Sat, May 23 2015 - Hidden Gems of Arabia Mountain! - a cool morning Hike on seldom-explored Trails (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Kathryn, Herm D, LINDA D, Charlie Cottingham, Lorri, Sophia, Anne L, Eric, Leigh C, Yolanda, Joyce T., Sharon Baldwin, Joyce, John Christopher, Laura, Jim

We sixteen had a fine time together exploring many of the lesser known scenic areas in this beautiful DeKalb County park.  Our adventurous route included the summits of both of the highest granite outcrops in the park - "Bradley Mtn" and "Arabia Mtn."  We also enjoyed the new blue-blazed lakeside loop trail (a.k.a. the Mtn View Trail), a "combo loop" of the Rock Outcrop trail and Forest trail, and several stretches of off-trail rocky and wooded terrain.  The Memorial Day weekend weather was perfect! - in the 60s & 70S with a clear blue sky.  Along the way we took the time to observe and discuss the fascinating native flora & fauna including the brilliant yellow blooms of pricky pear cacti and yellow daisies, white flower spikes of yucca and purple-greay berries of eastern red cedar - also ate some ripe blackberries and succulent tips of greenbrier! 
  Thanks to Joyce Taaffe for sharing her colorful photos of our adventure!  Here's the link to her Facebook album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153962237115260.1073742524.540275259&type=1&l=504e10bd92
   After the group hike I enjoyed exploring several of the Park's very pretty trails that I'd never hiked before: the Laurel Creek, Boomerang, Wilburn Farm and Vaughters' Farm Trails.  All are easily accessible from the local paved roads and adjoin the Arabia-to-Panola PATH paved trail.  There's an an amazing view of Arabia Mountain looking eastward from the top of the big meadow at Wilburn Farm which is about the same height as Arabia itself - about 950 feet elevation.  It is high ground such as this that prevents visitors to Arabia or Stone Mountain from seeing the other monadnock.
  - Submitted by Charlie, Sun May 24.