CAMPNPOST

Pine Log Creek Trail

Total distance: 4.6 miles
Parking lot Lead Trail: .46
West Loop : 2.12
East Loop: 1.54
Quarry Trail .03

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Dogs allowed, no horses, no mountain bikes

Difficulty: Moderate-Some parts are listed as strenuous, but only for short spurts

Directions from I-575 in Canton: Take Riverstone Pkwy exit 20, head West for about .5 mi. Take right onto Reinhardt College Pkwy and continue until it dead ends into Hwy 140. Take right onto Hwy 140 W (still also Reinhardt College Pkwy) and go approximately 12 miles. Trail head will be on your right.

From I-75 in Cartersville: Take exit 293 and head North on Hwy 411 for about 7.5 mi. Take a right onto Hwy 140 East and go about 3.2 mi, trail head will be on your left.

The last time we hiked here it was raining so we didn’t get any pictures and weren’t able to see all the scenic views that the trail provides. Needless to say, my last post on the Pine Log Creek Trail didn’t do it justice. We are always in search of hikes near Canton, Ga and this one is a gem. Not what we expected from Bartow County Parks Department because this trail has it all. The lead trail from the parking area is flat and picturesque surrounded by large pines that provide enough natural mulch to keep a clean understory. The creek crossing is a log footbridge that doesn’t detract from the natural beauty. One thing we were impressed with is that the junctions are well marked with small signs and a few blazes, but the trail isn’t littered with them. Nothing annoys me more on a hike than walking through a forest covered with bright colored metal signs.

We took the left fork at the first junction and did the West Loop first. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The climb starts gradually and leads you into some well designed switchbacks. This is the longest part that shows to be strenuous on the map. It is a decent workout but I wouldn’t consider it strenuous. The trail is well laid out and there are many rewards in the scenery. Once you get to the high point, there’s a bench and a pretty good view to enjoy. The trail continues for a while before you descend along a series of more switchbacks and a stream crossing. About half way through you meet up with the East Loop.

For the East Loop we took the right fork and started up a pretty decent climb, which is also shown to be strenuous on the trail map, to another vantage point. The rest of this trail is pretty easy and relaxing, but varied enough to keep your heart rate up. If you are indeed trying to keep your heart rate up, do not take the Quarry trail to the right. It is very short and flat and what’s at the end will make you want to sit down for a while. There’s a beautiful blue pond surrounded by rock walls and boulders. The water is clean and clear now, and I hope it is in the summer as well. It looks like a great place for a picnic and a float. Please pack out your trash if you visit! Once you make your way around the rest of the loop and rejoin the West Loop, you’ll find more scenic areas and you meet up with the rushing creek again. There are also more stream crossings along the way.

We have done a lot of hiking in the Southeast, and we found this trail to be pretty impressive for its locale and the fact that it’s a county park. We usually prefer the National Forest trails since the “trails” at the county parks where we live are all centered around baseball fields. Kudos to Bartow County!

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