Fri, Mar 26 2021 - Red Top Iron Hill Trail / Ghost Campground (Last Minute) (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Holt Ward Participants: Holt Ward, Allan, Sherrie G, Jennifer W, Silvia B, Kevin K, Neil, Aaron Lee, Davida, Dan R

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Threatening skies in the early morning gave way to a fairly nice day for hiking before we began our hike of the Iron Hill trails at Red Top Mountain State Park.  We began by heading out to an iron ore mine that operated back in the late 1800s to early 1900s.  Then we headed to the shoreline of Lake Allatoona where we enjoyed a 1/2 mile walk along parts of the shore that will soon be underwater as the lake is brought up to full pond. 

Next we headed out to peninsula that contains the ruins of the former campground that operated at Red Top until around 1980.  We were once again able to dip down to the shoreline which looked more like a moonscape in places.  On our return we passed a beautiful old oak tree that is completely covered with resurrection fern, a very interesting plant indeed.  Next we bushwhacked up a ridge above the old roadbed we were walking on so as to view down into the Crow Ore Bank mine from above.  The size and depth of this mine is astounding.  Then we made our way to our cars and the end of our 6 mile hike.  ~ Holt