The Great Outdoors: Hike the Gorge, Play Disc Golf, Running and More

• Gwinnett Touring Club Thursday Evening Ride

Join the Gwinnett Touring Club on their Thursday evening ride starting at at 6:45 p.m. This ride is open to new riders of all levels and is considered a moderate to strenuous ride. The route is 21.3 miles long in low traffic areas. There are cut-offs for early returns. For more information you can contact Joe Iannazzone by email or at 770-367-0134,

• Holiday Gorge Floor Hike

Have you always wanted to hike the gorge floor at Tallulah Falls? Well here is your chance. On Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2 you can join a guided hike from the rim of the gorge to the river below. Hike will start at 10:30 a.m. and last until approximately 2:30 p.m. Hikers should be prepared for a strenuous hike involving rock hopping and getting wet. Proper hiking footwear is required. This hike is for participants 10 and older only and registration is required prior to the hike. Hike cost is $5 and a $5 parking fee. Call 706-754-7981 to register. The drive from Dacula to the Tallulah Falls will take you an estimated hour and a half.

Take a short drive up to Traditions of Braselton on Monday, July 4 and run in the Fourth of July Fun Run. There will be a 5K run/walk for participants 13 and older and a 1k race for those 12 and under.  Dogs on leashes are welcome to participate in the 5K event.  The cost to participate is $10 for residents of Traditions, $15 for non-residents and $5 for those participating in the 1K that are 12 and under. Awards will be given to first place finishers in various divisions and all participants in the 12 and under division will receive awards. For more information contact Jill Loftus at 770-827-5230 or by email at Jill_Pastrick@yahoo.com.

• Dahlonega Firecracker 5K-10K

Heading to the mountains this weekend? You can still get your running in by participating in the Dahlonega Firecracker 5K/10K. This event starts at 7 a.m. will registration beginning at 6 a.m. on the North Georgia College and State University Drill Field. Race fees are $30 per participant. The race begins and ends at the college and the 5K follows a route through downtown Dahlonega and the 10K will take you on a beautiful run through the Yahoola Park. After the race their will be a day full of fun family activities including a pet show, festival, parade and fireworks at dusk. Race winners will earn a spot to ride in the parade and show off their medals. Driving from Dacula to downtown Dahlonega will take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

• Disc Golf at Alexander Park

Did you know that Alexander Park in Lawrenceville is home to an 18-hole disc golf course? This course opened back in 2009 at this 91-acre park featuring approximately 1.4 miles of paved trails, a one mile crushed stone trail and more. Disc golf is a lot like regular golf using a Frisbee instead of clubs and golf balls. A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, most commonly a Pole Hole (an elevated metal basket). Players progress along the fairway much like golfers progress on the course taking new shots from where their disc previously landed until they “putt” into the basket and the hole is complete. The good news about playing disc golf is there is no green fees, no cart fees and there are no tee times to reserve.

Do you know of any upcoming outdoor events in or near the Dacula area? If so email kristi.reed@patch.com with the details or put it on the calendar.