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Etowah Trail

Location: Canton, Georgia

Directions: Take Exit 16A from 575. Take right on Highway 5. Take left after bridge into Boling Park and continue to the back of park. Park near pavillion.

Trailhead: Near pavillion parking above fitness track

Additional Information: (770-720-7184) City of Canton Parks and Recreation Division

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Does anyone know what’s going on with the management of the trails at Boling Park in Canton, Ga? We have hiked this trail several times, but it seems they have finally taken down the inaccurate trail map at the trailhead and not replaced it yet. They have however added to the trail system including a yellow blazed trail just after the boyscout bridge and a green blazed trail at the Hightower Church junction. The trails have most likely been there for a while but until last week we hadn’t been there in a while. The city doesn’t have any info on their website and there is little online at this point about it so we will try and give you what info we can and then follow up once we know more.

The trailhead begins at the Boling Park pavillion parking lot at the end of the complex road at the woods above the fitness track and runs parallel to the track through the woods until the other end where you reach the boyscout bridge. This section isn’t too bad for being right in Canton but becomes more appealing further along the trail. After crossing the bridge veer left and continue on the white blazed trail. About 100 feet from the bridge and on your right you will see a newer section of the trail system has opened up marked with yellow blazes but for the longer trails continue on. It follows the river and you have a couple options to choose from along the way. One notable intersection is the start of a loop trail where you see a small cascade. Go right and you can loop away from the river through a forested portion then descend back to the river.

Continuing on the main trail along the river you will cross a short footbridge before ascending slightly to the crest of a hill where you will see a dirt road intersection.

Last Friday I went left at this intersection. The problem was there are no blazes or signs of any kind in this direction so I can’t say for sure that this is officially a trail. It appears to be cut by a 4wheeler and continues along the river for a long time. At one point it opens up and the trail cuts through a small field on the east side of the river. I followed it for a couple more miles until the trail traveled very close to the river again and I could see several house on the ridge and the west bank of the river before deciding to head back to the car. I need to find out more info on this portion of the trail and if its even part of the trail system at all? It would be nice if it is! I don’t normally mess with trails that aren’t marked but I guess curiosity got the best of me.

Anyway, back to the dirt road intersection and today’s hike. If you continue straight across the intersection and follow the white blaze trail you will shortly come to Hightower Church on your right at a clearing. To your left begins the green trail and also an additional portion of the white trail.

We took the green trail for a mile or two but ran out of sunlight so we turned back and will have to return again this week. From what we saw this is probably the best part of the Etowah Trail System and in our opinion they saved some of the best for last. There are some nice natural features including dry creek bed crossings and wildlife and when you combine this with all the other trail options you can expect to be able to hike for a 2-3 hours. For trails in Canton Georgia and so close to civilization these trails aren’t actually so bad. We are still gathering info on these new additions to the trail system and as I said we will do a follow up once we have more info so stay tuned.

If you have hiked the Etowah Trail before but haven’t been back in a while we recommend busting out the first part along the river and trying out Etowah Trail - green blaze trail at Boling Park.

Tags: georgia hikes, hikes near canton, hiking in Georgia, hiking in the south, southeastern hiking