DO IT: Hiking - Yearling Trail – Reed Bingham State Park

Reed Bingham State Park

Six miles west of Adel, GA and I-75, Reed Bingham State Park is a pristine example of the long-leaf pine habitat that used to cover much of the Southeast U.S. coastal plains. Now, such habitats account for less than 3 percent of their former acreage.

Reed Bingham State Park, which sits on the border of Cook and Colquitt counties, has miles of walking and biking trails for visitors to explore. In addition, a 375-acre lake is popular with boaters and paddlers, while fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and bream is excellent. Paddlers can rent canoes and kayaks to explore this beautiful lake lined with fragrant water lilies and tupelo trees. Guided pontoon boat tours are sometimes offered during events.

Numerous picnic shelters and parking areas allow visitors to easily explore the park, which was named for Amos Reed Bingham who was instrumental in the establishment of the park. Wildlife is abundant year-round with steady sightings of gopher tortoises, yellow bellied sliders, alligators, and indigo snakes. Nesting bald eagles are often seen in winter, along with roosting black vultures and turkey vultures, commonly referred to as “buzzards.”

Heading west on GA Hwy 37 from Adel, take a right on Evergreen Church Road and then a left on Reed Bingham Road to enter the park.

Yearling Trail

This 1.0-mile connector trail links the Little River Loop and the Birdwalk Trail to the northern tip of the park at Red Roberts Landing. The trail climbs steadily from bottomland forest to high river bluff, providing scenic overlooks of the beautiful Little River. The forested bluff is dominated by pines and palmettos with an occasional gopher tortoise burrow.