Hamburg State Park (Blog Hike #261)

Trails: Hamburg, Blue, White, and Red Trails

Hike Location: Hamburg State Park

Geographic Location: southwest of Warrenton, GA (33.20679, -82.77834)

Length: 2.75 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: March 2009, December 2013, December 2022

Overview: A quiet hike along the north shore of Hamburg Lake.

Park Information: http://gastateparks.org/Hamburg
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=927603

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Sparta, take SR 16 east 11 miles to Hamburg State Park Road; from Warrenton, take SR 16 11 miles west to the same road.  Take Hamburg State Park Rd. south 6.5 miles to the park entrance on the right.  Park in the small parking lot near the park office.

The hike: My first visit to Hamburg State Park occurred almost by accident.  I had completed a trip to another state park in the area, and since the trails there were shorter than I had expected, I had some extra time.  Knowing my daily Georgia park pass was valid for the entire day, I scanned the map for another state park nearby.  Needless to say, Hamburg State Park came up.  Turns out, the hiking experience I had here was fabulous, and I hope to return again in the near future.

            Located in rural northern Washington County, Hamburg State Park is an oasis of conservation in a desert of timberland.  Many years ago this soil grew cotton; today it only grows pine trees.  You can see the park’s historic agricultural connection in the restored 1921 grist mill located just south of the park office.  The mill is still operational, and a small country store adjacent to the mill sells freshly ground cornmeal and displays agricultural artifacts.

            Besides the mill, the park also offers fishing on small, quiet Hamburg Lake and a modern campground offering good lake views.  A 0.5 mile nature trail leads to the campground on the south lakeshore, but the newest, and by far the best, hiking at the park can be found on the 3-mile trail system on the north side of the lake.  Numerous routes are possible, but the route described here includes all major points of interest and does so with minimal backtracking.

Trailhead

            Begin by picking up the Hamburg Trail, which heads north from the park office into the developed area of the park.  After crossing a tributary on a short boardwalk, the trail curves left with the lake on the left and the picnic/playground area on the right.  Long wooden beams line parts of this trail through the picnic area.

            At 0.5 miles, you reach a trail intersection where the Hamburg Trail ends and the backcountry trail system begins.  Wooden signs indicate that the Red Trail goes left, staying near the lake, while the Blue Trail heads uphill to the right.  This hike will take the Blue Trail now and use the Red Trail as the return route.

Climbing on the Blue Trail

            The blue blazes head gradually uphill through second growth pine forest.  All of the trails in the park are copiously blazed, and these blazes can come in handy due to the newness of the trails.  Interestingly, one of the best ways to break in new trails is to hike them, so hiking these trails also does some service to the hiking community.

            The younger pine saplings from the adjacent timber farm come into view on the right as you approach the park boundary.  At 0.8 miles, where the signed short-cut trail exits to the left, continue straight on the combined Blue and White Trails.  Soon the trail enters the first of two CCC-era pine plantings.  You can tell this is a pine planting as opposed to a naturally formed pine grove because the trees are growing in straight rows.  Watch the blazes carefully in these pine plantings, as the alleys between the rows of pines can easily be mistaken for trails.

            On the other side of the pine planting, the trail intersects what appears to be an old access road.  A sign directs you to turn left.  About 1000 feet of gradual downhill walking on this old road will lead you to an intersection.  The trail heading left will be our eventual return route, but for now, continue straight to begin the loop portion of the White Trail.

Entering a pine planting

            A stream passes under the trail in a black plastic pipe, and soon the trail climbs gradually and skirts the edge of the second pine planting.  Past the pines, the lake comes into view again straight ahead and to the left while a small tallgrass prairie planting can be seen immediately to the right of the trail.  While tallgrass prairie plantings are common in parks throughout the Midwest, this is one of only two parks I know of in Georgia that has such a planting.  The tallgrass prairies here are very young, and the grasses and other prairie plants are just starting to grow.  It is hard for a prairie to grow in Georgia, so keep an eye on this one and see how it fares.

Trail enters prairie planting

            For the next 0.4 miles the trail parallels the lake shore as it traces around a small peninsula of land sticking out into the lake.  Some benches with good lake views make for ideal places to rest near the midpoint of the hike.  At 1.7 miles, the trail curves right and enters the pine planting.  Pine forests are among the most serene habitats, as you’ll discover if you stop momentarily in one and listen.

            Upon reaching the edge of the pines, you close the loop portion of the White Trail.  Turn left, re-cross the black plastic pipe, and then turn right on the Red Trail to begin your return route.  The Red Trail stays near the lake for its entire length, and more benches offer good lake views.  Though a sign at the trailhead warned of alligators, such an encounter is unlikely.  You are more likely to see turtles sunning on logs in the shallow water, as I did during my hike.

Turtles in Hamburg Lake

            The Red Trail passes another small prairie planting and a picnic area with a lake observation deck in quick order.  At 2.5 miles, you return to the intersection with the Blue and Hamburg Trails.  Angle right and retrace your steps 0.5 miles along the Hamburg Trail to return to the park office and complete the hike.