Red Top Mountain

Red Top Mountain State Park Trail Map 17 3 1 P a rk Mari oad Red Top Mountain #2 Lo d g Ro ad AH OW Roa d Top Re Rd . d Top ain unt Mo a Ro Mo untain 500 1,000 Exit 278 Glade Rd. d R ad Ro Feet 2,000 Entrance #2 R e di an Log Cabin Boat Dock ry er Top 0 VE r ina Road Ma Park Re ed RI Cottage Road ET 2 #1 #4 na R 7 5 Park Marina – Boat Rentals 15 9 6 4 #5 B e ac h Bethany Cem. te Ga Wheelchair Access Tennis Miniature Golf Webster ’ s F 50 Lodge Road, S.E. • Acworth, GA 30102 • park: 770-975-0055 • reservations: 1-800-864-7275 • GeorgiaStateParks.org 18 13 11 8 #6 #3 Picnic Shelter Group Shelter Cottage Campground Pioneer Camping Area Boat Ramp Beach ng 14 12 10 #2 Iron Hill Park Office Parking Phone Restrooms Visitor Center Picnic Area L 16 #7 #1 Unpaved Road Paved Road White Tail Trail Visitor Center Loop Trail Sweet Gum Trail Lakeside Trail Iron Hill Trail Homestead Trail Campground Trail Allatoona Lake I-75 To rsville te Car 6 mi. Entrance #1 Do ck d Safety Tips & Etiquette • Tell someone your itinerary and expected return time. Red Top Mountain State Park is a very popular park located on 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona and is ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent from nearby marinas. More than 15 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, providing opportunities for exercise and exploring a reconstructed 1860s homestead. A 0.75-mile paved trail behind the Park Office is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, and the new 3.9-mile Iron Hill Trail is open to both hikers and bikers. Named for the soil’s rich red color caused by high iron-ore content, Red Top Mountain was once an important mining area for iron. • Be prepared for unexpected weather changes by dressing in layers and carrying rain gear. HOMESTEAD TRAIL (counter-clockwise) 1050 1000 950 900 850 0 2 Miles 3 4 1100 Visitor Center Loop Trail 1050 This beautiful trail begins one hundred yards down the beginning of the Sweet Gum Trail from the Visitor Center parking area. The Sweet Gum Trail will bear sharp left and the Visitor Center Loop will bear sharp right. Shaded hardwood forest, a small spring fed stream, and two viewing/relaxation platforms can be enjoyed. Trail is blazed green and is not accessible to bicycles. 1000 950 900 850 0 0.75 Miles 0.75 mile loop | Compacted Soil Surface | Moderate LODGE LOOP TRAIL (counter-clockwise) 1100 Lakeside Trail 1100 1050 1050 1000 1000 950 950 900 900 0 1 Miles 2 3 850 3.9 mile loop | Gravel Surface | Moderate 0 0.75 Miles 0.75 mile loop | Paved Surface | Easy White Tail Trail This trail begins at the Park Office parking area and shares a trailhead with the Sweet Gum Trail. The Whitetail Trail then turns off the Sweet Gum Trail and runs north to the end of a scenic point at the edge of Lake Allatoona. WHITE TAIL TRAIL SWEETGUM LODGE LOOP TRAIL (counter-clockwise) 1100 1050 1000 1100 950 1050 900 1000 850 950 0 Miles 1 3.5 mile loop | Compacted Soil Surface | Moderate 900 0 Miles This trail begins at the front porch of the park Visitor Center, turns north for one mile, crosses Lodge Road and then makes a 3.5 mile loop through some of the most beautiful areas of the park. The loop portion follows the lakeshore for approximately half its length. Completion of the loop brings the hiker back to the same one mile route to the front porch. This trail is named after one of several homesteads which were once located in the loop portion. Trail is blazed yellow and is not accessible to bicycles. VISITOR CENTER LOOP TRAIL (counter-clockwise) The parking lot for this trail is located off Red Top Mountain Road, on the right a half mile past the campground. It is a graveled trail that is accessible to both hikers and bicycles. From the parking lot, follow the directional