WEDNESDAY Morning at Vineyard Mountain - Riverside Day Use Park (NEW DAY!)

Due to the prediction of thunderstorms throughout the morning on Tuesday, we're rescheduling this hike for WEDNESDAY, keeping all registered members on the event. 

Because of a glitch in the registration process, we've run into the problem of having too many members added to the active list above the maximum limit of 16.  Please be aware that we will be moving members above 16 registrants to the waiting list in the order of their registration times.  People will then be added to the active list as we have withdrawals.

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. We'll then head back the way we came. 

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.

THERE IS A $5 CHARGE PER VEHICLE AT THE PARK ENTRANCE!

Afterward, you're welcome to join us for lunch at the popular S'WHEAT Deli and Market in nearby Cartersville, a casual deli featuring food that's best described as "yummy."  Information about S'WHEAT is below in the notes.

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.

$5 PER VEHICLE CHARGE AT THE PARK ENTRANCE

After the hike, you're welcome to join us 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.

5 East Main Street, Cartersville, GA 30120  in Historic Downtown

https://www.swheatmark etdeli.com/menus