Dawson Forest Wildcat Creek 5-6-18

**Breaking News! Posts now featuring summaries from ViewRanger app**
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. 

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. 

Raven Cliffs 3-24-18

Since the weather has been so gross on the weekends lately (not kidding, it will be sunny and 65 all week when I'm working and as soon as the weekend arrives it's raining and cold), I've had no choice but to try to get out even in rainy weather. We've had what I call "Seattle weather" pretty much all of February and March, where it's cold (but not freezing) and there is a constant, light, misty rain. Using an umbrella is pointless because the water just surrounds you and you feel wet no matter what. So at that point, it really doesn't matter anymore. 

Last weekend, James had a bachelor party at a cabin in Cleveland (jokes about going to the Cabbage Patch hospital commence), so I decided to drop him off there and let him hitch a ride home with a friend. Since I was in in a great hiking area, I decided to make the best of it, despite the usual rainy weather. Fortunately, the rain actually let up around noon right when I dropped James off. I had 2 options nearby- Yonah Mountain or Raven Cliffs. As much as I like Yonah, I didn't feel like doing that by myself and thought Raven Cliffs would be better for a solo excursion. I stop every 5 minutes whenever I hike Raven Cliffs and take a million pictures, so it's kind of a pain to go there with me. 

I've been to Raven Cliffs three times in the past 3 years (once in Fall, once in summer, and now spring). Previous post about my first trip can be found here and I never wrote about the second one (it was in 2016 during my sad, nearly post-less year). Spring, in my opinion, is the best time to visit.  The trees are still somewhat bare, so it's easier to see the water and catch some of the smaller falls along the way to the main attraction. But some flowers are blooming already and everything starts to feel more alive after the grey-ness of winter. The weather is still cool (so maybe not ideal if you actually want to jump in the water) and on a rainy day, there are fewer visitors. 

Just to summarize some basics, the Raven Cliffs trail is 5 miles long total (out and back) and mostly flat/easy to hike. The trail head has a developed parking area, pit toilets, garbage receptacles, and is extremely easy to access due to it being just north of Cleveland, in close proximity to several other recreation areas. All that adds up to a lot of visitors, so please please please LEAVE NO TRACE (specifically directed at the girl who left her black, lace Victoria's Secret panties on the trail). There were signs posted in the parking area advising of a $5 fee implementation this year, which I honestly have no problem with given the amenities and number of visitors. Other places nearby with such as Dukes Creek Falls charge a fee, so I think it's reasonable at Raven Cliffs as well. 

Simply put, Raven Cliffs is probably my favorite place in the state of Georgia. If I had to choose my favorite places in states I have been recently, Raven Cliffs would be right up there with Sedona and Joshua Tree. There is just something about Raven Cliffs that is so magical. The leaves seem more green, the moss more vibrant, the water more clear, the trees more graceful. It's probably just my imagination, but everything just seems more heightened and vibrant. I literally feel like I'm walking through a fairy tale forest. I'm hardly a religious person, but Raven Cliffs is truly a spiritual experience.There are times when I want to leave the state of Georgia (most of the time, honestly) but then I remember we have places like Raven Cliffs. Now if only I could figure out a way to live in the forest full time...

Local favorites

Little Ridge Park

Due to my work schedule for most of 2017, I had free time in the mornings. It was great and it gave me the chance to exercise more often. So basically anytime the weather was nice, I went to the park. We are fortunate to live near a very nice park on Lake Lanier, which also happens to be free AND dog friendly! I spend so much time at Little Ridge Park, you would think I lived there. It's not huge but there is a nice trail through the woods and it is easy to access the lake from different parts of the trail. There's also a boat launch but that is about it (no bathrooms or pavilions or such). It's crowded on weekends and holidays but during the week, I only ever see about 2-3 people on the trail. Again, it's dog friendly!! There are a lot of parks on the lake that are not dog friendly. My favorite feature is this island that sometimes becomes a peninsula depending on how high the water level is. You can walk/wade out there and it's just fun to explore. It's very shaded and a good place to put a hammock. Little Ridge is an Army Corps of Engineers park so please review their rules before visiting!!

Bowmans Landing

My other standby has been Bowmans Island, which is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. It is attached to the Lower/Upper Pool Parks at Buford Dam, which is part of the Army Corps of Engineers. Different rules for each! Leashed dogs are allowed at Bowman's Island but not at the Lower or Upper Pool Parks. They all share an entrance at the Lower Pool Park and if there is an attendant at the gate, they will not let you bring dogs in. There is also an entrance at the Island Ford Unit and I am assuming you can bring dogs in this way, but I have never been to that location. Sometimes the gate is unattended and you simply put money in the box and get your parking permit and you and your dog can be on your way. Bowmans Island is also horse friendly but I have never seen anyone on horseback there. 

