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UID:143@atlantahikes.com
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20161029T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20161029T173000
DTSTAMP:20161024T022724Z
URL:https://www.atlantahikes.com/events/smithgall-woods-sp/
SUMMARY:Smithgall Woods State Park / Dukes Creek Falls - #_LOCATIONNAME - 2
 9 Oct 16 08:30
DESCRIPTION:Smithgall Woods – Dukes Creek Conservation Area is a state pa
 rk consisting of 5\,663 acres of mountain woodlands that rise along the Du
 kes Creek watershed.\n\nDate: Saturday\, October 29\, 2016\nTime: 8:30 am 
 at Intown Church\nDifficulty Level: D2 (easy)\nHiking Distance: 5 - 6 mile
 s\nCost: $10 per person\n\nLaurel Ridge Trail\nLocated adjacent to our Vis
 itor Center\, this interpretive trail is a moderate 1.6-mile loop that cli
 mbs to Laurel Ridge and provides a seasonal view of Mt. Yonah.\n\nAsh Cree
 k Trail\n1.5 mile one way\nThis rugged trail requires fording/wading Dukes
  Creek near the north end. The beauty of the Dukes Creek area and the larg
 e expanse of Georgia woodlands make this a noteworthy hike.\n\nCathy Ellis
  Trail\n0.5 mile one way\nAlso called the Chunanee Falls Trail\, this memo
 rial trail is in honor of Cathy Ellis\, who loved the north Georgia mounta
 ins. A plaque at the trailhead tells the historical significance of this 6
 40-acre tract. A moderate half-mile hike (mostly downhill) leads to a beau
 tiful waterfall on what is known as the Alabama Branch. A short wooden bri
 dge crosses a section of a historic water ditch\, part of the early gold m
 ining history. Deeply shaded by rhododendron\, the last 400 yards is along
 side a noisy stretch of Dukes Creek\, and is a cool retreat in warm weathe
 r.\n\nMartin's Mine Trail\n0.9 mile loop\nA wooden bridge across Dukes Cre
 ek begins this picturesque and historical trail. The 0.9-mile loop interpr
 ets the history of gold mining at this site. A vertical shaft of the earli
 er gold mining era is a focal point and provides a unique habitat for bats
 . A short extension from the main trail offers a view of a small\, but soo
 thing waterfall.\n\nWetland Loop Trail\n0.55 mile loop\nThis easy ½-mile 
 loop trail passes a beaver pond and wetland area. A boardwalk and large de
 ck provide a great spot for “birding” on the pond. Waterfowl and frogs
  are residents that hikers may see or hear.\n\nDukes Creek Falls Trail (Op
 tional)\n2 miles round trip\nIt is a series of three switchbacks that lead
  down to falls on Davis Creek at its confluence with Dukes Creek. There ar
 e water cascades on Dukes Creek While the pathway is remarkably level\, it
  descends more than 400 feet on the half-mile walk. The sound of the water
 fall can only be heard at the middle of each switchback\, fading as the ne
 xt turn approaches. Where the footpath switches back the sounds of the for
 est are louder than the falls. After the second switch the path now narrow
 s considerably. At the falls three more observation decks have been built 
 into a boardwalk. It's cool here\, courtesy of God's air conditioning.\n\n
 Required Items:\n1 - 2 liters of water.\nGood hiking shoes or tennis shoe
 s\nLayered clothing\nHat\nLunch and snacks\nDaypack\n\nRecommended Items:\
 nHiking poles or stick\nCamera\nSunglasses\n\n&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:Hiking
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