Mark your calendar for the 20th Annual Groundhog Hike! Slated for Sunday, Feb. 5, the family-friendly winter hiking event is hosted by Athens Conservancy and Friends of Strouds Run in honor of our founder John Knouse.
The fun kicks off at noon at Strouds Run State Park, where we’ll gather at the Bulldog Shelter. Enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks, and warm up by our campfire, then have fun heading out on the trails! You will be able to choose from several hikes through the beautiful winter woods (a longer trek and a shorter version), led by our expert guides. Or explore the trails on your own with maps we’ll have on hand.
We’ll be setting up a potluck in the shelter house. Feel free to bring a dish to share if you wish. Please label the food item for ID purposes (ie jalapeno dip, or oatmeal peanut butter cookies….)
Please note: We don’t expect to have an ice storm like last year … but in case of (really) bad weather, our snow date is Sunday, Feb. 12. We’ll post updates on social media if the weather is iffy.
Hike descriptions:
Shorter Groundhog Hike (departs at 12:30 pm)
This hike is 1 mile on the Blackhaw Trail. It is flat and paved, and follows the lake shoreline. From the Bulldog shelter parking lot hike 1/2 mile to Labarthe Run Parking lot, and returning the same way.
Longer Groundhog Hike (departs at 12:30 pm)
This route is 2 2/3 miles, through the pine forest. The wooded trail climbs to the ridge topn at Vista Point. From Bulldog shelter follow Strouds Run Trail to Hickory Trace Trailhead parking. Cross Strouds Run Road to Thunderbunny Trail continue on that trail to Vista Point Trail and climb to the vista point. Follow the ridge on Vista Point Trail to White Pine Trail. Descend on White Pine until you intersect Thunderbunny; return to Hickory Trace lot and Stouds Run Trail to Bulldog Shelter.