Hard Labor Creek State Park
Lake Rutledge–Red Loop, 3 sights
7.4 mi · ▲ 629 ft · 2 hr 47 min
Lake Rutledge–Red Loop, 3 sights is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in Hard Labor Creek State Park near Fairplay, GA. The route reaches Lake Rutledge at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 629 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Rutledge–Red Loop, 3 sights
7.4 mi · ▲ 629 ft · 2 hr 47 min
Elevation 560–761 ft
Out & Back · Hard Labor Creek State Park
Trailhead: 33.66538, -83.59333
Weather Sep 6: Light drizzle, high 102°F / low 72° · precip 25% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 7:13 AM · sunset 7:55 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading N.
- 3.1 miTurn right onto Yellow Loop, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Blue Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Camp Rutledge Road Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.2 miReach Lake Rutledge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto cutoff, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto cutoff, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right onto Blue Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Red Loop, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear left onto cutoff, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left onto cutoff, heading N.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Blue Trail, heading N.
- 1.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 7:02 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lake Rutledge & Red Loop via Blue Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 333 ft
- Blue Trail 9.7 mi · ▲ 828 ft
- White mark trail via Blue Trail 10.6 mi · ▲ 888 ft
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Hikes near Fairplay, Georgia