Cherokee Hiking Club
198 Crews Drive, Benton, TN 37307

Athens Regional Park Dayhike
Sunday, January 18, 2009

Brief Description:   This is a fairly short easy trail in the Athens Regional Park just to the east of where TN30 crosses I-75 at Athens. This trail is also used by mountain bikers.

Length:  3.1 miles

Difficulty Rating: Easy

Elevation Gain: Minimal, 250 feet

        Hike Leader:  Jane Bohannon, 745-9534 or 381-8388(c)

        Trail Map   

        GPS Route of Our Hike       

        Elevation Profile of the Trail

        Trailhead Access Map

Other Useful Links:    http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Athens_Regional_0000.asp   

Directions to the Trailhead:  See Google map link above. Click the Trailhead Access Map button.  
From Cleveland:  take I-75 North to first Athens exit, then turn right onto Hwy 30 toward Athens.  The park is approximately 1 mile on the right. 
From Etowah:  take Hwy 30 through Athens all the way to the park.  The park is approximately 1 mile on the left from the Hwy 11 (Congress Parkway) & Hwy 30 (Decatur Pike) intersection.
    Plan to meet at the trailhead at 2PM. The mountain bike/hiking parking lot is the first turn to the left after entering the park.  This trail has its ups and downs and scenic views in woodland, an open field, and paved area around the lake.  It is a hike around the perimeter of the park and along North Mouse Creek where beaver are sometimes seen. 

Trail Description: This trail was created for mountain biking, but is open to hikers. We will start by hiking on a trail by the pond. Then we will hike the trail itself. What follows is our route in reverse. This description is from a mountain biking site. The start of the trail is a short steep section with a couple of switch backs. The trail splits at the top, both ways are about the same distance and they come back together shortly. The trail the follows the ridge until it gets to a radio tower, then starts back down toward the creek. Here it splits again. You can either choose downhill (better for hikers) or Roller Coaster (great for bikers). At the bottom, you follow the creek. This is the highlight of the trail. You follow the creek all the way back close to the parking lot. This is the most scenic part. The park has restrooms. The trailhead is on the left as you enter the park. (Description from the Chattanooga Area Singletrack Alliance website)

Post Trip Report: Eight club members hiked the 3.1 miles on this sunny afternoon with temperatures in the mid fifties.  This was a pleasant surprise weatherwise, since snow showers/rain showers were forecast.  We saw nice evergreens.  Two species were of particular interest – a couple of Oregon Grape shrubs and also a couple of Nandeenas one of which was blessed with many red berries.  This was a joint hike with the Hiwassee and Cherokee Hiking Clubs and in conjunction with the Athens Park and Recreation  Department.  Participants were:  Ann Gray, Bob and Effaleda Lee, Jennifer Schroll, Dottie and Steve Kidd, Becky Levings, and Jane Bohannon.~submitted by Jane Bohannon

~submitted by Jane Bohannon

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