Powers Island Trail: Hiking the Chattahoochee River

Ok, have lots to say but want to make it understandable and usable and memorable so if I go again I'll be prepared.  It costs $3 to park here, it is also part of the Chattahoochee River NRA Annual Pass ($35/year).  This parking lot has an automated and a cash payment station.  It is right off of 285 near 75 in Sandy Springs.

I looked at a trail map online and then glanced at the one that was posted at the start but got a little befuddled and turned around (now granted, that is easy for me to do so don't let it scare you).  Anyway, if you look towards the back of the parking lot there is an entrance at the right corner (with the big visible map) and another at the left corner that is not as visible.  The pups and I of course went to the big sign which was fine but then reading the rest of the maps throughout the trail we got a little turned around...no biggie though because it's not a huge trail.

It was beautiful...a little narrow so we stopped to the side to let the few people we met get past.  The loop up the hill was pretty steep and narrow too but fun.  There weren't a lot of places to sit unless you found a log or a rock to sit on.  We took a few of the off shoot trails but there seemed to be more that may have offered different views but we enjoyed all that we saw.  The extended trail off the lower loop was really nice and had lots of views of the river and we saw ducks and herons.  Lily also found a dead rat - lovely, but at least it wasn't alive and didn't scamper across my feet!

On a side note, of course I had to pick up after one of my dogs (no names) so tried the bag/tie it and then seal it in a zip lock and put it in my back pack, seemed to work ok but I think I want to double zip lock it next time, and I forgot about it and left it in my back pack, should have disposed of it when I got to the garbage cans at the parking lot.

There is another part of the trail that we just walked a little beside the river, it was the other part of the loop we missed that I will definitely do next time.  And we walked across to the island but didn't walk to the end of that part either so will add that next time:-)

Red Top Mountain's Iron Hill Trail

Googled Red Top Mountain Park and found a bunch of hiking options to try out today!  I printed out a map of the trails at the park and researched as much as I could online and decided on this one to try today.  This was my first time to the park so there is always a learning curve.

It's a Georgia State Park so requires payment to park.  I had Jake and Lily so couldn't really go in the Visitor's Center or the Park Office so I found the parking lot at the start of the trail.  There was a self serve pay box in the parking lot, yay!  It only took cash or check?!?  What?  Who has cash now a days and I'm not sure about the check option either!  Anyway, I scrounged up $5 and put it in the envelope.  I removed the hang tag that was attached and placed it on my rear view mirror.  Then I crammed the envelope in the little slit in the box.

Doggies and I were ready to hike!  Oh, and I forgot to tell you, the weather was perfect - 70 degrees, little cloud cover and absolutely beautiful for the middle of December - but around here you can never tell what you're gonna get so get out while you can!

This trail was blazed blue (lol, had no idea what that meant when I read it but then I kept seeing splotches of blue paint on trees, showing us the way to go, hence it was blazed blue).  Along the way there were arrows and signs occasionally so it was an easy trail to follow but I'm glad I had looked it over on the map before going, there were a few off shoots that may have taken us astray.

When I walk I use an app called Map my Walk which is awesome because it basically keeps up your pace and how far you've been and you can look at it and see that you are going the right direction for the most part.

It was beautiful and peaceful and an easy hike for the dogs and for me.  They love to stop and smell.  I just love to look around, stop occasionally and listen to the quiet and little bits of nature.  I guess different times of year will be different but all the leaves were down and it was easy to see all around.  Just so calming, so grounding, and definitely a trail to be explored again.

Just some more tips, since I walk with my dogs I do pick up their poop. There were no garbage cans along the way but there were some by the parking area so while it doesn't bother me to carry my dog's poop I am some times self conscious of that fact when I pass others and I'm holding the bag - better there though than on their shoes! I did just investigate some options...some websites say its okay to bury the poo, or there are options for carrying it out, which heavy duty hikers apparently do with their own poo if necessary - who knew?!  Anyway, I'll try some out and let you know the final verdict on that little predicament when I see what works best for us.  I'm always up to hear others suggestions because different strokes for different folks is one of my many mottos!

All for now but my favorite links for trails right now are

www.atlantatrails.com

www.traillink.com

www.gastateparks.org