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Northeast Georgia HikingNew & Old Friends Who Like to Hike

January 17, 2017

Lake Russell Trail & Sourwood Trail - GA

Today's hike was on the Lake Russell Loop Trail and Sourwood Loop Trail in the Lake Russell Recreation Area in Habersham County, GA

Trail information

The Lake Russell Loop is a very nice hike around the lake.(Listed 4.6 mi - our GPS 5.2 mi) The hike is rolling but mostly flat. The Sourwood Trail is more hilly and is listed 2.7 mi. loop (our GPS 3.2 mi) that leads up to Nancytown Falls with nice views of Nancytown Creek. The total mileage hiked today was 9.2 miles including the walk between the two trails

Directions

The Lake Russell Recreation Area is off the Dicks Hill Parkway East of Cornelia, at Mt. Airy, GA near the railroad bridge, turn onto the Lake Russell Recreation Area access road. Drive about 2.5 miles to the parking lot at Nancytown Lake. Another great day for a hike! Cloudy with early fog. Total distance - 9.2 mi

Conditions

Temperatures ranged from the mid 40's to the upper 50's F.

Hikers (27)

  • John Anderson
  • Jenny Bell
  • Mike Bell
  • John Bellamy
  • June Bellamy
  • Phil Brownrigg
  • Billy Chism
  • Ann Clark
  • Ray Clark
  • Joe Collins
  • Tim Hale
  • Bill Hunt
  • Deena Johns
  • Ronnie Johns
  • Bob Magee
  • Beth McDonald
  • Dick Metzgar
  • Dave Norton
  • Mary Lu Norton
  • Bruce O'Connor
  • Jeanne O'Connor
  • Terre Pratt
  • Tony Presley
  • Vic Robson
  • Linda Schultz
  • Carole Wintle
  • Jack Wintle

Birds identified

American Crow, Canada Geese, Pileated Woodpecker, Chickadee, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse. OTHER FAUNA - River Turtles, Squirrels

Photos (14)

  • Sign at the Nancytown Lake Parking area.
  • Early into the hike we cross a creek.
  • We exit the woods and have a quarter mile walk along the park road.
  • We pause at the swimming area and enjoy the mystical foggy view.
  • The trail is in good shape with several downed trees cleared off of the path.
  • We pass by the dam spillway of Lake Russell.
  • Nice view of Lake Russell from the earthen portion of the dam.
  • We pass by this well-constructed beaver dam.
  • We arrive at the Nancytown Lake Dam to finish the loop.
  • Next, we hike over to the picnic area between the two trails for lunch.
  • And finally, we hiked the Sourwood Trail loop up to Nancytown Falls.
  • We saw lots of Turtles resting on logs on Nancytown Lake.
  • Our path today.
  • The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r front kneeling)Ray Clark, Ann Clark, Dick Metzgar and Bruce O'Connor. (l-r back) Tony Presley, Bill Hunt, Phil Brownrigg, Linda Schultz, Billy Chism, Terre Pratt, Jenny Bell, Joe Collins, Beth McDonald, June Bellamy, Deena Johns, John Bellamy, Ronnie Johns, Tim Hale, Vic Robson, Mike Bell, Dave Norton, John Anderson, Carole Wintle, Jack Wintle, Jeanne O'Connor, Mary Lu Norton and Bob Magee. .

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