Iron Hill Lakeside Loop Trail at Red Top Mountain State Park

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Iron Hill Lakeside Loop Trail at Red Top Mountain State Park

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Iron Hill Trail Head Parking Lot

Hike: Iron Hill Lakeside Loop Trail at Red Top Mountain State Park

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Mar 23 2019 8:30 am >> Sat, Mar 23 2019 11:00 am

Registration Opens:

Sun, Mar 17 2019 7:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Sat, Mar 23 2019 6:00 am

Event Duration:

2 Hours 30 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Distance:

5 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Mike C

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Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

8 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

In a Nutshell: Conveniently located on Lake Allatoona near Atlanta, Red Top Mountain State Park has been among our favorite AOC venues for dayhikes - also for mountain biking, camping, Club picnics, aquatic adventures, etc. On this morning outing we'll enjoy a moderately paced hike on the park's Iron Hill Trail. The popular loop trail has only a few steep spots and much of it overlooks the beautiful lake as in the above photo.

Hike Plan: Please carefully follow the Directions & GPS info below to our initial gathering spot at the Park Visitor Center. After introducing one another there (and assuring that each of our vehicles displays a valid GA-DNR Parking Pass - see below) we'll caravan in our vehicles about 1 mile southward to the gravel Iron Hill parking lot and trailhead (on the right) where we'll park again and reconvene for the hike. Toward the end of our clockwise loop route we'll include a short leftward spur to the campground and back - about 1/2 mile each way. From that spur's junction with the main trail we'll then continue via the main loop a short distance back to our cars in the Iron Hill parking lot - for a total of about 5 miles in our entire "loop + 2-way spur."

Brief History of the Iron Hill Area: Iron mining here goes back to before the American Revolution. Several attempts were made between the mid-1700s and 1837, all ending in failure. Jacob and Moses established the first furnace (a "bloomery") on Stamp Creek that year. Known as Etowah Bloomary, this forge was replaced in 1841. Mark Cooper bought the mill in 1843 and founded the the city of Etowah. Because of its ability to produce iron, the city was a major target of the Union Army during General Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. General Jacob Cox took the city as temporary commander of the XXIII Corps, Army of the Ohio, on May 26, 1864 after a brief battle. The destroyed city of Etowah was never rebuilt.

Iron Mining Pit located on the trail.

Riddle: Why is Red Top Mountain RED? (Hint: The answer is in both the Event Title and the Picture above.

Required Items to Bring:

Hiking shoes and water

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Hiking pole or poles and a snack

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

From the I-75/ I-285 Interchange in NW metro Atlanta:

1. Take I-75 North about 25 miles (beyond Marietta and Woodstock) to Exit #285, "Red Top Mountain Road."

2. Exit I-75 to your right, turn right onto Red Top Mtn Road, and drive about 1.9 miles to the State Park Visitor Center/ Trading Post on your left. GPS users can enter "659 Red Top Mtn Rd" as your destination address. We'll gather initially in that parking lot. Clean restrooms are available behind the Visitor Center. it's also is a good place to ask the Park Rangers for a free Trail Map and for the latest updates about trail conditions, etc.

3. As discussed above, after we gathering initially at the Visitor Center we'll caravan in our vehicles about 1 mile further to the gravel Iron Hill parking lot (whose entrance is on the right.side of Red Top Mtn Road.) For a zoomable map/ satellite view of the Trailhead vicinity click the square blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article.

PARKING PASSES: Each driver is responsible for paying the $5 per vehicle per day self-service State Park parking fee (or displaying instead from your rear-view mirror a valid annual GA-DNR parking pass - available for sale at the park Visitor Centers). See more in "Additional Notes" below.

Notes:

More about Parking in GA State Parks: Parking your vehicle in a GA State Park requires the displaying of a valid GA-DNR parking pass by hanging it from your interior rear view mirror. Drivers can purchase a "self-serve" daily pass (currently $5.00 and usually available in self-serve dispensers in the parking lots). Instead you can buy an annual pass at a Park Visitor Center (currently $50 per year but discounted to $25 for Seniors or $37 for Veterans). Many GA public libraries also have the annual passes which can be checked out at no charge (as you would a book) and used for up to 1 week.

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note: