Dowdell Knob and Wolfden Loops with Waterfalls at FD Roosevelt State Park

Looking for signs of spring, please join us at FD Roosevelt State Park is Georgia’s largest State Park with over 40 miles of trails to discover. For this event, we will be exploring a double lollipop (two loops) connected with a short (mile and a half) out-and-back connector totaling just under 14 miles and around 2400 feet of undulating elevation gain.

This is a great place to get in a long and scenic hike. For the most part, plan to maintain a moderate pace, stopping for any spring flowers, and then back into high end moderate pace. Expect an average moving speed of about 2.5 mph – not including breaks. There are a number of trail crossings and intersections and it can be easy to get lost. So with that in mind, we will stick together as a group -- staying within visual and/or audible range throughout the hike.

Our carpool will leave promptly at 8:00 am. We expect to arrive at the Dowdell Knob Trailhead Parking Lot and start the hike at 9:30 am. After taking a quick glance at the great view from the parking lot, we will begin our hike westbound on the rocky terrain of the blue blazed Pine Mountain Trail (PMT) starting the Dowdell Loop. In less than 1.5 miles we will make a right onto the white-blazed Boot Top Trail and head eastbound taking it back to the PMT where we will continue on an eastbound journey to for about another 1.5 miles connecting to the Wolfden loop portion of the hike. We then turn right onto the White Candle Trail and another left onto the Beaver Pond Trail arriving at the eastern most portion of the Pine Mountain Trail at around mile 6. The next 2 miles are the most popular in the park. We will pass through a tornado ravaged area (from 2011) and see 5 named (and one unnamed) waterfalls. We will break and have lunch at mile 8 at Cascade falls right next to the Wolf den rock outcropping. After lunch, we will continue westbound on the PMT where we will see "The Big Pine Tree". Arriving back at the parking lot we will celebrate with high fives, fist bumps, and selfies before our drive back to arrive at the carpool by 6 pm.

Click below for a map and a profile of this route:
https://www.plotaroute.com/embedmap/385498&maptype=paths

Thanks to Russ for the event description and picture :)

You MUST have a recent D4 or D5 with AOC to signup for this event.   If you have not completed a strenuous D4 recently, you must email hiking information (distance, elevation, time) to the trip leaders; otherwise we will put you on the waitlist.

Travel south of Atlanta from I-285 onto I-85 south toward Montgomery to Exit 41 for US-29/US-Alt-27 toward Moreland/Greenville. Turn left and take Alt-27 South for several miles to Warm Springs and turn right onto US-85. After 3.5 miles turn right onto GA-190 into FD Roosevelt State Park. After 3.1 miles bear left at the sign leading to the "Dowdell Knob Scenic Area" through the open gate and drive another 1.3 miles to the parking lot.

Since this is a State Park, if you do not have a State Park Parking Pass, a one-day pass can be purchased at the parking lot for $5 (bring correct change).