Oconee National Forest: Scull Shoals Trail (Blog Hike #191)

Trail: Scull Shoals Trail

Hike Location: Oconee National Forest, Oconee River Recreation Area

Geographic Location: southeast of Watkinsville, GA (33.72023, -83.29135)

Length: 1.8 miles (but see my update comment at the end of the hike)

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: April 2006, May 2013

Overview: A flat walk along the Oconee River ending at Scull Shoals historic area.

Area Information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=10555&actid=50
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=720366
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Watkinsville, take SR 15 south to the Greene County line.  Continue another 2 miles, crossing the Oconee River, to the signed entrance for the Oconee River Recreation Area on your left.  Turn left to enter the recreation area.  Pay the minimal entrance fee and park in the first parking lot (the park road makes a sharp right here to head downhill for the boat launch ramp).

The hike: Though smaller than Chattahoochee National Forest to the north, Oconee National Forest offers plenty of pleasant recreational opportunities in the clay Piedmont hills south and east of Atlanta.  The trails of Oconee National Forest are not well-known because they do not lead to dazzling waterfalls or scenic mountain vistas as those in other parts of the state.  However, for those seeking an interesting and pleasant short hike not too far from home, the hiking trails of Oconee National Forest will fit the bill.

            Located along the east bank of the Oconee River in northern Greene County, the Oconee River Recreation Area is best known for the river access and picnic opportunities afforded by its boat ramp and secluded picnic grounds.  On a nice warm-weather day, you will find the boat ramp jammed full of fishing enthusiasts seeking to test their angling skills against the specimen in the Oconee River.  For this reason, while you could park near the boat ramp slightly closer to the trailhead, it is best to stay out of their way and park in the picnic area parking lot at the top of the small hill.

            The recreation area boasts three trails open only to hikers.  The Indian Mound Trail is 1 mile long and leads to its namesake.  The 0.4 mile Boarding House Trail departs the abandoned Scull Shoals Mill Village to the remains of the manager’s house that once stood near the village.  Our hike, the Scull Shoals Trail, begins at the boat launch/picnic area and proceeds north along the river to the Scull Shoals Mill Village.  While the Boarding House Trail could easily be added on to extend the hike, reaching the trailhead for the Indian Mound Trail would require 1.5 miles of hiking (one-way) on a gravel road that departs from the village.  Since the village and the Indian Mound trailhead can both be reached by car, it is probably best to consider the Indian Mound Trail as a separate hike.

Oconee River

            Begin at a brown information board at the river side of the parking area.  The trail immediately yields a nice view as you arrive at an overlook perched atop a bluff some 30 feet above the river.  Curve to the right and walk downhill through the picnic area to arrive at the boat launch ramp.  Near the river at the far side of the boat ramp, the Scull Shoals Trail itself begins at a brown carsonite post.       

            The trail immediately crosses a small stream on a wooden footbridge then curves right in the woods on the other side.  Soon the narrow trail reaches the river and curves sharply right to begin following the river upstream.  All of this trail passes through second growth floodplain forest, and frequently the trail clings to the bank with a steep drop down to the river.  Also, the trail can be quite muddy: when the river floods, this trail becomes a swim rather than a hike.  For these reasons, you should avoid this trail after a hard rain and watch your footing.  A slip and fall into the swift, muddy river could prove disastrous, especially for young children.     

Scull Shoals Trail

            At 0.3 miles, the trail curves right and moves inland to cross another stream on another wooden footbridge.  This bridge has been damaged by a fallen tree, and the evidence of this still lies on top of the bridge.  Despite the appearance, as of my visit, this bridge was still quite stable.  At 0.6 miles you will reach a point that stays particularly muddy and is located in a particularly precarious position above the river; again, watch your footing and tread carefully.

            At 0.8 miles, rock-hop Scull Shoals Creek.  Looking to the right, you will soon see a clearing through the trees and then the shell of an old brick building.  These sites signal your arrival at the Scull Shoals Mill Village. The trail soon turns right, away from the river, and enters the village.  The brick shell you saw earlier is now on your right as you walk through the village toward the information kiosk and picnic tables.  A brochure available at the kiosk tells you that the brick shell is the remnants of the Company Store and Warehouse built in 1846.  The brochure also tells you that the village was the intersection of the Maxeys and Greensboro roads and was thus an important center of commerce in the early 1800’s.  Take some time to follow the brochure’s self-guided tour of the remnants of this village and imagine what this settlement would have looked like bustling with activity back in the early 1800’s.

Historic Scull Shoals village

Boarding House ruins

Boarding House remains

            Departing from the right (south) side of the kiosk is the Boarding House Trail, which leads 0.2 miles, crossing the Volunteers’ Bridge over Scull Shoals Creek, to arrive at the old boarding house.  Those wishing to continue to the Indian Mound Trail should follow the gravel road uphill out of the Scull Shoals parking area, turning left at the next intersection to reach the trailhead for the Indian Mound Trail.  All options will eventually need to return to the Scull Shoals Trail and retrace their steps downstream to the Oconee River Recreation parking area to complete the hike.