Future Events
WOODSIDE TRAIL GROUP HIKING PROGRAM September THRU December 2023
Silver Bluff Audubon/Quail Trail
When: Saturday, December 9th at 9:30am Hike Leader: Gerald McDonald, 803-270-3310. gerald21@me.com
Description: If you like nature and want to see and hear birds and see beautiful hardwood trees along the trail, this is the hike for you. Come take a walk with us on the Quail Trail. Approximately half a mile along the trail you will encounter a 100-acre field managed for grassland birds. The bluff overlooking the Savannah River provides a scenic view, worth checking out. Spotted Sandpiper can be seen along both shores and Red-shouldered Hawk may be visible. Continue along the trail for a quarter mile and you’ll be on the shore of the Savannah River, surrounded by tall bottomland hardwoods. The trail back to where we started is an easy walk on a dirt road. It’s near winter, so watch for Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets and Wild Turkey that may be seen along the trail.
Meeting Place: We will meet at 9:00am in the parking area of the Village Fitness Center If you want, we can double on cars before we leave for the Silver Bluff Audubon parking area at the southern end of Silver Bluff Road. Otherwise meet at the Audubon parking lot at 9.30 am.
Lunch: After the hike, for those who wish, we will have lunch at the Village Cafe.
Meeting time: 9.00 am for carpooling or 9.30 am at the Audubon center
Distance: 3.4 miles
Terrain: Mostly flat except for a short section that leads down to the river
Bring: Water, good sneakers or hiking boots, snack, walking stick, binoculars for the birds.
-- Rain Cancels --
Description: If you like nature and want to see and hear birds and see beautiful hardwood trees along the trail, this is the hike for you. Come take a walk with us on the Quail Trail. Approximately half a mile along the trail you will encounter a 100-acre field managed for grassland birds. The bluff overlooking the Savannah River provides a scenic view, worth checking out. Spotted Sandpiper can be seen along both shores and Red-shouldered Hawk may be visible. Continue along the trail for a quarter mile and you’ll be on the shore of the Savannah River, surrounded by tall bottomland hardwoods. The trail back to where we started is an easy walk on a dirt road. It’s near winter, so watch for Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets and Wild Turkey that may be seen along the trail.
Meeting Place: We will meet at 9:00am in the parking area of the Village Fitness Center If you want, we can double on cars before we leave for the Silver Bluff Audubon parking area at the southern end of Silver Bluff Road. Otherwise meet at the Audubon parking lot at 9.30 am.
Lunch: After the hike, for those who wish, we will have lunch at the Village Cafe.
Meeting time: 9.00 am for carpooling or 9.30 am at the Audubon center
Distance: 3.4 miles
Terrain: Mostly flat except for a short section that leads down to the river
Bring: Water, good sneakers or hiking boots, snack, walking stick, binoculars for the birds.
-- Rain Cancels --
Fourth Annual Clear the Cobwebs Hike [HEADS UP]
When: Monday Jan 1, 2024 at 1.45 pm for a 2.00 pm start
Hike Leader: Jim Pierce; 803-634-0513; jbpierce649@outlook.com
Description: Come out and clear your News Eve’s cobwebs on our 4th annual “Clear the Cobwebs” hike. We will take an easy going 2-mile jaunt around Woodside’s Oakman Trail. This would also be a great hike to introduce any New Year’s visitors to one of Woodside’s most pleasant walks. After the hike, we will all stop to toast the New Year. Suitable beverages will be provided and, as in past years, I hope we will have many cookie donations from those participating in the hike. There is a big picnic table located where we will stop for these celebrations. Dogs on a leash are welcome but you must supply your own doggy snacks! Put this outing on your calendar now!
Meeting Place: We will meet in the “parking area” just off the road leading to the Reserve Club golf maintenance shed. This is very close to the junction of West Pleasant Colony, East Pleasant Colony, and Woodside Plantation Drive. Signs point the way. If you find parking tight, you can also park along the maintenance road. If you are bringing cookies you might want to arrive early and take them to the picnic table. In that case stay there – we will meet you at the picnic table.
Distance: About 2 miles
Terrain: A couple of ups and downs but mainly flat easy walking.
Bring: Water and wear good sneakers or boots. Perhaps a walking stick. If it rains previous to the hike the trail may have wet sections. Cookies to share would be welcome.
-- Rain Cancels --
Hike Leader: Jim Pierce; 803-634-0513; jbpierce649@outlook.com
Description: Come out and clear your News Eve’s cobwebs on our 4th annual “Clear the Cobwebs” hike. We will take an easy going 2-mile jaunt around Woodside’s Oakman Trail. This would also be a great hike to introduce any New Year’s visitors to one of Woodside’s most pleasant walks. After the hike, we will all stop to toast the New Year. Suitable beverages will be provided and, as in past years, I hope we will have many cookie donations from those participating in the hike. There is a big picnic table located where we will stop for these celebrations. Dogs on a leash are welcome but you must supply your own doggy snacks! Put this outing on your calendar now!
Meeting Place: We will meet in the “parking area” just off the road leading to the Reserve Club golf maintenance shed. This is very close to the junction of West Pleasant Colony, East Pleasant Colony, and Woodside Plantation Drive. Signs point the way. If you find parking tight, you can also park along the maintenance road. If you are bringing cookies you might want to arrive early and take them to the picnic table. In that case stay there – we will meet you at the picnic table.
Distance: About 2 miles
Terrain: A couple of ups and downs but mainly flat easy walking.
Bring: Water and wear good sneakers or boots. Perhaps a walking stick. If it rains previous to the hike the trail may have wet sections. Cookies to share would be welcome.
-- Rain Cancels --
Other Fall 2023 Hikes You Might Like
Woodside trail group [WTG] member Cheryl Murga will be leading a number of hikes this fall for Aiken Senior Life Services [ASLS]. Cheryl has coordinated these hikes so that they do not occur on days that the WTG is hiking. You may want to take advantage of these outings. Hikes are all nearby and are listed below.
Saturday, Sept 30, 9:00-12:00 Boyd Pond Park (Sierra Club sponsored)
Contact hike leader at https://www.sierraclub.org/georgia/savannah-river
Saturday, October 14, 10:00-12:00 Audubon Sanctuary (ASLS sponsored)
Contact hike leader at hike4LifeASLS@gmail.com
Saturday, November 25, 9:30-11:30 Langley Pond Park, (ASLS sponsored)
Contact hike leader at hike4LifeASLS@gmail.com
Saturday, Dec 16, 10:00-12:00 Redcliffe Plantation, (ASLS sponsored)
Contact hike leader at hike4LifeASLS@gmail.com
Saturday, Sept 30, 9:00-12:00 Boyd Pond Park (Sierra Club sponsored)
Contact hike leader at https://www.sierraclub.org/georgia/savannah-river
Saturday, October 14, 10:00-12:00 Audubon Sanctuary (ASLS sponsored)
Contact hike leader at hike4LifeASLS@gmail.com
Saturday, November 25, 9:30-11:30 Langley Pond Park, (ASLS sponsored)
Contact hike leader at hike4LifeASLS@gmail.com
Saturday, Dec 16, 10:00-12:00 Redcliffe Plantation, (ASLS sponsored)
Contact hike leader at hike4LifeASLS@gmail.com