signs to the trailhead. This scenic trail is a loop that winds along the banks of the lake through a historic area that was once home to an active iron mining community in the mid 1800s. Along the way you will have the opportunity to observe both native wildlife and a profusion of native plants. IRON HILL BIKE TRAIL 850 1 5.5 mile loop | Compacted Soil Surface | Moderate Iron Hill Bike Trail 850 Homestead Trail 1100 0.5 0.5 mile, one way | Compacted Soil Surface | Moderate This short paved trail starts at the Park Office parking lot and makes a loop around on the shore of Lake Allatoona. It is ADA accessible trail for the entire length. A focal point is the 1869 Vaughan cabin located right along the trail. Visitors enjoy special programs held at the cabin as well as relaxing on the benches along the trail and shoreline. Trail is not blazed and no bicycles are allowed. • Take a map, water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight and whistle. Three short blasts on a whistle are known as a call for help. • Do not stray from trails. If you become lost, stay in one location and wait for help. This will make it easier for rescuers to find you. • Don’t count on cell phones to work in the wilderness, but if they do, be able to give details about your location. • Invest in good hiking socks such as those found at sporting goods stores. Avoid blisters by carrying “moleskin” and applying it as soon as you feel a hot spot on your feet. Available in the foot care section of drug stores, moleskin is like felt that sticks to your skin. • Be prepared for unexpected rain and wind which can lead to hypothermia. Always carry quality rain gear and turn back in bad weather. If you become wet or cold, it is important to get dry and warm as quickly as possible. • Dress in layers and avoid cotton. Luckily, today’s hikers can choose from numerous fabrics that wick moisture, dry quickly or conserve heat. Many experienced hikers wear a lightweight shirt that wicks moisture, while carrying a fleece pullover and rain jacket. • Pack out all trash. • Keep pets on a leash at all times. This is strictly enforced. Maximum leash length is 6 feet. • Do not pick flowers or disturb wildlife. • Protect the landscape by staying on trails. • Alcohol is prohibited in public areas of the park. • A Georgia ParkPass is required to be displayed in your vehicle. Passes are available at all major parking lots and inside the Park Office & Visitor Center. Climate Data for Acworth, GA Sweetgum Trail This trail begins at the Visitor Center parking area and also follows a route north. After 0.5 mile the trail then makes a loop through the Park Office area of the park and then back to the 0.5 mile section for a return to the Visitor Center. The Sweet Gum Trail also travels south from the Visitor Center and connects to the Campground Trail which connects to the campground, allowing campers to access the park trail without driving. There are sections of the trail where Homestead and Sweet Gum share the same pathway. These sections are marked with yellow and red blazes. Trail is not accessible to bicycles. Month Avg. High Avg. Low Mean Avg. Precip. Record High Record Low Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 50ºF 55ºF 64ºF 72ºF 78ºF 85ºF 89ºF 88ºF 82ºF 72ºF 62ºF 53ºF 30ºF 32ºF 38ºF 45ºF 55ºF 63ºF 67ºF 66ºF 60ºF 47ºF 39ºF 33ºF 4.00 in 4.30 in 5.23 in 4.07 in 3.27 in 3.57 in 3.62 in 3.05 in 3.27 in 2.55 in 3.69 in 3.84 in -9ºF(1985) 1ºF (1996) 8ºF (1960) 22ºF (1987) 31ºF (1961) 40ºF (1966) 49ºF (1967) 48ºF (1964) 30ºF (1967) 23ºF (1961) 4ºF (1950) -3ºF (1983) 40ºF 44ºF 51ºF 58ºF 66ºF 74ºF 78ºF 77ºF 71ºF 60ºF 51ºF 43ºF 79ºF (2002) 83ºF (1977) 87ºF (2002) 93ºF (1986) 98ºF (1962) 105ºF (1954) 106ºF (1954) 108ºF (1954) 106ºF (1954) 100ºF (1954) 87ºF (1961) 81ºF (1956)