Pre-Turkey Day Hike at Black Rock Mountain State Park - Sat, Nov 22 2025

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



Pre-Turkey Day Hike at Black Rock Mountain State Park


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Ingles Clayton (8:50 am) 176 Hwy. 441 Clayton GA 30525   Hike: Pre-Turkey Day Hike at Black Rock Mountain State Park   National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Nov 22 2025  9:30 am >> Sat, Nov 22 2025 3:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 7:30 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Tue, Oct 28 2025 7:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Nov 21 2025 8:00 pm
Event Duration:5 Hours 30 Minutes
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Distance:10.5 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Clay Davies
Chuck M
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:10
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 2 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Itinerary:

Please join us as we hike Black Rock Mountain State Park in Mountain City, just north of Clayton. The park gets it's name for the sheer cliffs of dark colored biotie gneiss. Located astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an allitude of 3,640 feet, Black Rock Mountain is the highest state park in Georgia.  Numerous scenic overlooks provide many vistas of the Southern Applalacians.

We will start our hike on the 2.2 mile loop of the Tennessee Rock trailhead taking us to the top of Black Rock Mountain. On a clear day you can see into neighboring States of Tennessee, North & South Carolina. Afterwards, we will hike the James E. Edmonds trail, named in the honor of one of the park's first rangers.  The traiis are challenging in a number of places but filled with an abundance of laurel filled coves and cascading streams with small waterfalls.

We will approach and hike the Black Rock Lake Trail which loops around the the 17 acre lake where we will take our lunch break.  We will continue on the James Edmonds Trail to the Lookout Mountain Overlook, you will see views of Wolffork Valley and surrounding mountain ranges to the North. We continue on the James Edmonds Trail loop back to our cars to end our adventure.

The hike is just under 11 miles with over 2,700 elevation gain. You should have recent D4 or D5 experience with the club and be comfortable hiking a steady pace between 2.5- 3.0 mph. If you do not have any history with the club that shows you are ready to do a D5 hike, you will be moved to the wait list until confirmation can be determined that you are capable of completing the event Also, you will be expected to keep up and hike with the group, otherwise you risk being removed from attendence for the event. 

Due to the limited parking at Black Rock Mountain State Park and for those not in the carpool, we will meet at the Ingles in Clayton by 9:00 to consilidate into fewer vehicles and also take a quick restroom break as there are no bathrooms at the trailhead.  We have to leave the Ingles by 9:10 at the latest, so please don't be late. 


Required Items to Bring:

Water- 2 liters

Lunch/ Snacks

Sturdy Boots/ Trailrunners

Georgia State Park Entrance Fee $5 or a Georgia State Park Pass

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Sunscreen

Trekking Poles

Gloves/ Hat

Rain jacket


How to Get There:
Event Directions:
 
How to Get There:
Event Directions:

 
Carpool to Event Distance (round trip): 208Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time:

We will meet at the Ingles in Clayton. If you type "Ingles Clayton" into your GPS (Google or Apple Maps) it will take you to the right place. Here is a link for Google Maps:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vJK5UED1zaohEtsm6

 

7:30 am
Carpool Location: Indian Trail Park and Ride
Carpool Directions:

We will meet at the Indian Trail Park/Ride, 1800 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd NW, Norcross, GA no later than 7:20 am so that we can depart promptly at 7:30 am. 

Click here for directions to the carpool location at Indian Trail Park & Ride.
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $83.20 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver.  This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.
 
Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):140Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 7:30 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $56.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.