Fort Yargo State Park: South Loop (Blog Hike #224)

Trails: Woodfern, Gasline, and Old Fort Trails

Hike Location: Fort Yargo State Park

Geographic Location: south side of Winder, GA (33.96461, -83.74036)

Length: 3 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: October 2007, March 2013

Overview: An easy hike featuring a wide variety of scenery.

Park Information: https://gastateparks.org/FortYargo
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=721516
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Athens or I-85, take SR 316/US 29 to SR 81; there is a traffic light at this intersection.  Go north on SR 81.  Take SR 81 north 1.5 miles to the entrance for Area B of Fort Yargo State Park.  Turn right to enter the park.  Pay the entrance fee, then bear right when the park road forks.  Park in the parking lot beside the lake at the end of this road.

The hike: Located just off of University Parkway (SR 316) about half way between Athens and I-85, the land now comprising Fort Yargo State Park has been important to Americans for over 200 years.  While this area was being settled, protection against native Creek and Cherokee Indians proved necessary.  The solution came in 1792 in the form of a log fort built on this site.  In fact, the fort remains visible today, and unlike in 1792 when a long wilderness hike was required to visit the fort, a park road and nearby parking lot provides easy access to this historical site.

            Instead of coming to Fort Yargo for refuge against Indian attacks, today’s Americans come to Fort Yargo to enjoy some of the best recreation available between Athens and Atlanta.  Besides the fort, the center of the 1814 acre park is Marbury Lake.  In addition to providing fishing and boating opportunities, Marbury Lake is also the home of UGA Crew, the University of Georgia’s competitive rowing team.  The park also features a modern campground, a pioneer campground, and numerous picnic areas.

            Due to a recent expansion, the park’s trail system now features some of the best hiking opportunities in the Athens region.  The trail system is comprised of several smaller loops all of which are connected by a long 12-mile Outer Loop.  This hike explores two of these shorter loops, the two south of Marbury Lake.

South end of wooden footbridge

            Begin by walking across the long wooden footbridge that crosses the lake at a narrow point.  The main trails in this part of the park form a figure-eight with this bridge entering at the side of the southern lobe.  Thus, at the far side of the bridge, you reach a fork.  This description will turn left here and use the right trail as the return route.

            The first 0.5 mile parallels the lakeshore with the lake on the left and the hillside rising to the right.  A few trees provide some shade, but an abundance of power line and pipeline clearings in this area ensure that much of this opening section will be sunny and warm.  Hence, this is not a trail for a hot sunny day.  On the bright side, wide views of the lake open up to the left.

Sunny hike along the lake

            After topping a small rise, the trail reaches a confusing and poorly marked trail junction where numerous options present themselves.  Actually, this is the center of the figure-eight.  To continue around the loop, you should bear left twice, once onto a rough two-track dirt road, then again on a single track trail that heads into the woods.  After entering the forest, the trail descends gradually and, at 0.6 miles, arrives back at the lake.

            Now staying near the lake shore, what to this point has been a sunny hike through developed areas now becomes a very pleasant, lakeside stroll through some of the oldest, nicest forest in the park.  The forest is dominated by hardwoods with a few tall pines mixed in.  All of the trails at Fort Yargo are shared by hikers and mountain bikers, and considering that the park is located near a major highway, you will likely pass some bikers during your hike.  Unlike heavier horses, lighter mountain bikes cause little damage to the trail and they do not leave stinky reminders of their presence.  Also, the bike traffic helps keep the trail well-worn, so if you hear or see a bike coming on you from the front or rear, just move to the side of the trail and let them pass.

Hiking through the forest

            At 1.3 miles, the trail follows the lakeshore and takes a sharp right turn, bringing the dam into view.  0.1 miles later, the west side of the dam is reached, as is another major trail junction.  The Woodfern Trail turns left and proceeds across the dam, and a spur trail leads straight ahead to Marbury Creek at the base of the dam.  The Gasline Trail heads uphill to the right along a rough two-track dirt road.  We will eventually need to use the Gasline Trail, but a more scenic alternative can be found by taking a fourth trail that exits at a sharp angle to the right marked by a carsonite post stating “Outer Loop.”

            The grassy trail climbs gradually and gently curves to the left.  Gone is the nice mature forest along the lake, and it has been replaced by small broadleaf and pine trees with a dense understory.  Where the trail forks, take the left fork; the right fork leads downhill back to the Woodfern Trail along the lake.  When I hiked this trail, I sent a large white-tailed deer scurrying through the woods as I approached this spot.

Gasline Trail

            At 1.6 miles, the trail intersects the Gasline Trail, which is still a rough two-track dirt road.  Turn right to begin the Gasline Trail.  As its name suggests, this trail follows the (straight) right-of-way used by an underground pipeline.  This setting makes for hiking that is not particularly scenic and frankly rather boring, but it beats retracing your steps along the Woodfern Trail.

            As you reach the bottom of a dip, you pass through the pinch of the figure-eight for the second time.  Continue uphill on the Gasline Trail, following signs for the Outer Loop.  At 2.2 miles, pass a blue carsonite stake that reads “Mile 6.5.”  This post and others like it mark distances along the Outer Loop.

Old Fort Trail

            At 2.3 miles, a sign for the Outer Loop directs you to turn right off of the Gasline Trail, and you should follow its direction.  This section of trail is called the Old Fort Trail, which is a misnomer because old Fort Yargo will not be found along this trail.  The trail quickly reenters the nice forest near the lake, and soon the lake comes into view on the left.  A couple of benches provide nice opportunities to relax and observe the lake.  At 2.6 miles, arrive back at the bridge that will lead you back across the lake and to your car to complete the hike.