History meets outdoor recreation on the 1845 Augusta Canal’s 8.5 miles of waterway, where visitors can cruise the Canal in a replica canal cargo boat or enjoy a pleasant hike or bike expedition along the towpath. Just north of the Augusta Canal are the Savannah River rapids flowing south from Clarks Hill Lake with its +1,200 miles of shoreline, 13 campgrounds, 11 recreation areas, 10 parks and five marinas.
Augusta’s Phinizy Swamp
Nature Park allows views of a variety of wildlife from its nature
trails and observation decks through its 1,150 acres of wetlands and swamps.
Nearby,
in Thomson-McDuffie County, anglers enjoy the McDuffie Public
Fishing Area’s seven ponds full of bass, bluegill, sunfish and
catfish. Outside the PFA, McDuffie has quite an equestrian and fox hunting community, celebrated with the annual Belle
Meade Hunt.
Try your skill at one of three professional disc
golf courses at the PDGA International
Disc Golf Center at Wildwood Park in Appling, on the banks of Clarks Hill Lake, just
minutes from Augusta.
Further north, near Lincolnton, ride your horse on trails at Bussey Point
or hunt for crystals at Graves
Mountain.
West of Augusta is Georgia’s Lake Country – Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, Georgia’s second-largest lake. Family friendly camping, boating, fishing and hunting are accented by what Golf Digest magazine describes as one of theTop 50 golf destinations in the world. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee is just one of Lake Oconee’s fine resorts.
The six state parks and a state historic site that enhance the East Georgia Region provide hiking on nature trails, camping, swimming, fishing, cottages, house museum tours, and special events.
Explore all six state parks – Elijah Clark, A.H. Stephens, Mistletoe, Hamburg, Magnolia Springs, and George L. Smith – as well as the historic Robert Toombs House.
Elijah Clark State Park in Lincolnton and Mistletoe State Park in Appling both give access to 71,000-acre Clarks Hill Lake. These parks offer opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and biking.
A.H. Stephens State Park in Crawfordville, just a few miles off I-20, is probably best known for its equestrian facilities. Bring your horse to explore 21 miles of trails and stay overnight in the dedicated equestrian campground. Also enjoy fishing and boating, geocaching, and learning about A.H. Stephens, a key officer in the American Civil War, in the Confederate museum within the park.
Beautiful
Magnolia Springs State
Park in Millen attracts visitors to the boardwalk spanning its
crystal-clear springs flowing 7 million gallons per day to view alligators,
turtles and other wildlife near the springs.
The mill
pond at George L. Smith
State Park in Twin City beckons anglers and paddlers to explore
tupelo and cypress tree stands dripping with Spanish moss, and to look for
beaver dams and wading birds such as blue heron and white ibis.
