Saturday Adventure: Hike/ Explore Dawson Forest ( Carrpool 10am at Mansell Rd Park/ride)

I have  hiked this trail a couple of times and it was fun! The trail reminded me so much of some of the Tennessee Backwoods Trails that I grew-up hiking on. They are fun and challenging!!!!

With this in mind, Saturday morning we will be exploring around 12 miles of trail at a fast pace with a few short breaks and 15 to 20 min for lunch.

For those of you who have hiked with me before and those who would like to hike with me, I am thrilled to have other like minded or fun loving adventurers join me to hike!  However,  understand that I move fast with few breaks, because I want us to explore as much of the trail as possible in the time allocated for this event (10 am-11am travel to trail, 11:oo am-4pm hike 12miles of trail with a few breaks and 15 for lunch, 4 pm -5 travel back to park and ride).

Keeping this in mind, here is some excellent information on Dawson Forest and the trail that Lauren J. provided for her event and co-lead with Joyce T. at Dawson Forest last year.  

Trail information from Lauren J.'s and Joyce T.'s hike at Dawson Forest 

The Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory, also known as AFP No. 67, for Air Force Plant 67 was a United States Air Force test facility located in the Dawson Forest in Dawsonville, Georgia. It was the site of Lockheed's lab for investigating the feasibility of nuclear aircraft. The site was used for irradiating military equipment, as well as the forest to determine the effect of nuclear war, and its effects on wildlife. The area was closed in 1971 and acquired by the city of Atlanta for a second airport, but its topography was determined to be ill- suited for an airport. Documents explaining what went on at the site remain highly classified.

Flash forward to 2012: Dawson Forest is filled with trails (horse, biking and hiking) and I've found a map that shows where various components of AFP 67 used to stand. We can look for remnants of various structures such as:
"The Hot Cell Building"
"Reactor Site"
"Cooling Off Area"
"Bear Foot Falls" - we know where this is and can use it as a map point
Several old bridges and pump houses are noted on the map as well

We'll meet at the trailhead of the Atlanta Tract and take the blue/orange trail towards the West. Starting on this trail will point us in the direction of the Reactor Site, Bear Foot Falls and some old bridges. We should also be able to find The Hot Cell Building. We'll decide as a group which trail or trails to take based upon what we think we can find using the trail map and the map I've got showing where the various fun things are. This will be a fun, interactive group hike.

We're hoping to hike out for about two and a half hours and then follow the same (or similar trail) back for two and a half hours. Your TL's have been here before and found the trails to be very well marked. We're not doing any major bushwhacking and we're mostly staying on marked trails so we won't end up three states away. Please be prepared to hike a little extra or a little longer depending upon how adventurous we are. Also, there could be some water crossings and we'll decide as a group whether we do them or not, but please be prepared to at least do short, not too difficult water crossings. We will be safe.  It's a great space to hike. There is not a lot of elevation change, but there are some climbs that will get your heart pumping. The trails vary from wide gravel roads, compacted dirt, some pavement and lots of wooded trails. It all depends on which way we decide to go as a group. 

Please be prepared to stay together as a group. I've put ~12 miles down for this hike. It could me more or it could be less based upon how difficult it is to get to certain places.

There are horses out there on the main trails and you all know what comes out of the back end of a horse. We just sometimes have to watch our step.

We'll hike at a pretty fast pace but we will stop for snacks, pictures and the like. We'll take a short break about halfway through to rest our legs and eat some lunch (pack your own).

Stolen from GA Forestry Commision:
The Dawson Forest City of Atlanta Tract is a 10,130 acre forest owned by the City of Atlanta and managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission. The Commission plays a Stewardship role for the City by using conservation practices that minimize damage to the Forest caused by human and natural forces. The Forest produces timber, wildlife habitat, clean water into the Etowah River watershed, and many opportunities for persons to experience recreation and education.(By Lauren J. 2015)

Trail map:
http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagemen t/documents/DawsonForestTrai lsMapEMBrev0110.pdf

There is a "dry toilet" at the trailhead. 

Directions from Hwy 400: Take Hwy 400 North or South depending upon starting location to the Dawsonville Outlet mall Red Light. (Turn Left (West) if traveling North or Right (West) if traveling South onto Dawson Forest Road.) Go straight through roundabout, continue straight for approximately 4 miles until the intersection/stop sign. This is Highway 9. Proceed straight through intersection for approximately 1.5 miles to South entrance gate. Proceed through gate and Parking Area/Trailhead will be just ahead on the right. There is a brown sign at the road pointing to trail parking. Once you turn right, follow the road straight back and you will dead end in to a small parking area. There are several signs along the way indicating you are in Dawson Forest.



This is about as close as I could figure: 34.35146, - 84.14382

For best directions from your location, open www.maps.google.com and put the bold text below in the seach bar and then use your location as the starting point.

34.35146, -84.14382

Be ready to explore, hike and have fun!

If you carpool bring gas money to give driver

If you drive bring $5 incase there is paid parking at trailhead