(MS) Elliott Rock via Bullpen Rd

M: 6.7, EG: 1100, R: MS
Drive RT: 100 miles, Carpool Fee: $8.00
Leader: Joe Hayden, 864.201.1521
Co-Leader: Troy Summerell

The shortest walk to the tri-section of NC, SC, and GA, aka "The Rock," in the middle of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River from the Bull Pen Road trail head. We will hike the Ellicott Rock Connector Trail to the river and follow the foot path downstream to view the markers.

In the early 1800s, a survey was initiated to resolve on-going border disputes between the Governors of Georgia and NC and local inhabitants which resulted in a brief armed conflict known as the "Walton War." This contested strip of land is now modern day Transylvania County, North Carolina .

Surveyor Andrew Ellicott was commissioned by Georgia to trace the 35th parallel north to the river. His mark in 1811 was carved into a rock on the east bank of the Chattooga River: "N-G.”

In 1813, the commissioners of SC and NC traced the boundary and inscribed a mark: "LAT 35 AD 1813 NC + SC" to mark the NC/SC junction. This mark is approximately 15-20 feet down river from Ellicott's mark. Finally, a GPS marker was placed on a rock in the middle of the riverbed in 1996. Remarkably, Ellicott's marker is only about 30 feet away on the east bank. The descent to the river's edge to view the markers requires some scrambling on all fours....

Carpool Info:
Form carpools at Publix Super Market at University Square at 8:45 am, depart promptly at 9:00 am. Solo hikers can meet the group at Holly Springs Store at 9:30 am or Sloan Bridge Access to the Foothills Trail at 10:15 am. From there, we will continue onto the trail head.