March 3, 2009
Chattooga River Trail - Ellicott Rock, SC/NC/GA
Today's hike was on the Chattooga River Trail in SC from Burrell's Ford Campground Parking lot to Ellicott Rock (the survey mark for NC/SC/GA). See history below
Directions
From Walhalla, take SC 28 north to SC 107. Turn right onto SC 107 and follow for 17 miles to Forest Service road 708 (Burrells Ford Road). Travel about 2 miles or so down this gravel road and park in the campground parking lot . Another great day for a hike! Hiking distance - approx. 7.8 miles
Conditions
Fair and cold with temperatures ranging from 19 to 38 degrees F.
Hikers (34)
- Along with our regular hikers today
- Doug Clayton
- Thomas Dunbar
- Dave Hinson
- Bill Hunt
- Jack Jacobi
- Linda Johnson
- Dick Metzgar
- Lani Meyer
- Bruce O'Connor
- Jeanne O'Connor
- Donna Presley
- Tony Presley
- Joe Raguckas
- Josh Rood
- Dan Ross
- Doug Russell
- Char Sinnock
- Pom Sinnock
- Dave Standard
- Eric Thompson
- Matt Wagner
- Carole Wintle
- the 35th parallel was accepted as Georgia's northern border
- but no one was exactly sure where it ran. Consequently
- but because neither state policed it
- which did nothing about it. In 1810
- though
- and hired Andrew Ellicott
- a noted surveyor from Pennsylvania
- to definitively establish the border. In 1811
- giving the disputed land to North Carolina. Ellicott Rock
- which can be reached only on foot
- marks the location
Birds identified
Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Dark-eyed Junco, Cedar Waxwings and Carolina Wren
Photos (19)
Parking at Burrell's Ford. The trailhead on Burrell's Ford Rd. We took the side trail up to Spoonauger Falls! icy! Frozen beauty! Fungus of the week! back by popular demand. Did I mention...It was cold? Crossing the bridge across the East Fork of the Chattooga River. Tricky, slippery crossing of Bad Creek. If you are missing one of these, we found it here. Many beautiful spots along the river. We finally reach the NC state line and historic Ellicott Rock. You have to scramble down a slippery slope to view the rock engravings. Here is the first survey mark (Commissioner's Rock). Engraved LAT 35 , A.D. 1813 , NC + SC About 15 feet north of the first rock is Ellicott Rock simply engraved N.C. Back down the river, we find our lunch spot for the day! Lunch on the rocks. Huge boulder in the river at our lunch spot. Lili "the trail dog" carries a big stick! The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r front) Tony Presley, Bruce O'Connor, Donna Presley, Dick Metzgar, Linda Johnson, Josh Rood, Doug Clayton, Coral Bass, Aurora Ziobrowski, Lani Meyer & Lili "the trail dog" . (standing l-r) Carole Wintle, Jack Jacobi, Doug Russell, Dan Ross, Pom Sinnock, Jeanne O'Connor, Char Sinnock, Joe Raguckas, Dave Hinson, Bill Hunt, Dave Standard, Matt Wagner, Eric Thompson, Thomas Dunbar.