BOWMANS ISLAND UNIT and LAUREL RIDGE TRAIL

8.5 MILE HIKE - FROM LOWER POOL WEST PARK TO BUFORD TROUT HATCHERY AND RETURN TO LOWER POOL WEST PARK.  THEN CONTINUE ON THE LAUREL RIDGE TRAIL

We’ll start our hike promptly at 8:00am.  Please arrive a few minutes early to ensure you have a parking pass  and meet your fellow hikers. (there are restrooms, not sure if they will be open).  I have alloted 3 1/2 hours although hoping to come in closer to three.

We will begin our hike where the Chattahoochee River is released from the south side of Lake Lanier.  We’ll walk at a moderate pace (about 2.5 mph) through some forest hills and along the river and make our way down to the Buford Trout Hatchery.  Here we’ll take a few minutes to check out the fish and utilize the toilets, if they are available.  If time allows we will walk the Hatchery nature trail to get a bit more mileage.  We will return to Lower Pool West Park repeating much of the trail we used to get to the Hatchery.  Highlights of the hike include:  varied terrain/environment (dry hills, ridges, lush flats by River), water features (creeks, River), fish hatchery, wildlife (deer often sighted).

We will meet in the parking lot of Lake Lanier’s “Lower Pool West Park” site, not to be confused with either “Lower Pool East” or “Lower Overlook”.   Lower Pool West Park is immediately below/south of the lake at the dam, on the west side of the river.  Lower Pool West Park is accessed from Buford Dam Road via “Lower Pool Road”.  On the north side of Buford Dam Road is a street sign for “Lower Pool Road”.  The approximate latitude/longitude for the turnoff from Buford Dam Road into the park are:  N 34.16284 W 84.07703.  The entrance does not look like a park entrance.  As you turn onto Lower Pool Road you’ll see substantial utility station equipment.  But, you’ll also see a sign welcoming you to the park. 

WARNING:  MAPS MAY SUGGEST THAT THIS ROAD IS CALLED “LITTLE MILL ROAD”.  YOU ARE ADVISED NOT TO ASK YOUR GPS TOOL FOR DIRECTIONS TO LITTLE MILL ROAD.  MOST GPS APPS SHOULD ACCEPT A REQUEST FOR DIRECTIONS TO LOWER POOL WEST PARK.

Shortly after turning onto “Lower Pool Road” you will encounter a kiosk (which may not be manned due to COVID19) at which you can purchase a Corps of Engineers parking pass for $5.  Alternatively, you can display your current Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area pass. Best option is to go to this website and purchase a daily or annual pass   https://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/fees.htm Annual pass is a great deal as it gets you access to all of the CRNRA parks (Sope Creek, Island Ford, Gold Branch, West Palisades and more)

Drive down the road.  We’ll meet in the first parking lot, on your right if there is room, if not park closer to the dam by the restrooms.

There are restrooms “around the bend” from our meeting point, maybe 50 yards beyond the parking lot we’ll be using.  There are also restrooms at the ~ ½ way point, though no assurance that these will be open.  

Social Distancing and courtesy to your fellow hikers required.  Masks optional.

AOC limit on this event is 10 hikers - ocassionally (if everybody logs in at once and registers at once) the system has a glitch and may allow more than 10 hikers on the event.  If this does happen I am obligated to keep to the 10 limit and remove the last ones that signed up.  I get notification of time you register and to be fair the first 10 are the only ones that I keep on the roster.  

If any trouble finding the LOWER POOL parking area call me - DIANA   678- 759-9732