Vineyard Mountain

Please join us for one of our favorite close-to-home hikes!

The Vineyard Mountain Eagle Scout trails pack a lot of punch in a relatively short distance. The trails feature varied terrain as they traverse the slopes of Vineyard Mountain and the shores of Lake Allatoona, with the environment alternating among deep forest, shoreline, and mountain top. Our hike will provide multiple perspectives of the lake and surrounding area, including marinas, Bethany Bridge, the Etowah River, and a bird's eye view of Allatoona Dam.

We'll meet at the main Shelter A in the heart of the Riverside Park Day Use Area. It features plenty of parking and a nearby restroom. We'll begin the hike by heading toward the dam, walking parallel to the Etowah River. After this quick warm-up, we'll come upon the Yellow Trail and begin a climb that will eventually take us to a rewarding lookout above the dam. After enjoying the views, we'll continue on, taking a series of relatively gentle ascents and descents to the other side of Vineyard Mountain and the entrance to Red Top Mountain State Park via Bethany Bridge (which was recently featured in the closing scene of the 2016 movie "The Accountant"). We'll then head back the way we came, except toward the end of the hike we'll take the short Blue Trail to the day use area.

This event is rated a D3. We plan to keep a moderate pace of 2.5-3.0 mph, with a few relatively brief breaks. The elevation gain is moderate, but we expect to do well in excess of 1,000 feet. This hike is not suitable for beginners.

Afterward, you're welcome to join us for lunch at the popular Swheat Market in nearby Cartersville, a casual deli featuring food that's best described as "yummy."

Photo of Allatoona Dam courtesy of Joyce T.!

The Riverside Park Day Use Area is conveniently located off I-75 north of Atlanta. The park winds along the Etowah River just before Allatoona Dam.

Address: 513 Allatoona Dam Rd., Cartersville, GA

Published GPS: 34.1618, -84.73753

Directions: Take I-75 North to Exit 285, Red Top Mountain Rd. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Red Top Mountain Rd., cross over the highway, and make an immediate right turn onto Route 41 (Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE). Go about a mile and make a right turn onto Allatoona Dam Rd. Continue into the day use area and go until you see a large parking area and shelter (Shelter A) on the left. If you pass a road on the right, you've gone too far.

After the hike, you're welcome to join the trip leaders at Swheat Market (pronounced "sweet") in Cartersville, less than 10 minutes from the day use area. Their address is 5 E Main St, Cartersville. It's easy to find: take Allatoona Dam Road out of the day use area, make a right onto Route 41, then a left onto Main Street. Go a few blocks until you see the railroad tracks ahead. The restaurant is on the left just before the tracks.