Roadrunner Trail System

Hike the RTS

Take a walk in the woods on the Roadrunner Trail System (RTS), Dalton State’s network of interconnected trails offering hikers a deep woods experience just steps from campus.

The five-mile trail system on the side of Rocky Face Ridge was developed by Dalton State faculty, staff and students, as well as many community members, and is used for both instructional and recreational purposes. It is open for campus and community use with entry and exit points all along the RTS. Kiosks, each featuring a map, mark the four trailheads.

The moderately difficult trails are appropriate for hikers of all ages. They are blazed and include benches from which hikers can sit and enjoy the views. Interpretive signs on the College Creek Trail help identify flora and fauna along the way.

The half-mile Big Rock Trail originates from a trailhead located near Dalton State’s athletics field and presents the RTS’s steepest climb. The Big Rock Trail connects to the one-mile-long College Creek Trail (trailheads across George Rice Drive from Bandy Gym and the Pope Student Center) which features a headwater stream that runs from the ridge through the campus behind Roberts Library. The Cascade Trail branches off of the north end of the College Creek Trail and runs 1.5 miles, terminating at the Brown Center parking lot. Near the north end of the Cascade Trail a short side path leads to the picturesque cascade for which the trail is named. The newest trail, the Gretchen and John Lugthart Ridge Trail, is three miles in length. This trail branches off of the Big Rock Trail on the south end and the Cascade Trail on the north end. It gradually climbs Rocky Face Ridge, then runs along the ridge, offering excellent views, both east and west. On the ridge top, hikers will see the stone earthworks built by Confederate soldiers in 1864 as they defended Dalton from Union troops advancing up the ridge from the west.

The RTS welcomes hikers year-round – each season presents different natural wonders ranging from scenic vistas to blooming wildflowers to migratory birds to lush foliage to autumnal splendor. Lace up your hiking boots and join us on the Roadrunner Trail System!