Sun, Nov 16 2008 - Hiking: Tallulah Gorge State Park - Stoneplace Trail (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Tony C, Kevin Crowe Participants: Tony C, Kevin Crowe, Jeremy G, Heather C, Jay G, Duane Montle, Megan H, Jason Cloward, Kelli H, Ken B, Justin Markham, TimH, Walt, Marissa M

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Write Up:
Well the Stoneplace Trail definitely exceeded expectations today. We were blessed with perfect hiking weather for this hike, which certainly didn't hurt...sunny skies and highs in the low 50s. After the recent storms and high winds, I expected most of the leaves to be off the trees, but there was still a great deal of fall foliage above and around us (see pics). Beautiful yellow and crimson and golden brown, etc...and while the trail is an old fire road, it was mostly covered with leaves, which made it seem much more "trail-like" and natural.

After securing the free permits from the visitors center, we started out down the Stoneplace trail. It was a bit chilly starting out, but after the first uphill stretch, we warmed up and began to shed layers.... and then were comfortably cozy. We took a side half loop down the High Bluff Trail...just about 1.5 miles and rejoined the stoneplace and continued to head mostly downhill. The trail was mostly downhill on the way out, but it was very steady with a few uphill sections as well, so it wasn't too hard on the knees.

After about 5.5 miles, we reached the end of the trail and had a nice lunch at a dock jutting out into Tugaloo lake. It was very scenic and this is where we staged the obligatory group photo. With our appetites satisfied for the moment, we headed back up the trail...this was 5 miles and of course it gained the same 800 feet that it lost on the way out...not too steep but just enough of a grade to get your heart rate up if you pushed yourself a bit...so it was a vigorous hike back to the trailhead and we made it back faster than the trip out.

We regrouped at the visitors center...part of the group descended the hundreds of stairs into the Gorge with Kevin, while the rest walked along the North Rim trail with Tony and checked out the overlooks, trading wonderful trail stories of hiking and backpacking in the Smokies and elsewhere. The groups met back at the parking lot and headed home after what felt like a very full and fun day.

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