Watson Mill Bridge State Park: Ridge and Beaver Creek Trails (Blog Hike #183)

Trail: Ridge and Beaver Creek Trails

Hike Location: Watson Mill Bridge State Park

Geographic Location: north of Lexington, GA (34.02877, -83.07449)

Length: 2.25 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: August 2008, April 2013

Overview: A quiet, pleasant walk along the ridges surrounding Beaver Creek.

Park Information: https://gastateparks.org/WatsonMillBridge
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=720093
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Lexington, take SR 22 north 11 miles to Watson Mill Bridge Road and a brown sign for the park.  Turn right on Watson Mill Bridge Road.  From Comer, take SR 22 3 miles south to this same intersection and turn left.  Drive Watson Mill Bridge Rd. east 3 miles to the park entrance.  Cross the covered bridge slowly, and in another 0.1 miles turn left on a blacktop road leading to the parking area for the picnic area.  Park in the roadside parking lot on the right.

The hike: For some general comments on Watson Mill Bridge State Park, see the previous hike.  These two trails provide a nice, quiet diversion while coming to the park to visit the bridge.  These trails share a common trailhead, but the two loops diverge immediately, so the loops could be hiked separately.  Alternatively, the 0.75 mile Ridge Trail and the 1.5 mile Beaver Creek Trail can be combined to form the longer hike described here.

Trailhead

            Begin at a pair of brown Carsonite posts at the west side of the parking lot, one post for the Beaver Creek Trail and the other for the Ridge Trail.  Immediately the Beaver Creek Trail heads right while the Ridge Trail continues straight on a blacktop treadway through the center of the picnic area.  I arbitrarily chose to hike the Ridge Trail first and then hike the Beaver Creek Trail.  Continuing straight, after 60 yards the blacktop ends, and the Ridge Trail curves left, heading downhill. 

            At 0.1 miles, the trail crosses tiny Beaver Creek on a narrow wooden footbridge and comes to a T-intersection.  The trail to the left leads to the covered bridge and would make a nice side trip if you have not seen the bridge up close yet.  The Ridge Trail turns right and begins following Beaver Creek upstream.  The hillside on the left looks a bit intimidating, but in only a pair of moderately steep sections, the trail curves left and arrives at an unmarked intersection on the ridge top.  This intersection forms the loop portion of this trail.  This trail description will hike the loop counterclockwise by continuing straight here and returning on the trail exiting to the left.   

Crossing Beaver Creek

            As you continue to climb gradually, notice a nice bed of pine needles under your feet even though no pine trees are visible in the area.  Keep heading uphill and you will soon find the source of the pine needles.  The thick deciduous forest of the creek valley has given way to the mixed pine-hardwood forest of the ridge top.  The trail flattens now and gradually curves left.  At 0.4 miles, the trail reaches the end of the ridge at its southern-most point.  Although the South Fork River is ahead of and below you, you will not be able to see it through the trees during the warmer months, and there are no cleared areas the provide good views.

The Ridge Trail

            From this point, the trail curves sharply left and heads north, descending slightly to close the loop at 0.55 miles.  Turn right and retrace your steps, first downhill to the bridge, then across the bridge and uphill through the picnic area to return to the common trailhead with the Beaver Creek Trail. 

            To begin the 1.5 mile Beaver Creek Trail, turn left (right, if you are coming from the parking lot) and descend gently through nice hardwood forest.  Like the Ridge Trail, the Beaver Creek Trail is unmarked but wide and easy to follow.  At 0.1 miles, the trail forks to form the loop.  For no apparent reason, this description will turn left and hike the loop clockwise.

            The trail continues its gentle descent and at 0.2 miles, Beaver Creek comes into view on the left.  Unless beavers have been at work, you will have to look hard to see the creek.  The creek’s low volume makes it look more like a marsh unless beavers have dammed the creek to make a more substantial pond; that had not occurred on my visit.  This section of trail passes through a really nice, quiet hardwood forest and would make for great fall foliage hiking.

Beaver Creek Trail

            After 0.5 miles of bottomland hiking, the trail curves right and begins a moderate climb along a small washed-out tributary of Beaver Creek.  The trail quickly loses sight of the tributary and begins a meandering course that, at 1 mile, will carry you to the ridge overlooking the Beaver Creek valley to your right.  The park road located about 50 yards uphill to the left will be heard but not seen.

            The trail now begins a gentle descent, heading back toward the parking lot.  At 1.4 miles, the trail closes the loop as the outbound trail exits to the left.  A short gentle uphill climb is all that remains to return you to the parking lot and complete the hike.