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April 11, 2023

Chicopee Woods - Bridge Loop and Lake Loop Trails

near Gainesville, GA

Distance
5.1 mi
Climbing
627 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Type
Loop
GPS track availableView on AllTrails →

A beautiful day for a hike of this well-maintained, easy trail just east of Gainesville in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. There were quite a few more wildflowers than we expected, a nice surprise. Squirt, we missed you today...and your human companions!

The route

5.1 mi · 627 ft climbing · 3h 32m out, 2h 50m walking · 1.8 mph moving

Elevation

Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.

1,185 ft975 ft0.0 mi1.3 mi2.5 mi3.8 mi5.1 mi
  • 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 (23)

  • Very nice suspension bridge on the Bridge Trail over Walnut Creek
  • Today's hikers: (L-R): Mike, Ray, John, Sue, Bruce, Jeanne, Ken, Gita, Jenny, Jack, Vic, Gerald, Doris, Charles, Beth & Edwin.
  • Getting started at the trailhead.
  • A nice surprise at the start of the hike, a Pinxter (Rhododendron canescens).
  • A really large oak along the first part of our hike.
  • Lots of ferns popping out today.
  • On of our first Trillium seen today, a white form of a Red Trillium.
  • We also saw a fair number of these Catesby Trillium scattered along the trail.
  • We think a Violet Wood Sorrel, but no blooms to help confirm.
  • A nice cluster of Jack-in-the-Pulpits.
  • A view of an unnamed tributary to Walnut Creek and one of many bridges. No wet crossing on this hike.
  • A old, now breached, dam on that same tributary to Walnut Creek.
  • On of several nice example of Yellow Buckeye seen along the trail.
  • There were a few Toadshade Trillium still in bloom.
  • The trail goes around the lake/reservoir at the southern end of the loop.
  • Got some beaver on this reservoir, too!
  • Some False Hellebore
  • Wild Geranium
  • One of two examples of galls found on the hike.
  • Ever seen the inside of a gall?
  • We lucked up and found a few Mayapples in bloom.
  • Headed back.
  • Lyreleaf Sage.