Aenon Church Road - The Mountain

To find "The Mountain" drive west out highway 20 and turn left on Aenon Church Road. Go about one mile. As you start down the hill you will see a graveyard on the right, a trailer on the left and, if you go too far, a little bridge. You can park just after the graveyard on the right side of the road. "The Mountain" trail starts on the right. It is easy to get "lost" on this trail and end up near Silver Lake or Girl Scout Lake. However, once figure it out trail is easy to remember. A good way to learn the course is to show up at the annual Mountain Run which occurs on New Year's Eve or Day, depending on the weather. It is a difficult five mile loop, but runs through the Apalachicola National Forest. And while unfortunately the area has become a dumping ground for trash, there still are lots of very nice places along the way to enjoy the outdoors. The last mile is a long climb up a sandy hill then a long downhill stretch. There is an alternate route that Myron and I like to do that we call "The Mountain without the Mountain". It keeps you in the shade and tacks on about 1/2 mile. Here is our best effort to describe the trail:

The Mountain Trail:

Start at trail head and follow the double track. At about one mile later you will see a lake on your left side. There are some intersecting trails to the right (also known as short mountain), but just keep heading straight on the main trail. Just before the two mile point, you will get to power lines. Cross the power line and you will find the trail on the other side. At about two and one half miles the trail runs into a gravel road. On your left you will see a bridge. Take a RIGHT going uphill on the gravel road. This area is prime deer country. It is also a crossing for black racer snakes in the summertime. Just before the three mile marker, you will again intersect the same power line that you crossed before. Cross the power line and continue along the road. A little before mile four you will see another intersection. If you follow the road to the right you will end up back at the lake and this is "the mountain without the mountain" route. If you continue straight, you will climb for at least a half a mile. The road goes to another power line road where you should turn right under the power lines and continue to climb, climb, climb. You will peak and then start down. The trail will veer to the right and end at the graveyard a short distance on Highway 20 from the start.

Prepared with assistance by Julie Clark & Myron Herring