Pole Bridge Creek is a fairly large creek at this location, resulting in some beautiful cascades. This is DeKalb's undiscovered scenic attraction. The large number of glass bottles recovered in 2004 within the streamside zone indicates the area got a lot of use decades in the past. In more recent times, before 2004, the area was essentially forgotten.
Parking for the geocache is off Evans Mill Road. This parking area, completed in late 2004, is at the west terminus (Evans Mill Road) of the Flat Rock Spur to the north-south Arabia Mountain Bike Trail. The trail to the cascades and the geocache begins less than 100 feet east of the parking area. This trail is delineated by vertical orange dashes on trailside tree trunks. You should stay on the trail until you are fairly close to the geocache
Upon your return to the bike trail, you may enjoy walking east on the bike path about 1.5 miles to see the attractive covered bridge over Stephenson Creek or you can continue on the Cascades Hiking Trail till it intersects the bike path and then continue east on the bike path to the covered bridge. The design of the fifty-five foot long bridge is based on work done by Horace King, a slave who designed covered bridges across the south in the 1800s. Along the way, you will observe a number of majestic old hardwood trees that date back to the early part of the 20th century when people lived in the area now traversed by the bike path.
Before you leave, you should view the site of Evans Mill, built in the late 1800's, and for which Evans Mill Road was named. A short hiking trail leads to an attractive moss covered rock wall, which is a remnant of a dam that once spanned the creek and stored water for use by the mill. The hiking trail begins on the access drive to the parking lot, just before you enter the parking lot. Enroute, you will pass by a hardwood tree with an unusual trunk, part of which grew horizontally. From a series of stones next to the creek, you can get a great view of the upper end of the rapids/cascades. Looking across the creek, you can see further remnants of the dam and a stone millrace.
Evans mill, with an overshot water wheel, was located just beyond the other end (south end) of the dam near the foot of the cascades, although the interpretive sign at the site may mislead you into believing the mill was on the north side of the creek. The pond behind the dam eventually filled with sediment, the mill fell into disrepair and the dam was breached. Picnic tables now rest upon the sediment that was deposited behind the dam. In the early 1930's, under new ownership, the mill was renovated and a new rock dam was constructed just upstream from the current highway bridge. At that time a water turbine and generator were installed at the mill to provide electricity to the mill, to an adjoining general store, and to the owner's home. An elderly resident of the area believes that the water wheel continued to be used, though he is not entirely sure of that fact. A four foot diameter steel penstock conveyed water from the upper dam to the turbine. Due to unfavorable economic conditions, the mill was abandoned in the late 1940's. Since then, the ravages of time have left only the remains of the two dams, part of a stone millrace at the south end of the lower dam, a small portion of the penstock, part of the turbine shaft projecting above the mud, and some imported quarry stones and rock rubble probably used for piers on which the mill rested.
As you look across the creek, try to imagine what the view was like over100 years ago.
Pole Bridge Creek Cascades.
Pole Bridge Creek Cascades.
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Cell service will be limited in various areas on the AMNHA Geo-Path. If you are using your cell phone, you can download the cache info to your phone and travel the trails using the offline mode.
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This nature preserve, like other Georgia woodlands, has ticks during all but the winter season. Take precautions that include wearing a hat, a long sleeve shirt, and long pants with legs tucked into socks. Wear light colored clothing for ease of spotting ticks, especially deer ticks that are the size of a pin head. Use bug spray with the chemical DEET and especially spray around the ankle area. Additional info for tick prevention measures.
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Come explore the Arabia Mountain PATH and earn trackable prizes along the way!
The AMNHA Geo-PATH is a geocaching program spread along the entire 30+ miles of the Arabia Mountain PATH hike/bike trail. We have over 60 geocaches just waiting for you to find.
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See additional waypoints for parking coordinates, points of interests and trailheads.
Each cache is classified in one of following series:
Arabia Mountain Adventures
Lands Less Visited
Lithonia's Historic Hike
Panola Mountain Pathways
Past and Present Passages
South River Stroll
Download the passports to collect the passwords:
Geo-Path Passport
Lands-Less-Visited Passport
Past and Presents Passages Passport
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