Preregistration is required.  Trip limited to 15 people.  Please email Rich Reaves at: 

Field Trip Leader:   Rich Reaves

Description:   After a brief roadside excursion at our meeting place, we will drive to Lake Conasauga and walk the trail around the lake (to get there ahead of the crowd).  Then we will make multiple roadside stops on the way back to enjoy the floral display in the Cohuttas.  We expect to see crested dwarf iris (Iris cristata), Shuttleworth wild ginger (Hexastylis shuttleworthii), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), sweet little Betsy (Trillium cuneatum), painted trillium (Trillium undulatum), dimpled trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum), bear corn (Conopholis americana), doll’s eyes (Actaea pachypoda), and many other wild flowers.

Location and Directions:    I-575/ GA 515 north to East Ellijay and take GA 52 west (toward Fort Mountain/Chatsworth). Stay on HWY 52 through the square in Ellijay. Approximately 5 miles west of the square on GA 52, turn right on Gates Chapel Rd. When pavement ends, the road will fork, take Wilderness Trail/ Forest Road 90 (dirt road to the right). After approximately 0.9 mi DO NOT turn left at WMA sign for Pinhoti Trail, rather continue past this sign another 0.1 mi to the meeting site.

Meet At:   Meet at  34.812790 Latitude, -84.583516 Longitude  (WGS 84 Datum) on Forest Road 90 in Gilmer County.

Walking:   Easy – the trail around the lake is generally level with small undulations and the roadside stops will entail short walks along the road.

Facilities:   At Lake Conasauga.

Bring:   Lunch to eat during walk, water, raingear, insect repellent, sturdy footwear.

Contact:   Rich Reaves, , 770-827-5186 – cell but will not have service at the walk site.