Disney Trail - 3 miles strenuous
- February 24 · 9:30 AM
The Disney Trail
DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE NAME OF THIS HIKE
THIS IS NOT AN EASY HIKE
DATE: Sunday, February 24th
TIME: 9:30am
LOCATION: follow the dirt road at the back of the Georgia State Patrol Headquarters until you come to the end of the road
DIFFICULTY: strenuous
Hiking Distance: approximately 3 miles
Pets: There is one section where dogs may have difficulty getting up and down (even bigger dogs). If you choose to bring your dog anyway, please ensure that your dog remains on a leash at all times.
This is a very steep hike. It is considered the most challenging trail in northwest Georgia, and the most challenging short trail in the state. It is almost entirely an uphill climb, and then a very direct descent to return to the parking lot.
Those with knee or heart issues may want to sit this one out.
The trail ascends Rocky Face, a mountain west of Dalton, GA. It was named after confederate civil war soldier, George Disney, whose grave is located at the top of the mountain. It is also one of the oldest trails in Georgia as well. As we ascend, there will be a few overlooks from which to take in some views and get a few pictures. You will likely encounter an increase in your heart rate as well : )
Items to bring:
plenty of water
snacks
trekking poles if you have them
camera
HIKE LEADER CONTACT INFO
RHONDA [masked]
Directions:
- take I-75 to exit 336 in Georgia
- turn left (west)
- close to a mile on the left will be the Georgia State Patrol office
- take the second entrance to the Georgia State Patrol
- at the back of their parking lot, there is a dirt road.... follow that road to the very end
- you will arrive at a parking lot.... the trail head starts here, at the left end of the parking lot
NO-SHOWS: As with all Meetup's, please be polite -- if you are a YES RSVP, please show up. If you can't make it, please change your YES to a NO as soon as possible. Please don't be a "no-show!" 
Please make every effort to arrive early
or on time
so that you do not hold up the group.
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Carl W
Do you know what the change in elevation was, from trailhead to top? Just curious.
February 27
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John Henderson
I definitely enjoyed the challenging climb and meeting everyone.. Had a great time! Got a nice burn and the scenery was great, too!
1 · February 24
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Vivian
Great group to hike with. Wonderful meeting the new hikers as well as seeing old friends! This definitely got your heart rate going....but worth the trip! Awesome pics everyone!!!
February 24
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Carl W
Nelya was the real photo expert on this hike, and I can see some potential for our hikes do teach us as much about photography as our natural environment! Here we had some bright distant scenery but dimmer foreground due to trees. A fill-in flash is one potential solution; bracketing exposure is another. Mine also has a shadow adjustment feature, but it didn't seem to do much - I may not have used it right or set it properly.
Thanks to Barbara for leading and Vivian for sweeping. Dawn also picked up some trash others had left at the top. Get well soon, Rhonda. Nelya, thanks for bringing your tripod so we could get the entire group in shots. Good to meet everybody.
2 · February 24
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Rhonda
Glad that you had a great time. I so would have rather joined you all. I have spent pretty much the entire weekend in my room resting. Although I am feeling a bit better today, I didn't want to overexert myself and end up reverting worse again. Thanks again so much to Barbara and Vivian for agreeing to step up to take over the hike. I really did not want to cancel it. Canceling is always a very last resort once an event is posted, as I realize that folks make plans around the events they sign up for, so I don't take canceling any events lightly. I didn't want to announce the hike leader change in advance due to there already being so much confusion over the left/right issue. It would have been just one more thing thrown into the mix. Glad you all appeared to have enjoyed the day, though.
February 24
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Barbara P. McCollum
I could never take Rhonda's place, but just glad I was able to step in for her. Great hike, and Rhonda, we had no problem finding the trail at the boulders as well as the Disney grave! Take care of yourself, Rhonda!
February 24
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Carl W
Rhonda, thanks for the clarification. Sorry for the confusion; a glance at the map and an attempt to confirm it at the georgiatrails.com website led me to think it might not be a left, regardless, as you have now indicated that it is. Also, thanks for the street address, that helps, b/c Google Maps didn't label the GSP building.
February 24
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Rhonda
I googled the GA State Patrol in Dalton, and that was the address that came up. The buildings do show up on google maps, but the destination point appears on google maps just before the actual buildings themselves. Where it shows it, you can see the state patrol from there, though.
February 24
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Ken Hicks
Hey folks, I am coming, but off to a late start. So, don't wait for me. I'll catch up on the trail or at the top. Looking forward to meeting everyone!
February 24
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Rhonda
Just to clarify once again ..... The way the exits are set up, it will be a LEFT when you get off the interstate, regardless of whether you are coming from the north or the south. LEFT, not right. Although coming from the north, it will be on the right side of the interstate, the way the exit is set up, you will make a LEFT when you get off. Once you get off, you will see what we mean. Go left, and the GA State Patrol will be about a mile on your left.
1 · February 24
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Rhonda
Even though we have repeatedly indicated LEFT, if for any reason anyone is feeling confused due to a few people questioning if it would be a right, I would recommend meeting at the carpool in the morning that Vivian has made reference to in the comments below. She has been there before, just a few weeks ago, and knows how to get there. However, the trail is easy to find if you follow the directions that were given in the body of the meetup. I have added in the address for the State Patrol office so that if there is any question in your mind about left or right, you can put that address in your gps. That address will ensure that you go the correct direction from the interstate. The patrol office is close to a mile from the interstate. Go in the second entrance, and follow the rest of the directions from there.
February 24
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Carl W
This could be important: it appears that if you are coming on I-75 south (e.g., from Chattanooga), turn RIGHT after getting off at exit 336. I think the directions above are if you're coming up I-75 north, say from Calhoun or points south of Dalton. Also see: http://www.georgiatrails.com/gt...
Rhonda, can you confirm this?
February 23
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Rhonda
I came from the south when I did it, and came out on the other side of the interstate and made a left. The person that I hiked it with came from Chattanooga. You will STILL make a left. You just come out on the other side. We had the same confusion initially that you are talking about, and ended up putting the Georgia State Patrol into our gps since we knew that would get us there. Sure enough, it was a left for both of us.
February 23
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Vivian
Hey Carl, I drove to this place to hike with Rhonda before and coming fromChattanooga you DO make a left. IF you would like to carpool I can meet you at the Costco just off 1-75.
February 23
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Cathy Gracey
Did the scenic city half-marathon, legs are sore!! Would love to come next time!
February 23
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Rhonda
Great job on the half-marathon. I'm sure that was a workout in and of itself. I'm sure we'll hit Disney again some time. Maybe not in the next month, but at some point down the road.
February 23
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John Henderson
Hey everyone, just joined the group and looking forward to this hike!
1 · February 19
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Lauren Lawson
I love the Disney Trail! Wish I could join y'all. You guys will definitely see some awesome views!
2 · February 18
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13 attended
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Vivian
Event Host
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Barbara P. McCollum
Event Host
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nelya +1
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