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Hemlock Falls LbNA #7068 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jan 24, 2004
Location:
City:Clayton
County:Rabun
State:Georgia
Boxes:1
Planted by:Red's Bunch
Found by: Eidolon
Last found:Oct 14, 2006
Status:FFFFFFFFr
Last edited:Jan 24, 2004
*** Difficulty: Easy *** Last verified: 5/14/05 ***
(Note: we are currently working on a clear and workable letterboxing policy in state parks through the Georgia DNR. If this box becomes illegal, it will be pulled.)

Moccasin Creek State Park and its RV campsites are located on the east side of Georgia Highway 197, and on the west side a gravel road leads 0.5 mile to a parking area and the trailhead for Hemlock Falls Trail. (The parking area for "Moccasing Creek Lbx" is at the start of this gravel road - be sure to leave time to find that one, too!)

Hemlock Falls Trail is described as an in-and-out trail that's "easy, with occasional rocky, slippery footing" by one hiking guidebook. There are several muddy areas year-round where runoff crosses the path, and a few narrow spots (usually next to a good-size drop-off) that make it occasionally scary as well. Be prepared to get muddy. But it's a beautiful hike, and the gurgling creek runs alongside the entire 1.0-mile path.

Near the trail's end, it splits left toward the base of the falls and right toward the top of the falls. The falls are the official end of the trail. The trail to the right is said to continue on to Moccasin Creek Falls (0.6 mile upstream) but it soon becomes nearly impassible with deadfalls due to storm damage and is no longer maintained by the park. You won't be going that far, though.

Starting even with the top of the falls on the path walk roughly 50 paces (50 single steps) along a mostly narrow and sometimes muddy trail. When you stop, there is a large rectangular mossy boulder on the right, about 6 feet by 4 feet by 2. Directly across the path from it is another boulder, shaped like a giant slice of pie. The wedge points slightly uphill. Take 10 paces in that direction and look behind you. If you see HG or WG on the trail, punch them in the nose for what they've done here.

Leave the kids here and continue uphill 20 more paces to the 2 large trees on the right, about 4 feet apart from each other and paralleling the diminishing path. One of them has a cluster of rocks behind it. Don't slide downhill! Carefully remove the top rock, grab the box and scamper back to safety. Please replace the box carefully and exactly after you've stamped in.

Please contact us if you enjoy this letterbox. It's the first we've ever placed!

Add'l notes: 1/22/05 - One finder in 2004 was discouraged from travelling past the footbridge by the park personnel due to trail conditions. When we visited the site in 2005, there was no signage indicating trail closures, but the usual care is still advised.

3/1/10 - Five years of weather has completely changed the landscape above the falls. This box has been missing for awhile, but for nostalgia's sake will be replanted before the spring of 2011 (see AtlasQuest for status updates and new clues).