near the parking pass machine that leads to Powers Island, however, that is a short trail and the island is fairly small. There is also a canoe/kayak launch here. At the opposite end of the parking lot, there is another trail that forms a long, narrow loop. From the northeast corner of the parking lot, the trail goes up into the woods and has a decent little incline- definitely a good workout for walking or mountain biking. The trail then descends down toward the river and loops back around to the southwest end of the parking lot. 

I didn't find the river views to be terribly spectacular but the trail is very peaceful and shady. Along the trail, I saw lots of wildflowers as well as a goose family with adorable babies. The trail itself is very narrow and intimate. It felt much more isolated and removed from the city than it actually is. This trail is great for singular hikers or mountain bikers. During my hike, which took about an hour, I only saw 2-3 year people, one of whom was a mountain biker. The total trail mileage is about 2.6 miles, making it a great choice for an after work hike. I really liked Powers Island because it was so secluded and peaceful. Perfect choice for de-stressing after a long day. 

2. Cochran Shoals/Interstate North

This park is directly across the river from Powers Island but is totally different. I arrived around 6 pm (again on a weeknight) and the parking lot was nearly full. I found one spot in the very back. The place was crawling with walkers (I just realized that sounds like zombies but, then again, we are in Atlanta...) and bicyclists. Lots of dogs. The path here is very wide, flat, and paved with fine gravel. So it is a great running or biking trail. Off of the main path, there is also a boardwalk leading into a marshy area but I did not explore too much down there. There is also a narrow wooded path off to the side of the gravel trail that goes closer to the river, but does not have real river view. Regardless, if you want to get away from the gravel for a bit, you could take this one. It reconnects to the gravel path after a short distance. 

The gravel path is marked with mile markers and eventually the path leads to another parking area at Columns Drive. Throughout the trail, there are overlooks along the Chattahoochee and the views of the river are really nice. I enjoyed visiting this park and I did get a good workout because the vibe there is just more exercise focused, I guess. I didn't meander or stop as much to look at scenery as I would if I was on a woodland trail. If I lived nearby, this would be a regular stop for exercise or walking the dogs. The downsides are parking and general congestion in the parking lot (not easy to get out if a bunch of people leave at the same time) and there is quite a bit of litter. The bathroom was, quite frankly, disgusting and I wish people would simply clean up after themselves and LEAVE NO TRACE. 

3. East Palisades

I had heard so much about this place and had really high hopes for it but I didn't have the best visit. You can read more about the Palisades here, because my visit was very disjointed and is not going to make a lot of sense. First off, I was really tired and just not really feeling it that day. Secondly, for 3 days prior, it had rained extensively in north Georgia and the trails were a complete mess. I brought my regular running shoes (brand new, btw) and really should have brought my Keen's instead. The trail was literally underwater at some points and my feet got really wet. The river also looked a mess, like a hurricane went through, and that didn't make for very pretty pictures. 

Aesthetics aside, the trails at East Palisades are very extensive and loopy. There are trail maps along the way, but I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because I did not end up going where I intended to. Eventually I made it to the overlook on the Chattahoochee but I missed the bamboo forest, which I keep hearing so much about. In an effort to not retrace my steps going back to the car, I tried to take a different trail back up to the parking lot but again, must have missed something and ended up walking in the woods for a very long time. Eventually I popped out onto the main road leading to the parking area and then had to walk along there to get back to the car (not a big deal, it's a extremely upscale residential area). That being said, on this smaller side trail, I did see a very pretty creek and enjoyed a lot of quiet time. I will give the East Palisades another shot, preferably during a sunny, dry week and when I have James with me. Being lost and trapped in an Atlanta suburb is literally my worst fear hahaha.