October 22, 2024
Coosa Bald & North Coosa Backcountry Loop Trail
near Vogel State Park
Today, we had continuing mild and sunny weather with early signs of fall. However, the extended dryness and near freezing weather in this area left quite a few leaves over a mostly unobstructed, but rocky trail. This was a moderate difficult to strenuous hike due to the two, 2-mile long, fairly steep climbs at the beginning and end of the hike, not to forget the 4-mile continuous, sometimes steep, decent between those climbs. The view from Coosa Bald, although limited to the southwest, is worth the short diversion as it is the only overlook on this hike. Despite the challenges, this is a hike in a beautiful forest. Just a very few wildflowers today.
Today's Hikers: Jane Brown, Renee Corbett, Pam Hembree, Jenny Bell, Mike Bell & Linda Shultz.
The route
8.5 mi · 1,867 ft climbing · 5h 32m out, 4h 51m walking · 1.7 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
21 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (21)
Our view to the southwest from Coosa Bald. Today's hikers (L-R): Jane, Renee, Pam, Jenny, Mike & Linda. Starting from the Wolf Pen Gap trailhead. Just six of us today. It's a 2-mile climb from here to Coosa Bald. Some of the red colors of young maples and oaks seen along the trail. Really large leaves on that one. Lots of these Blue Wood Aster. "You mean we could have driven up here?" The Coosa Ridge Trail crosses Duncan Ridge Road. Keep going up. Pretty rocky, too. Taking a short break on Coosa Bald. Continuing on the Coosa Backcountry Trail. Lunch time. We found the grain pattern of this old log we were sitting on quite curious. A few yellow colors showing through too with this Chestnut Oak? (top) and American Chestnut (bottom). A nice Rhododendron tunnel. This large Poplar?? toward the end of our hike caught our attention. A little tired Jenny? Almost walked past this Soapwort Gentian hanging out on the trail. Fungus of the day. Southern Ground Cedar (aka Lycopodium or Fan Club Moss). So green when everything else was drying up. So what happened guys? You missed a good hike with five beautiful lady hikers. Up and down West Wolf Creek, our lowest elevation. Still another 2.2 mile climb to finish our hike. A Sourwood shining through the forest toward the end of our hike.