Black Rock Mountain State Park trail map, 2005 May

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Lookoff Mountain

n. Site#2

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Park Boundary

Laurel Site

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, ' ' Lookoff Mountain

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Elev. 3162

Marsen Knob
Elev. 3205

Park Boundary

Black Rock

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Elev. 2241

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Site#4 ~

James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail Camping by Permit Only
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From tstaCK \I<04:K Mtn.

Dillard

4 mi

Scaly Mtn.,

10 mi

Franklin, NC

20 mi

Highlands, NC

Cherokee, NC

Gatlinburg, TN

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Eastern
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n Fern Cove ~ Site #1
James E' . Edmonds
Backcountry Trail
Camping by Permit Only

Eastern Continental
Divide

Tennessee Rock Trail

Black Rock Mtn. Elev. 3640

Private Property

Black Rock Overlook Elev. 3446

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Park Boundary

1/ 4 mile

1/ 2 mile

Since trails may be closed for maintenance or inclement weather, check with the rangers at the Park Visitor Center to ensure availability.
Criminal trespass charges and search & rescue costs can be charged to parties guilty of negligence or failure to get user permits.

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STATE PARKS & HISTORIC SITES

LEGEND

Hiking Trails
Tennessee Rock Trail 2.2 -mile loop Ada-hi Falls Trail .25-mile one-way
Springhouse/ Ada-hi Fal ls Trail .6-mile one-way
Visitor Center Connector Trail .25-mile one-way James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail 7.2-mile loop Camping by Permit Only Black Rock Lake Trail .85-mile loop

Symbols
Paved Road 11111111 Gravel Road
Forest Management Road
E) Picnic Area
ffi Overlook Ia Cottages

From Black Rock Mtn.

Clayton

3 mi

Chattooga River 12 mi Tallulah Gorge 15 mi

..

Hiawassee

31 mi

Helen

37 mi

Atlanta

105 mi

'

~ Backcountry Campsite
~ Pioneer Camping Area
r21 RV and Tent Camping
IB Park Visitor Center
mt Picnic Shelter
ra Playground
5/ 2005

Black Rock Mountain
Black Rock Mountain State Park, named for its sheer cliffS of dark-colored biotite gneiss, encompasses some of the most outstanding country in Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Located astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an alti tude of 3,640 feet, Black Rock Mountain is the highest state park in Georgia. Numerous scenic overlooks provide spectacular 80-mile vistas of the Southern Appalachians, and several hiking trails lead visitors past colorful wildflowers, sparkling streams, small waterfalls and lush forests. The summit visitor center and picnic tables are popular with travelers in northeast Georgia.
Trail Safety & Etiquette
Tell someone your itinerary and expected return time. Be prepared for unexpected weather changes by
dressing in layers and carrying rain gear. 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 . lf you become lost, stay in one location and wait for help. T ills will make it easier for rescuers to find you . Don't count on cell phone 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 tmexpected 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 nUlnerous 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. Do not pick flov.ers or disturb wildlife. Protect the landscape by staying on trails.

1---- ACCESSIBILITY FOR SELECTED TRAILS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

James E. Edmonds Trail (Backcountry)

Tennessee Rock Trail

3200 3000 2800 2600 2400

3500 ,-------------------------------------------~------------~---------,
3450 3400 3350 3300 3250

7.2-Mile Loop Avg. Travel Time: 4 Hours
FootTravel On ly.
Compacted Natural Soil Surface Avg. Grade: 10%; Max: 25%/ 250LF Min. Width: 18 Inches Avg. X-slope: 10%; Max: 30%/200LF Backcountry Camping by Permit Only. Camping allowed on four designated campsites. See map for exact locations.
Advance reservations required. Call 1-800-864-72 75.

The 7.2-mile James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail, named in honor of one of the park's first rangers, offers both day hiking and backpack camping. This trail is quite steep in a number of places and is rated as "moderate to strenuous. In laurel-filled coves, the trail fo llows cascading streams with small waterfalls. In the northernmost section of the park, the trail climbs to the summit of Lookoff Mountain and offers a stunning vista of Wolffork Valley and surrounding mountain ranges.

Black Rock Lake Trail

.85-Mile Loop

'
Turtle Rock allows anglers a chance

Avg. Travel Time: '/ 2Hour

to fish for bass, bream, catfish,

Foot Travel Only.

yellow perch, and rainbow trout. In

Compacted Natural Soil Surface; Gravel/Bark Avg. Grade: 5%; Max: 10%

addition, several tables along shady Taylor Creek offer the perfect location for a creek-side picnic.

