Chattahoochee National Forest: Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area (Blog Hike #186)

Trails: Lake, Slaughter Creek, Appalachian, and Jarrard Gap Trails

Hike Location: Chattahoochee National Forest, Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area

Geographic Location: north of Dahlonega, GA (34.73786, -83.97277)

Length: 6.9 miles

Difficulty: 8/10 (Moderate/Difficult)

Dates Hiked: November 2005, April 2015

Overview: A steady ascent to the Appalachian Trail followed by a beautiful ridgetop walk.

Area Information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recreation/ohv/recarea/?recid=10528&actid=78

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=720237
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Dahlonega, take US 19 north 8 miles to its intersection with SR 60.  Turn left on SR 60.  Take SR 60 5 miles to the town of Suches, where it intersects SR 180.  Turn right on SR 180, and drive it east 4.5 miles to the signed entrance for the Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area.  Turn right to enter the area, and pay the small day-use fee at the gate.  Park in the signed trailhead parking area, which is on the left just before you get to the lake.

The hike: Tucked at the head of a small valley beside one of Georgia’s tallest mountains, Lake Winfield Scott today provides a pleasant retreat that gives little indication of its logging past.  Indeed, while the steep slopes of nearby Blood Mountain were largely inaccessible, the recreation area and the area along Slaughter Creek saw significant logging activity in the early 1900’s.

            The only remnant of those days is the old logging road that follows the north side of Slaughter Creek to Slaughter Gap.  Today the roar of chainsaws and rumble of logging trucks have been replaced by chirping songbirds, buzzing electric tolling motors, and rustling of squirrels through fallen leaves.  The 18-acre lake was created by a dam now used by SR 180 to cross the creek.  The lake offers excellent trout fishing and also features a small beach near a pair of picnic shelters on the northeast shore.  The site also includes a small campground offering both primitive and hook-up camping.

            The recreation area also has some fabulous hiking opportunities.  In particular, the lake is the starting point for one of the best short Appalachian Trail (AT) loop hikes in Georgia.  At only 6.9 miles, this hike can easily be completed in a day, plus the trails form a loop, so there is no backtracking.  Even without the added attraction of the AT, this loop would form a moderate, well-maintained hike offering spectacular fall foliage viewing in late October and early November.

Trailhead: Lake Winfield Scott

            Begin at a sign that says “hiking trail” located beside the paved forest road on the east side of the campground road bridge over Slaughter Creek.  The wide path initially passes through some scrubby brush beside the campground before taking a sharp left and heading into the more mature forest.  The trail heading straight ahead at this turn and crossing a wooden bridge leads to the campground.  Take a few minutes to read the information board located just inside the forest, as it tells of some recent trail relocations.

Bridge over Slaughter Creek

            At 0.2 miles, the trail crosses Slaughter Creek on a narrow wooden bridge.  While several crossings of Slaughter Creek were required in the past, the trail has recently been relocated to eliminate all but this one.  50 yards after crossing the bridge, the trail intersects a gravel road.  Turning left on the gravel road would lead back to the lake, while turning right leads to the Jarrard Gap Trail, our return route.  Take a minute to become familiar with this intersection, as you will need to find it again in a couple of hours.  Continue straight to follow the Slaughter Creek Trail, which is blazed with blue rectangles painted on trees.

            The trail begins to climb the hillside with the mountain on the right and the creek on the left.  After the first brief climb, the trail curves left, dropping to cross a tributary of Slaughter Creek on a bridge.  The trail next curves right and begins climbing again, this time through a rhododendron choked ravine.  Slaughter Creek can be heard but usually not seen in the valley to the left.

Climbing on Slaughter Creek Trail

            The trail skirts around another ravine and then climbs moderately to reach a sunny dell with a dense understory of ferns.  From this point on, the forest opens up, allowing for some views of the surrounding mountains.  At 2 miles, the trail enters the Blood Mountain Wilderness.  At 2.2 miles, the trail crosses another small tributary, this time without the aid of a bridge.  Just after this crossing, a large rock beside the trail makes a perfect place to sit and rest before tackling the hardest part of this hike.

Slaughter Creek Trail's rocky upper end

            The trail stays level for a short section, then curves right and tackles the slope head on.  Following a brief steep section, the trail switches back to the right and continues climbing.  Large rocks jut out of the hillside to the left, but the trail remains easy to follow, avoiding the bare rocks.  The rock you sat on earlier is now downhill to the right.  Another 0.2 miles of climbing and passing rocks will cause you to arrive at the Appalachian Trail, where the Slaughter Creek Trail ends.

