February 26, 2019
Tugaloo Bend and Lower Panther Creek Trail, GA
This week's hike was on the trails of the Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site and the Lower portion of the Panther Creek Trail in Stephens County County, GA
Trail information
The Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site in Stephens County offers nice nature trails for visitors to enjoy. The River Loop takes the hiker down by the Tugaloo River for a nice flat relaxing walk with nice views of the river and the wetland area and several picnic tables along the path. The Upland Loop trail is a beautiful walk up the higher elevation of the property featuring some nice mountain views especially in the Fall and Winter seasons along with several rest stops with benches. The third trail is a very nice paved handicapped accessible trail from the outdoor pavillion to an observation deck overlooking the wetland area of the property. From here there is an extension that takes you along the wetland area of the property
Directions
From East Tugalo St. in Toccoa, GA Turn onto Prather Bridge Rd. (Hwy. 184) and contine 5.2 miles and continue straight onto Yonah Dam Rd. and continue 2.3 miles to Tugaloo Bend on the right. (2104 Yonah Dam Rd.) Another great day for a hike! - Terrain is rated easy on the River Loop and Moderate on the Upland Loop with considerable elevation change. Distance hiked - 3.3 miles for the 3 trails then 1 mile on the lower Panther Creek Trail. WILD
Conditions
Mostly to partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid to upper 40's F.
Hikers (13)
- Jenny Bell
- Mike Bell
- Renee Corbett
- Angela Evans
- Tim Hale
- Julia Kennedy
- Bob Magee
- Bruce O'Connor
- Jeanne O'Connor
- Tony Presley
- Vic Robson
- Carole Wintle
- Jack Wintle
Flowers in bloom
Trout Lily
Birds identified
Carolina Wren, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Crow and Tufted Titmouse
Photos (15)
Parking at Tugaloo Bend Park. Starting out on the Upland Trail. The trails are in excellent shape and easy to follow! Here is a mud hut replica project constructed with the help of Stephens Co. School students. We are now on the trail that passes alongside the wetland area. Our next trail The Tugaloo River Buddy, the Caretakers dog hiked with us. He is very friendly and energetic! Also loves to be petted! Our path at Tugaloo Bend. Next, we drive up the road a few miles to the lower end of the Panther Creek Trail near Yonah Dam. We saw hundreds of Trout Lilies blooming. Beautiful Panther Creek flows into the Tugaloo River about a mile south of here. Our path on Panther Creek Our Elevation Profiles. The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r) Renee Corbett, Julia Kennedy, Jenny Bell, Bob Magee, Angela Evans, Bruce O'Connor, Jeanne O'Connor, Mike Bell and "Buddy", Jack Wintle, Carole Wintle, Tim Hale, Vic Robson and Tony Presley.