Min. Width: 60 Inches

The loop around scenic Black Rock Lake is the newest segment in the park's trail system. 17-acre Black Rock Lake is unspoiled by development an d is rimmed by forests of white pine and yellow poplar. The gently rolling .85-mile loop is rated "easy" and is perfectly suited for beginners. Wooden bridges cross Taylor Creek and Greasy Creek, the two cascading streams that feed Black Rock Lake, and an 80-foot bridge spans Cricket Cove on the lake's southwest corner. A wheelchair-accessible pier adjacent to

0

~Grade ~X-slope
! ! Width

Obstacles may include uneven surfaces, exposed rock and tree roots, fallen trees and/ or limbs, steps, long steep grades, loose stones and leaf litter, softness, mud, icing, or other slick conditions when wet, poisonous plants, heat or cold in season, insects, snakes, and wild animals including bears.

Ada-hi Falls Trail

.25-Mile One-way
Avg. Travel Time: '/ 2Hour
Foot Travel Only.
Compacted Natural Soil Surface Avg. Grade: 25%; Max: 58%/30LF Min. Width: 36 Inches Avg. X-slope: 10%; Max: 10%/300LF
The Ada-hi Falls Trail provides a delightful but challenging walk into an outstanding example of a moist,

north-slope Appalachian cove. The trail features mature hardwoods, lichen-covered rocks, a variety of ferns and wildflowers, and a dense thicket of rhododendron. At the trail's end is the observation platform for noisy Ada-hi Falls, a small cascade typical of those found at higher elevations throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Climatic Data for Black Rock Mountain

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Avg. High 44"F 47"F 54"F 63"F 70"F 74"F 77"F 75"F 70"F 64"F 53' F 45"F

Avg. low Mean 30"F 37' F 32"F 39' F 37"F 45"F 45"F 54"F 53"F 61' F 59F 66' F 63"F 70"F 62"F 68' F 57"F 63' F 47"F 55' F 39"F 46"F 31' F 38"F

Avg. Precip. 6.41 in. 6.40 in. 7.07 in. 5.14 in. 4.97 in. 7.29 in. 6.73 in. 5.91 in. 6.50 in. 4.84 in. 5.91 in. 5.55 in.

Record High 68"F (2002) 73' F (1996) 74"F (1998) 84"F (2001) 84'F (1996) 85' F (1989) 89' F (1993) 85"F (1999) 83' F (1999) 78' F (2001) 72' F (2001) 65' F (1992)

Record low -20"F (1985) -4"F (1991) 3"F (1996) 17"F (1992) 30' F (1992) 40"F (1985) 46' F (1979) 48' F (1986) 35' F (1990) 25"F (1989) 8"F (1979) -4"F (1985)

2.2-Mile Loop
Avg. Travel Time: 1 '/2Hours
Foot Travel Only.
Compacted Natural Soil Surface Avg. Grade: 10%; Max: 25%/200LF Min. Width: 18 Inches Avg. X-slope: 10%; Max.: 25%/50LF
The yellow-blazed 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail, winding its way through some of the highest and lushest

forests, is the park's most popular hiking trail. Rated by experienced hikers as "easy to moderate," the trail offers most visitors a perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with the area's rich woodlands and vistas, that on clear days span over 80 miles into the neighboring states of both North and South Carolina, as well as Tennessee.

Tennessee Rock Trail Interpretive Information
Hikers wishing to learn more about the special forest ecology of the Southern Appalachians may wish to purchase a copy of "An Interpretive Guide to the Tennessee Rock Trail," available for a small fee at the visitor center and campground trading post. The text in this 32-page illustrated booklet corresponds to 25 numbered posts located along the trail. ln addition to information about the park's natural history, the trail guide features interesting facts about early pioneer and Native American life, as well as fascinating information about Appalachian geology, geography, and climate. The guide serves as an excellent introduction to Black Rock Mountain State Park and the surrounding mountain region.
Hikers using the guide will quickly learn that there's a lot more to be foU11d along the trail than just trees. For instance, hikers will discover an Appalachian boulderfield, an actual remnant of the great ice age which ended more than 10,000 years ago. Hikers will also walk a quarter-mile along the Blue Ridge Mountain backbone, following the Eastern Continental Divide.This great ridge separates rainfall flowing eastward toward the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean from rainfall trending westward toward the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. And from Tennessee Rock itself, when the weather is clear, hikers can see Georgia's Brasstown Bald and Clingman's Dome in Tennessee.