GAOC will host two orienteering meets in one weekend on Saturday, February 29th, and Sunday, March 1st. The entry fees are $7 for members and $10 for associate and non-members for each day. E-chip rentals will cost $3 or $5 each day.
The Saturday meet will be held at the Iron Hill trailhead in the field that is west of the main parking lot.
We'll be using the south side of the park on Saturday which features numerous boulders and some fantastically open woods. But, the upper level courses will use a portion of the map where the under growth is fairly thick for the first few legs.
There will be a lot of controls in the woods, make sure you check your description.
Lake Allatoona is flooded at the moment. Please keep this in mind while navigating as the maps show the lake at a much lower level. There may be small sections of some trails that are under water, especially on Saturday's white and yellow courses. These areas are easily avoided by walking in the woods.
Saturday's white and yellow courses will have flagged legs to help runners navigate where the correct path may not be distinct. These flagged legs are noted in the descriptions on the map.
Saturday's brown, green and red courses will have a remote start that is approximately 300 meters from the finish. This start is on the "other" side of the main park road from Iron Hill. Runners will cross this road again later in their courses. Please exercise extreme caution when crossing park roads. Drivers routinely exceed the speed limit.
The Sunday meet will be held as usual on the west side of the parking lot at the newly rebuilt Visitor Center. Please note that there is no right turn as you enter the parking area because of the No Entry sign.
Lake Allatoona is very high right now, but should have receded somewhat by Sunday. Some courses may have to take the long way round to avoid the water at times. Red and Orange runners may want to take note of a bridge that is specially marked on the map.
| Course | Description | Distance | Controls | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | Short beginner course | 2.6 km | 13 | 100 m |
| Yellow | Long beginner course | 2.4 km | 13 | 85 m |
| Orange | Intermediate course | 3.8 km | 15 | 150 m |
| Brown | Short advanced course | 3.4 km | 15 | 150 m |
| Green | Medium advanced course | 4.5 km | 17 | 200 m |
| Red | Advanced course | 5.3 km | 20 | 230 m |
| Course | Description | Distance | Controls | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | Short beginner course | 1.9 km | 9 | 45 m |
| Yellow | Long beginner course | 2.7 km | 12 | 85 m |
| Orange | Intermediate course | 4.0 km | 13 | 130 m |
| Silver | Very Short advanced course | 2.9 km | 8 | 115 m |
| Brown | Short advanced course | 3.6 km | 10 | 160 m |
| Green | Medium advanced course | 5.0 km | 11 | 225 m |
| Red | Advanced course | 6.0 km | 15 | 265 m |
GAOC offers beginner instruction at 10am at all local meets. Runners may start their course any time between 11am and 1pm with a 3-hour time limit for all courses. All runners must be off the courses by 3pm.
From Atlanta, go north on I-75 and take exit 285. Turn right onto Red Top Mtn Rd and follow into Park. Once in the park, follow the orange and white "Orienteer" signs to the start location.
The park address is 50 Lodge Road SE, Acworth, GA 30102.
Typical fees are shown below. Participants may go out on the course as individuals or with a group. E-chip rental is required if you do not have your own stick.
| Members | $7 |
| Associate and Non-members | $10 |
| Additional Maps | $3 |
| SI-8 E-chip Rental | $3 |
| SIAC E-chip Rental | $5 |
| State Park Parking Fee | $5 |
For current forecast click here.
Steve Houghton & Anne Ledbetter 770-330-8172
Charlie & Chun Bleau 404-276-6558