Hiking The Gold Branch Trail

Travel & Leisure

  • Author Shannon Rae Treasure
  • Published June 12, 2011
  • Word count 429

The Gold Branch Trail starts at the parking area where a kiosk with a brown roof is located. The left side of this kiosk is a path which leads to a set of steps that leads to a shaded forest footpath. The path then takes you to a long boardwalk bridge across the Gold Branch creek. The stream looks more like the wetlands in section as the path ascends towards the left following the Gold Branch to Bull Sluice Lake. The footpath then swerves right where it emerges to the Bull Sluice Lake.

The lake is noticeably deeper and calmer than the Chattahoochee River. Move further the next half mile of the Gold Branch Trail where you will meet several side trails that leads you to fishing areas on the left. This is a great fishing area where the catch may include bass, bream, brown and rainbow trout, crappie, and perch. Continue past this area and slowly move downhill about 0.7 miles to a flat area about the level of the lake which leads you to a popular fishing spot.

Straight ahead you will pass through the most scenic views of the lake as the trail reaches a rock outcrop about slightly less than a quarter mile after. Make a turn back to a wide intersection taking the right path. Then start to move towards the Chattahoochee watershed by making a gradual difficult climb to it. The climb then begins to abate at the top of the first knoll but briefly it switches back to a difficult ascent to the second knoll. The footpath takes you to a dirt road where you will take a left turn as you begin a descent to Bull Sluice Lake’s shore.

Before reaching the water, the footpath swerves right into the forest for about 1.5 mile with a difficult terrain. Pass some wet foot crossings, the path swerves left as it ascends back to the lake shore. A series of quick switchbacks is to be expected while getting around a rock outcrop. Rejoining Gold Branch, cross some streams and then find your way back to the lake shore. Continue forward to a gravel road leaving the Bull Sluice Lake shore but expect a moderate to difficult terrain here.

Reaching a map stand at the peak of the hill, the trail makes a right turn following the original roadbed of Lower Roswell Road. Take the second roadbed to your right as it reaches a T where you will turn left and pace forward back to the boardwalk bridge ending at the start of the trail.

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