Elsie Holmes Nature Trails

Tuesday, November 5 — Elsie Holmes Nature Trails near Ringgold GA, around 3.5 to 4 miles, loop, a few hundred feet of elevation gain, easy. Our goal on this hike is to walk on almost every trail in this quiet park, starting with a loop and then a loop within a loop. This will be a test of the hikers’—and especially the hike leader’s—ability to follow signs. It also helps a great deal to have a map. (See AllTrails.) We will start out on the White Trail. When the White goes off to the left, we stay straight, which puts us on the Brown Trail. Eventually the Brown cozies up to South Chickamauga Creek and then bumps into the White, which comes in from the left and erases the Brown. That is, we keep going straight (or possibly a little right) and the blazes change to White. Follow the White past a couple of trail crossings until the White veers off to the left. We stay straight, following the Green Trail along the creek and then heading uphill. Just before the Green heads toward the parking lot, we turn left onto the Blue Trail. Follow the Blue a relatively short distance before turning left onto (yet again) the White Trail. In another short distance, we’ll turn right, off the White and onto the Red Trail. Ignoring two shortcuts, we’ll follow the Red Trail until it crosses the White Trail. However, instead of following the Red at this intersection, we turn sharply left onto the Yellow Trail. The Yellow peters out at (surprise!) the White. Continue straight (or slightly left) onto the White. Shortly we take the first left onto the Red Trail. From the Red we take the first right, which seems to be colorless (or maybe it is Purple). This uphill trail dead-ends onto the Blue Trail, where we turn left and end up at the parking lot. Got all this? 

Check the weather forecast within a day of the hike, as earlier forecasts can change dramatically. Wear hiking shoes or boots; bring snacks and /or lunch along with more water than you think you need; use insect repellant, gather up hiking poles, sunscreen, and rain jacket, as needed. For carpooling/caravanning, meet at 8:30 am ET at Wendy’s, 6727 Ringgold Rd., left (east) off I-75 Exit 1. Register with the hike leader (required for all Scenic City hikes): Will Latham, (704) 365-8889. Carpool cost: $1.00.