            The AT heading uphill to the left leads 0.75 difficult miles to Blood Mountain, the highest point along the AT in Georgia.  This hike could be lengthened by following the AT over Blood Mountain to its intersection with the Freeman Trail in Flatrock Gap, then turning right on the Freeman Trail, which traverses the south face of Blood Mountain to reconnect with the AT in Gray’s Gap.  Our hike will turn right on the AT and head directly for Gray’s Gap, by-passing Blood Mountain.

Starting down the AT

            The AT heads gently downhill with the hillside on the left and Slaughter Creek ravine on the right.  Views of Slaughter Mountain can be had to the right, and the prevalence of hardwood trees in this area make for great fall foliage views along this section of the AT.  After 0.2 miles of gentle descending, the trail descends more steeply to arrive at Gray’s Gap.  The Freeman Trail mentioned above exits to the left and some designated campsites can be found on the right.  A spur trail marked by a sign indicating “shelter” also exits to the right.  You should continue straight ahead to stay on the AT.

Descending on the AT

            The trail leaves Gray’s Gap, climbing moderately to cross a small knob.  This knob provides some of the best views of the hike, as you can look down either to the left or right to see the surrounding scenery.  Past the knob, the trail curves to the left side of the ridge line, so views now open up to the left rather than the right.  The trail now descends to Horsebone Gap, a small low area in the ridge with no facilities or trail intersections but nice views in either direction.

            The trail climbs briefly from Horsebone Gap to top the final knob before beginning a rather steep descent toward Jarrard Gap.  As the trail levels out, making its entrance to the gap, you will pass a pair of campsites before intersecting a gravel jeep road and coming to a sign announcing your arrival to the gap.  The jeep road goes downhill in both directions, but the Jarrard Gap Trail begins on the jeep road heading to the right.  After only 50 yards, the trail leaves the road to the left; watch for the blue blazes so that you don’t miss this turn.

Starting down the Jarrard Gap Trail

            The Jarrard Gap Trail begins the last leg of the journey back to the lake with a stiff descent into a steep and narrow ravine.  The trail crosses the upper reaches of Lance Branch, a tributary of Slaughter Creek, on stepping stones.  The descent now moderates as the trail follows the left side of the rhododendron-choked ravine, maintaining a level elevation above the creek.  0.4 miles from Jarrard Gap, the trail briefly joins and then leaves an old road, dropping steeply toward the creek on the right.  In another 0.2 miles, the trail comes out at a gravel road.

Descending through rhododendron

            Turn right on this gravel road, then take an immediate left when the road forks.  The right option is the lower end of the jeep road that you saw in the gap.  Bear right at the next intersection as you pass the campground entrance road to your left.  Keep your eye out for the Slaughter Creek Trail, which crosses the road rather discreetly just after the turn by the campground.  An intersection with the Slaughter Creek Trail indicates that you have closed the loop.  Turn left on the Slaughter Creek Trail to return to the lake.

            Once back at the lake, if you are up for a little more hiking, consider taking on the Lake Trail, an easy 0.5 mile trip around Lake Winfield Scott.  Begin on the gravel road across the main park road from the Slaughter Creek Trail.  In 0.1 miles, the road ends at a picnic shelter with a small swimming area in the lake on the left.  Go around the shelter and pick up the dirt trail on the other side as it enters the forest.  Pass a few more picnic tables and come to a trail intersection at 0.2 miles.  The trail going straight ahead leads back to the park road.  The Lake Trail turns left, crosses a feeder stream for the lake on a wooden bridge, and passes a nice plaque honoring John Muir, one of the early pioneers of conservation.

Lake Winfield Scott

            The trail narrows and clings to the hillside only a couple feet above the lake.  Some nice views of the opposite shore can be had, and a few bright red trees really stand out in the fall.  At 0.35 miles, the trail comes out at SR 180.  Turn left and cross the dam and spillway using the highway bridge.  Watch carefully for traffic: there is not much traffic out here, but the bridge is narrow, and one car could cause a frightening situation.

            On the opposite side of the bridge, turn left and enter a parking area that would make an alternate beginning point for this hike.  Pass a fishing pier on the right en route to the far end of the parking area.  At this point, the trail leaves the parking area via a paved, wheelchair accessible route.  Some wooden swings make for great spots to rest and look at the lake and the surrounding mountains.  At 0.6 miles, the paved trail ends at the park road.  Turn left on the park road, cross Slaughter Creek on the park road bridge, and arrive back at the beginning of the Slaughter Creek Trail to complete the hike.