Bartram Trail, downstream of Russell Bridge

Another exploratory hike along the Chattooga. This one started from the Highway 28 crossing (Russell Bridge), following the Bartram Trail downstream along the Georgia side of the Chattooga River. Being early April, Sunday, and sunny, there were some fishermen casting for trout along the river. And when I returned to the truck at the end of the hike, there was a church youth group from Midland, Michigan, setting out on a five-day backpacking trip along the Bartram Trail.

More photos follow; click on 'read-more' link, below.

Looking across the Chattooga to the old Russell farmland, on the South Carolina bank.

The trail crosses over the West Fork of the Chattooga, about a quarter mile downstream of Russell Bridge, on a steel-framed foot-bridge. I followed the trail about 3 miles in, to its junction with a horse trail. The horse trail led down to a nice camping spot along the river bank.

About 2 miles downstream, you pass by an abandoned farm on the Georgia side. This piece of rusted-up farm machinery reminded me of a scene from Taylor's favorite childhood movie, The Secret of NIMH.