I love the Chattahoochee and Bowmans Island is an easy way to access it. That being said, this is not a swimming hole/day drinking locale. There are always people fishing and I try to not disturb them. There is a fairly extensive trail around the island and some of it goes along the river and some up into the woods. There are maps all along the trail and I just sort of meander each time I go there. I love seeing the changes in the river due to dam releases or rainfall. It looks different each time I visit. I took these pictures in early fall when the weather was still warm and the river looked particularly beautiful. 

So even if you think you don't have time for a hike, you can usually find a "in town" option near Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee.

Preacher's Rock 2-3-18

In keeping with the spirit of the 52 hike challenge, we decided to go hiking this weekend despite the weather being cold/overcast/possibly rainy (or snowy- it is Georgia). I figured since we went on a hike on New Year's Day, we started off on the right foot to do 52 hikes (at least). We are not officially committing to the 52 hike challenge because let's face it, I don't keep commitments. I started the 4000+ challenge in 2015 and have only done a handful. I'll probably never complete the 4000+ and I know this. Furthermore, while it's great to be outside, I also work out A LOT. I do indoor exercise at least 5 times a week and sometimes my body needs a break. So whatever form of fitness or hiking fits for you, do that.

Anyways, back to the hike! This week's hike needed to meet several criteria due to time constraints, possible weather issues, and other factors. It needed to not be terribly far away, not a terribly long hike, "hard but not too hard" (James' request), and something in the mountains. So we chose to hike the small stretch of the Appalachian Trail from Woody Gap to Preacher's Rock. It's less than an hour from our house, it has easy parking/access from the highway, it's short, and in my opinion, it's not hard. Afterwards, James actually said he wanted something a little more strenuous. It also has the added bonus of being right outside Dahlonega, so you can grab lunch or dinner once you're done!

We got to the trail head around 10:15 am and it was a lovely 26 degrees outside. The weather forecast called for "partly sunny" skies but the mountain mist seemed to have set in. Fortunately it wasn't windy. I rarely hike if the temperature is below 35 degrees but it actually didn't feel that bad. I think I wore just the right amount of layers to feel comfortable. Hats and gloves make a huge different! We left the dogs at home for this one, because I knew Nova would freeze to death, but saw lots of other folks with dogs on the trail.

The area near the trail head is pretty nifty with some large rock formations that almost look like a small quarry. I think it would be a neat place to camp. We saw lots of icicles of various shapes and sizes in this area. After poking around here for a little, we moved onto the trail. The rock formations and boulders continue along the trail with some rocks serving as stair like features (really suffering from rock formation withdrawal after being in California). Parts of the trail can be ankle twisting, so watch your step.  

Sooner rather than later, you come upon Preacher's Rock, which is a large, rounded rock face with a lovely view of the valley below. It seriously is large enough to accommodate a small congregation. After sitting on the rocks for a while James was like "is that it"? So we continued down the trail to Big Cedar Mountain, which is just a little ways further, and then headed back to the parking area. The total round trip mileage is about 3.4 miles but honestly, it doesn't seem that much. Most other websites rate this hike "moderate" or "more difficult" but I think it's on the easier side. When the weather is warmer, I'd like to do an overnight trip to Blood Mountain from Woody Gap, which is 9 miles each way.

Overall, I wouldn't say this was the most earth shattering hike ever but again, I am currently suffering withdrawals from 70 degree sunny weather and other worldly scenery. What's important is, we got out and enjoyed what is essentially our backyard. After the hike, we ate lunch at Gustavo's in Dahlonega because they make an awesome pizza without cheese on it and they never question why you are ordering a pizza like that. We've been eating there since they were literally a hole in the wall with no liquor license and one table to sit at. Happy to see their success!

Thanksgiving Weekend 2017

We had stunningly good weather over Thanksgiving weekend. It was brilliantly sunny and high around 60 each day (this is the kind of "cold" weather I can tolerate). I also try to "opt outside" (thanks REI- no they are not sponsoring me!) on or near major holidays as much as possible because I detest shopping and the general consumer frenzy that takes over after Halloween each year. We did have quite a few family/football obligations (and work for me, boo!) but managed to get in some quick local hikes and some of our favorite places. 

On Black Friday (make that green Friday for me thankyouverymuch), we went to visit friends in Northeast Cobb County, so decided to go to Roswell Mill and Vickery Creek afterwards since it was close by. The Mill has to be my favorite place in all of metro Atlanta. I haven't really been there very much during the winter but it is just so pretty no matter what the time of year. I love the City of Roswell for placing such an emphasis on parks and historic preservation. I really miss living there. 

