Red Top Mountain Day Hike: Light

This is debut of the "light" and "dark" hikes. We are meeting at Red Top Mountain and doing two hikes today. We will follow the same route for both, but we'll do the first hike in the daylight and the second hike after nightfall. Please join us for one or both hikes - we'll have dinner in between (no obligation to attend dinner). Do the math - if you do both hikes it will be around 13 miles for the day. Please don't sign up for both unless you know you can handle the distance.

This first hike is fast paced hike and we'll cover about six miles; it's called "light" because we'll do it in the daylight. We will park at and leave from the Lodge. We'll start on the Sweet Gum Trail, hook up with the Homestead Trail, and end up passing by the Visitor's Center. We'll pause there for a few minutes and check out our route on the displayed map before taking off on the Homestead Trail. We'll stay on the Homestead Trail (periodically sharing real estate with the Sweet Gum again) and then cross the road and follow the Homestead loop in a counter clockwise direction. At the end of the loop, we'll take the Sweet Gum trail back towards the Lodge and do an out and in on the White Tail Trail. The White Tail Trail is .5 miles each way and has some nice rocks to sit on right by the water. It is really pretty and worth the extra few minutes. You have the option of skipping this part if you feel the need to head home. The Lodge (and your car) is less than 100 yards from the start of the trail. This is a solid D3 hike so please make sure you're in proper shape to handle it. There are a few hills to climb and the pace will be pretty quick.

The optional dinner will be from around 6:30 to 7:45 at Swheat in Cartersville. It's an 8 mile drive from the park. Feel free to join us for dinner after the hike (or between hikes if you're staying for both). It's a little local place that has good reviews and serves sandwiches, soups and salads. It's something a little bit different than the typical AOC Mexican fare.

www.swheatmarket.com
Address is 5 East Main St, Cartersville.


You can view a trail map here: http://www.redtopmountainstatepark.org/resources/red-top- mountain-state-park-trail-map.pdf


If you don't have a Georgia State Park Pass, there is a $5.00 per car fee. It is the drop box, punch out the tag system so no attendant is on duty. Please make sure you have exactly $5.00 or you can write a check.

The Lodge has restrooms that are open until 5PM, so they will be available only at the beginning our our hike.

Please call one of the trip leaders if you are running late. We won't wait so you'll have to catch up with the group if you do arrive late.

We will leave from the Lodge (not the Visitor's Center).

Address for the Lodge is:
50 Lodge Rd
Cartersville, GA  30121

Go 75 North to Exit 285
Go Right off the exit
Proceed approximately .5 miles and go over bridge (Bethany Bridge) over the water
Go approximately another .5 miles and left on to Park Marina Rd
Approximately .5 miles and right on to Lodge Rd

The GPS Coordinates for the Lodge:
34.142950, 084.706700

This may be helpful too:
http://gastateparks.org/net/go/parks.aspx? locationid=21&show=map