Oconee National Forest: Twin Bridges Trail (Blog Hike #259)

Trail: Twin Bridges Trail

Hike Location: Oconee National Forest, Lake Sinclair Recreation Area

Geographic Location: south of Eatonton, GA (33.19871, -83.40109)

Length: 3.6 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: December 2008, December 2013

Overview: A fairly easy forest hike with excellent lake views.
Area Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=10552&actid=50
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=721799
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From the US 441/129 split on the south side of Eatonton, take US 129 south 7.9 miles to SR 212.  Turn left on SR 212.  Take SR 212 1 mile to Twin Bridges Rd. and turn left on Twin Bridges Rd.  Follow Twin Bridges Rd. 1.1 miles to the signed recreation area on the left.  Turn left to enter the area, pay the nominal fee, and continue 0.25 miles along the paved forest road to the second campground loop on the right.  The trail departs from this loop.  Note: during the winter months the campground may be gated, forcing you to park in a small gravel parking area outside the gate and hike the final 0.25 miles to the trailhead.

The hike: Many residents of northeast Georgia use the waters of Lake Sinclair unawares every day.  The man-made lake was created in 1953 when the flow of the Oconee River was impeded by Sinclair Dam, a hydroelectric dam located between Eatonton and Milledgeville.  Georgia Power still uses this dam to generate 45,000 kilowatts of power, so the next time you flip a light switch, you might be using the waters of Lake Sinclair to power it.

            Unlike other Georgia lakes, the water level of Lake Sinclair varies little throughout the year.  This low variation is due to a pumped storage facility shared with nearby Lake Oconee.  Water is pumped into or out of Lake Sinclair to keep the hydroelectric plant operating at all times.  The 15,330 lake gives you an idea how much water is needed to make the hydroelectric plant work properly; it also tells you why so few hydroelectric power plants exist.

            Lake Sinclair’s 417 miles of shoreline provide some nice recreation opportunities.  In addition to fishing, numerous boat ramps, and some parks operated by Georgia Power, Oconee National Forest manages some land on the south side of Lake Sinclair.  This land contains a developed campground, a primitive campground, and this 1.8 mile hiker-only trail connecting the two.  Since this trail does not form a loop, you will need to either hike the trail both ways or arrange a car shuttle.  If you are planning a car shuttle, be warned that the primitive campground at the east end of the trail can only be reached by a narrow, unmaintained dirt road.

Trailhead

            From the signed trailhead in the developed campground, the trail immediately drops into typical Piedmont forest and crosses a large stream via a nice wooden bridge.  The name of the trail would suggest that there are two such bridges.  In fact, there are nine wooden bridges on this trail, but the other eight are not as well constructed as this one.  If you explore to the right of the trail about 200 feet past this first bridge, you will find what remains of the old bridge across this creek.  I’m sure glad the forest service decided to build the new one!

New trail bridge

            Continuing through the forest, at 0.4 miles the trail intersects the very end of an old access road, where the trail angles left.  Notice the bird box placed at this point, as it will help you find this turn on your return route.  At this point, your first view of Lake Sinclair appears straight ahead.  The lake will be a near constant companion for the rest of this hike.

            For the next 1.1 miles the trail meanders through a series of shallow ravines with the lake in near constant view downhill to the left.  The going is very easy except for one factor: downed trees.  This forest must be enchanted, or else somehow trees seem to know exactly where to fall so as to best encumber the trail.  The trail is marked with copious white blazes, and while it is sufficiently well-trodden so as to make many of these blazes unnecessary, they do occasionally help you find the trail on the other side of a downed tree.

Following the white blazes

            At 1.5 miles, the trail curves right and begins following a large tributary heading away from the lake.  Curving left, the last three bridges are crossed in quick fashion as the trail emerges at a two-track dirt road.  A left turn and about 250 feet of dirt road walking will lead you to the primitive campground and the official end of the Twin Bridges Trail.

The campground is situated right beside the lake, and a couple of logs make great places to sit while you eat a trail snack and observe the lake.  While I was sitting here, a blue heron glided over the shallow waters near the lakeshore.  Assuming you have not arranged a car shuttle, after your snack you will need to retrace your steps 1.8 miles back to your car at the developed campground to complete the hike.

Lake Sinclair at campground