The Mill was a little crowded and we had to circle the parking lot several times for a space, but eventually snagged one. Bear in mind, we were there right in the middle of the day so really not too bad all things considered. We didn't really go too far on any of the trails but leisurely walked up to the waterfall and then explored along the banks of the creek before heading out. 

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, James went to the Falcons game but again the weather was so stunning, I decided to go to Sawnee Mountain after running some errands. It was later in the afternoon so I decided to use the trail from Bettis- Tribble Gap Rd since it is shorter. I have never hiked that trail before. It is much shorter and easier than the trail from Spot Road. I literally did not even break a sweat. There were several people on the trail but it really wasn't that crowded and the summit was peaceful (the last time I was here, I'm pretty sure there were people using drugs under the viewing platform). The view of the mountains was unreal due to the low humidity and extremely clear visibility. 

So that was Thanksgiving. No need to hike to burn off calories from eating too much because we've been vegan for a year now and everything we eat is healthy and doesn't weigh us down. 

California Trip- Ocean Beach Dog Park

So as described in my previous post, much of day one was spent traveling (getting to the Atlanta airport is no walk in the park either). We arrived to our Air BnB in Pacific Beach around 5 pm and James was literally about to eat his hand. Hunger combined with no air conditioning is a bad mix for a man (strangely, though, he claims "hangry" is not a legit feeling). So I pulled up the handy list of vegan/vegetarian options I found online and found the closest one, which was a "fast food" place in nearby Ocean Beach called Plant Power. Well, nearby in rush hour meant another 25 minute drive BUT it was so worth it. By the end of our trip, James became a walking billboard for Plant Power and spent enough money to probably keep the place in business through the end of the year. 

After eating $50 worth of probably not the healthiest vegan food ever, we felt the need to get some exercise, so the next logical stop was the Ocean Beach dog park. Because it's not at all creepy to go to a dog beach without your own dogs and fawn over other peoples' dogs. We walked around the dog beach and were quickly refreshed by all the pups and people enjoying the evening. I dipped my toes in the Pacific Ocean for the first time ever and we caught the most stunning sunset. Even locals said it was unusually beautiful. The pictures really didn't adequately capture it. 

After the beach, we went to Trader Joe's to get coffee and essentials for the morning and quickly learned another lesson- you have to pay for grocery bags in California. I don't have a problem with this; just wasn't expecting it. James declined to pay .25 cents for a bag so we ended up carrying all our stuff out and have it roll around the back of the car. We are such noobs. 

Waterfall Trio 6-25-17

Although I am certainly a child of the 90's, I cannot say I agree with TLC- I love chasing waterfalls. In fact, I have become spoiled and have found myself not considering a hike if it doesn't go near water at least, if not a waterfall or two. 

With the weather being very rainy this summer and being crunched for time with various summer holidays and other events going on, I was looking for something close by that would give a lot of bang for my buck. I studied the maps and found a nice little horseshoe of a route not too far away that led me to 3 stunning waterfalls. The day ended up being unseasonably cool which made for very pleasant hiking. All three of these are also dog friendly but my munchkins didn't make it into these pictures.

First up, DeSoto Falls. We arrived here around 10 am and only saw 2 other people on the trail. There are 2 falls at this location, with divergent trails leading to each. The trails are no more than 2 miles total. Again, a lot of bang for your buck. There is also a nice little campground located between the two falls. 

Traveling north from DeSoto Falls, we then went to Helton Creek Falls. This trail is exceeding short and flat, making it very accessible to nearly anyone. Due to the fact that it had rained nearly every day during the previous week, Helton Creek Falls was rocking. The water flow was impressive. We saw a handful of people here but I imagine on sunny days, hot days, it's packed. 

Leaving Helton Creek Falls, we continued along the dirt road we parked on which eventually leads to a creek crossing (two actually) before intersecting with the main road. We drove through the mountains, catching views of Yonah and others, before arriving at Dukes Creek Falls. The trail at Dukes Creek is the longest of the 3 but still leisurely at around 2 miles total. Unfortunately part of the viewing platform at the end of the trail was damaged by a tree falling, so we could not experience the full scenery of the falls. Regardless, it was a nice visit and I spent some time at the opposite end of the trail just relaxing by the creek. 

All in all, it was a worthy way to spend a day. We were back home by 3 pm- not bad for driving to and from the mountains, as well as driving between the falls. All of these are also located within close proximity of other scenic areas, such as Raven Cliffs, Blood Mountain, and state parks, so planning a multi-day waterfall extravaganza could be an option as well. 

Obviously I am about 2 months behind with posting, but expect some new posts soon about our recent trip to California!