Campus

The Lake Trail (Yellow) 0.4 Mile

The Lake Trail is the shortest trail. The trail follows the small lake on the Holy Family campus. Beginning at the trailhead (kiosk sign), follow the trail a short distance to the south to the main junction. At the junction, the Lake Trail will turn right and follow the nature trail around the lake in a counter-clockwise manner.

After walking about 0.1 mile, the trail will turn left crossing over a footbridge onto the lake dam. Follow the trail across the lake dam to where it junctions with several trails. The Lake Trail will turn left at the junction and all the trails will follow the same path back to the trailhead. The Lake Trail continues eastward until it joins an old roadbed where the trail turns north with the lake to your left. In a short distance, another trail junction is reached where the Lake, Stations, and Griffeth Trails all turn left again heading back to the trailhead. When you reach the first trail junction, turn right and walk a short distance back to the trailhead

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Stations of the Cross Trail (Stations Trail) (Orange) 0.6 Mile

The Stations Trail is also a nature trail on which the walker can enjoy a quiet, peaceful walk in the forest.

 The Stations Trail follows much of the same path as the Lake Trail but goes further passing through one of the church’s meadows near the Griffeth homesite. Head south from the trailhead to the junction point and then turn right following the orange trail markers. In about 0.1 mile, the Lake Trail will turn off to the left and the Stations Trail will continue to the west.

Along the pathway are located 14 Stations with a metal cross. Each of these locations is marked with the trail color.

After leaving the junction with the Lake Trail, the Stations Trail continues westerly for about 0.1 mile where the trail begins its descent into the meadow area. Upon reaching the meadow, the trail will cross over a small footbridge and go a very short distance where it makes a left turn joining the Griffeth Trail heading back to the east toward the lake. Follow the trail uphill where the trail will rejoin the Lake Trail and continue to the east circling the lake.

After rejoining the Lake Trail, the trail will head east to the old roadbed. It then circles left around the lake to the next trail junction where the trails will turn left back to the trailhead. Follow the trail markings back to the trailhead.

Ball Ground Trail (Red) 0.5 Mile

 The perimeter of the Cherokee Ball Ground can be found today by following the rock wall built around it. The wall can still be found on the northern, western and southern sides of the ball ground. The Griffeths built this wall when they farmed the land.

 The Ball Ground Trail begins at the trailhead and heads south briefly where it turns left at the trails junction. The trail heads east for about 0.1 mile where it turns left again at the trail junction and old roadbed. The Ball Ground and Griffeth Trails parallel each other heading north circling the parking lot through the forested property. Near the NE corner of the church property, the trail encounters another old roadbed. From here, the trail bends to the west following the forested area between the church parking lot and Cove Road.

 Continue west following the trail markers passing the opening in the forest at the north end of the church sanctuary. After passing this opening, you are now following the boundary of the Cherokee ball ground. Some of the rock wall is visible at this end of the ball ground. The trail continues westerly for several hundred feet before turning south along the ball ground boundary.

 After turning left again, the trail goes a short distance before crossing the church road where the trail now goes onto the ball ground and continues heading south. At the end of the opening in the ball ground is a historical sign providing information about the Cherokee ball field.

 The trail continues westerly from the sign heading across a small footbridge and old roadbed. Continue west across the road to the trail junction where the Griffeth Trail turns off to the right. The Ball Ground Trail continues westerly for a short distance where the trial turns back to the east following the rock wall boundary. The trail goes several hundred feet along the rock wall and then veers to the right where it rejoins the Lake and Stations Trails. Follow the trail markers back the east to the trailhead.

Griffeth Trail (White) 1.25 Mile

 The trail begins at the trailhead and heads south for a short distance where it turns left paralleling the Ball Ground Trail for about 0.3 mile. Follow the white trail markers until reaching the old roadbed and trail junction where the trail will turn to the left and head north. The trail heads off through the forested area east of the parking lot before bending to the west at the second old roadbed. From here the trail goes through the forested area between the parking lot and Cove Road and continues west until the trail turns back to the south.

 After turning south, the trial follows the ball ground western boundary crossing over a small footbridge and another roadbed till it reaches the trail junction. At the junction, the Griffeth Trail turns right heading westward and exits out briefly on the church entrance road before crossing over Griffith Road into the upper meadow on a set of steps. At the top of the steps, turn right and follow the white stakes around the circumference of the meadow. The trail bends to the west to the Griffeth Lake and then turns southeast following the edge and marsh area of the lake.

 The trail crosses over the large footbridge in the meadow then bends back to the southwest following the lake. At this point, the trail is just to the north of the memorial garden. The trail follows the lake to the lake outlet where the trail now turns southeast and begins following the perimeter of the meadow and Memorial Garden. In about 100 feet, the trail will turn south following a pathway to the west of the conference building and pavilion. The trail goes behind these structures and exits out onto a graveled road to the south of the pavilion.

From hear the trail turns left heading north along the church road toward the Griffeth homesite. After crossing over Griffith Road again, the trail will go through the area that was the Griffeth homesite. There is a historic marker at the home site. From here the trail follows a pathway in the meadow behind the homesite and then turns eastward to begin following the church lake. The trail continues east along the lake till reaching the old roadbed where the trail bends to the north behind the lake. At the last trail junction, the Griffeth Trail turns back to the west until it reaches the trailhead.

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