Red Top Iron Hill Trail / Ghost Campground (Last Minute)

sponsor

Print-Friendly Version

Add this event to your calendar (Outlook, iCalendar)

Add REGISTRATION REMINDER to your calendar

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

Red Top Iron Hill Trail / Ghost Campground (Last Minute)

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Iron Hill Trail head in Red Top Mountain State Park

Hike: Red Top Iron Hill Trail / Ghost Campground (Last Minute)

Date(s) & Time:

Mon, Jan 23 2023 10:00 am >> Mon, Jan 23 2023 12:30 pm

Registration Opens:

Sat, Jan 21 2023 4:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Mon, Jan 23 2023 8:00 am

Event Duration:

2 Hours 30 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Distance:

6 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Holt Ward

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

10 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Lets hike the Iron Hill Trail and visit an old abandoned campground that is tucked back in the woods. We will meet at the Iron Hill trailhead located in Red Top Mountain State Park near Cartersville. The trail head is about a mile past the park visitors center. We will proceed out the Iron Hill trail which is a shared hike/bike trail. Along the way we will detour off the main trail and visit an abandoned iron ore open pit mine where we can see and learn a little about the mining industry that operated in Bartow County over a century ago.

Back to the main trail, we will proceed to a rarely used trail out an peninsula that juts well out into Lake Allatoona. At the end of the peninsula is a small secret beach with beautiful lake views that appears to only be used by boaters. Along the hike out to the beach, we will be traveling through an old abandoned campground that appears to have been last used 30 years ago or more. The woods are littered with reminders of when that campground was operating including the remnants of picnic tables, outdoor grills and a couple of old abandoned bathhouses which appear to be used now by local area animals. In total we will hike about 2.5 miles on this “secret” peninsula before rejoining the main trail. The peninsula portion of the hike may include some off-trail hiking which may not be everyone's cup of tea so be forewarned.

We will complete the Iron Hill loop and along the way see beautiful views of the lake and additional remnants of the Iron mining industry along the way. In total our hike will cover between 6 and 6.5 miles. The terrain on the loop trail is relatively flat however the secret peninsula will have some minor climbs and use of shall we say somewhat rustic trails along the way. This is a State Park so parking is $5 or use of an annual state park parking pass.

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

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Take I-75 North towards Cartersville.

Exit onto Red Top Mountain Road (exit 285)

Turn right at end of ramp and proceed approximately 2.8 miles along Red Top Mountain Road.

The Iron Hill trailhead parking is on your right.

Notes:

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

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