Cherokee Hiking Club
198 Crews Drive, Benton, TN 37307

Rhododendrum Trail Dayhike
Sunday, June 13, 2010

Brief Description:  This is a lovely, newly built trail which extends from the Thunder Rock/Ocoee Powerhouse#3 and follows the Ocoee coming out at the picnic area just below the Ocoee Whitewater Center.  It is a very easy, (handicap accessible) walk with a beautiful section of board walk that juts out over the river where you can halt and gander at rafters and kayakers floating by.

Length:  2.5 miles

Difficulty Rating: Easy

Elevation Gain: minimal

        Hike Leader:  Jane Bohannon, 745-9534 or cell 381-8388

Directions to the Trailhead:   

Carpooling directions: we will meet the Athens and Etowah area hikers in the Bi-Lo parking lot in Etowah at 1:30 PM.  Hikers in the Cleveland area meet at the Ocoee Hardee’s at 1:45 PM and car pool from there.  I will not be meeting the Ocoee Hardee’s group until I see you at the trail head.  If not carpooling, please meet at the trailhead at 2:30 PM.  

Directions to the trailhead:  Your turn off of Highway 64 will be at the Thunder Rock Campground sign, which directs you across a bridge.  After crossing the bridge you will see the trail head sign on the left.  A large trail head parking lot is across the gravel road near the Thunder Rock Campground entrance.

Trail Description: This is a lovely, newly built 1.2 mile trail extending from the Thunder Rock/Ocoee Powerhouse #3 and follows the Ocoee coming out at the picnic area just below the Ocoee Whitewater Center.  It is a very easy, (handicap accessible) walk with a beautiful section of board walk that juts out over the river where you can halt and gander at rafters and kayakers floating by.

Post Trip Report: .  Nine hikers enjoyed the sunny weather for the 2.75 mile hike from Ocoee Powerhouse #3 to the Ocoee Whitewater Center.  Along the way we saw several white rhododendron (rhododendron maximum), little brown jugs, foamflowers, wild hydrangea, and a few rafters and picnickers.  We also did some playing in the river.  After touring the Whitewater Center where we enjoyed trail information pamphlets, popsicles, and ice cream we hiked back, played in the water some more and observed a five foot long black snake slithering along the trail.  Hiking club members  were:  Jane Bohannon (leader), Clayton Pannell, Joanne Jackson, Rebecca and Brenden Levings. Guests were: Rhonda and Emily Morgan, and Robin and Sarah Steele.

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