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Feature/General
Earn Your “Get Outdoors Georgia” Badge
May/June 2008

Get Outdoors Georgia badgeThe State of Georgia is launching a special initiative called Get Outdoors Georgia. The initiative is to get families off the couch and enjoying the great outdoors. In fact, in doing so, it not only saves our parks, but our children and adults. As noted in Last Child in The Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, by Author Richard Louv, getting your kids back in touch with the great outdoors can improve their health and well-being. Go to www.gastateparks.org for a complete listing of requirements for ages 7 and up.

Example of one of the requirements: Climb a Canyon – Join the Georgia State Parks’ Canyon Climber’s Club. Hike the “canyons” at Cloudland Canyon State Park, Providence Canyon State Park and Tallulah Gorge State Park and earn a free t-shirt. Tell state park staff you are working on your Get Outdoors Badge and the fee to join will be waived. For more information go to www.gastateparks.org

Family-Friendly Fun at Georgia State Parks
Georgia State Parks offer trails and recreational opportunities for the entire family. And Spring/Summer through fall is the perfect time to get off the couch and get moving, as the temperatures are conducive to work up a sweat. Whether you are in tow with an infant, toddler or 6 year old, there are trails to fit your unique pace. The following list of parks within the Athens area gives information on trails or recreational opportunities that are paved or suitable for toddlers with shaky feet. There are also trails suitable for older children that want more of a challenge, and if you are catering to a few age groups, you can always carry your baby on your back with a carrier. Also listed are any special events at these parks in Spring/Summer that are recreation-oriented. Following are some state parks nearby to Athens.

Annual Georgia State Park Passes are perfect for outdoor lovers and families. The Annual ParkPass provides access to all 48 state parks, including Tallulah Gorge, Amicalola Falls and Skidaway Island. An excellent value, the annual pass costs $30, or $15 for seniors 62 and older. Normally parking fees are $3-$4. To purchase, call 1-800-864-7275 or visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org, where you will find more information on all of these wonderful outdoor getaways.

Hard Labor Creek State Park
While this park may be best known for its golf course, The Creek, it also offers a wide range of recreational opportunities in a beautiful wooded setting. Horseback riders can explore 22 miles of trails, while hikers have their own 2.5-mile trail. A lakeside beach is open for swimming during the summer. The park provides one of Georgia’s best golf values, along with a pro shop, driving range, rental carts and junior/senior citizen discounts. Hard Labor Creek cuts through the course, creating water hazards on five holes. It is thought that the creek was named either by slaves who tilled summer fields, or by Native Americans who found it difficult to ford.

Recreational offerings at Hard Labor Creek include 22 miles of hiking trails, golf (rental carts, driving range), boat rental – pedal boats (seasonal), canoes, fishing boats – horseback riding, fishing and swimming (March-September).

Fort Yargo State Park
Located between Atlanta and Athens, Fort Yargo offers a fun camping, hiking and fishing experience. The park surrounds Marbury Creek Reservoir, a 260-acre lake with a swimming beach, fishing areas and boat ramps. Many campsites are near the water’s edge, and hiking trails follow the lake’s shore. Mountain bikers can test their endurance on 12 miles of trails with beautiful views. Within the park is Will-A-Way Recreation Area, an accessible facility specifically designed for challenged populations, with a group camp, picnic and fishing areas and paved trail. This historical park features a log fort built in 1792 by settlers for protection against Creek and Cherokee Indians.

Recreational offerings at Fort Yargo include 15 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, fishing and boating – seasonal canoe, fishing boat and pedal boat rentals, picnicking, miniature golf – $2 per person, per round. Rental equipment available and a brand new disc golf course, $2 per person, per round. Annual Individual ($20) and Family ($30) Passes available. No rental equipment available

Mistletoe State Park

Located on 72,000-acre Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta, this park is known as one of the finest bass fishing spots in the nation. During the summer, guests can cool down at the beach or on miles of shaded nature trails. A wildlife observation area is available. The park has 10 fully equipped cottages on the lake, five of which are log cabins. The campground is situated on a peninsula, offering spectacular views of both sunset and sunrise over the open water. A one-room camper cabin faces the lake, offering a porch with rocking chairs, electricity, four bed platforms, a grill, picnic table and water spigot.

Each trail at Mistletoe State Park is unique. Some have streams and waterfalls, others spectacular ravines, overlooks and lake views. All offer the opportunity to view wildlife.

Elijah Clark State Park
Located on the western shore of 70,000-acre Clarks Hill Lake, this park is named for a frontiersman and Georgia war hero who led pioneers during the Revolu-tionary War. A recreated log cabin museum displays furniture, utensils and tools circa 1780 and is open on weekends April through November. Visitors can also view the graves of Clark and his wife, Hannah. Anglers and boaters will especially enjoy the park’s location on the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Cottages are located on the lake’s edge, and the spacious campground is nestled into the forest.

Recreation at Elijah Clark includes 3.75 miles of hiking trails, as well as a playground, miniature golf and swimming beach, boating and skiing for the entire family to enjoy in the spring/summer months without having to visit the coast.

Bobby Brown State Park
This pretty park offers water-sports enthusiasts a quiet oasis on 70,000-acre Clarks Hill Lake. Located where the old town of Petersburg once thrived during the 1790s, the park is named in memory of Lt. Robert T. Brown, U.S. Navy, who gave his life in World War II. Petersburg was situated where the Broad and Savannah rivers flow into the Clarks Hill Reservoir, now an outstanding state recreational area. When water levels are low, visitors can see some foundations of the old town and imagine large plantations once flourishing. The park’s location on the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River provides excellent boating, skiing and fishing. Yurts, which are like tents made of canvas and wood, offer a unique camping experience. The park’s self-guided Land Navigation Courses teach beginners how to use a compass.

Amicalola State Park & Lodge
It’s easy to see why this is one of Georgia’s most popular state parks. Amicalola, a Cherokee Indian word meaning “tumbling waters,” is an appropriate name for these 729-foot falls, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. An 8.5-mile approach trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the 2,135-mile Appalachian Trail. However, numerous other trails are available for shorter journeys. A beautiful lodge at the top of the mountain is popular with guests who prefer hotel-type comforts, while a 5-mile hike leads to more remote accommodations at the Len Foote Hike Inn. Be sure to stop by the visitor center to see nature displays, live exhibits and a gift shop.

Information provided by Colleen Philbrick of Georgia State Parks


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