Chattahoochee Jones Bridge-Backpacking Practice Hike

If you are planning a back-packing trip in near future then this is the chance to practice or test your weight carrying capacity. Please bring full back-pack or equivalent weight in your pack as we will do full loop including an extra .25 mile. With the heavy pack, the pace would would be anything from slow to moderate.

You can still sign up if you just want to hike without a backpack. In that case it would be a D2 event for those without pack and D4 event for those with back-pack. I rated this hike as D3 hike, a compromise between D4 and D2 hikers. 

There is about 550 of ascent/elevation gain feet over the entire route.  That isn't that difficult on flat ground though, and about 90% of this trail is flat.  But we won't rush through it and will stop to take pics and for snack break and at overlooks, etc.  But we should be able to make it from the northern end of the park and back in about 2.5hrs to 3hrs.

The Jones Bridge unit of the Chattahooche National Recreation Area is a beautiful park with a lot of variety. We get the river views, hike up some small hills, through some open fields and beside a lake. 

There is a $3 parking fee if you don't have an annual pass.  Also note that there are two entrances to the park...one is usually gated but other one farther north off Barnwell is is open and where we are meeting...see more detailed directions below.

From GA 400, take exit 7a, and head East 4.1 miles through the intersection of Holcomb Bridge and Nesbitt Ferry Road to the junction of Barnwell Road. Turn left on Barnwell Rd, and travel approx 2 miles to the park (big sign) which will be on the right. Turn in and go a little over 1/2 mile to large parking lot at the very end of the road.

http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/jonesbridge.htm


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There is a $3 parking fee if you don't have an annual pass.