Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park (Blog Hike #455)

Trails: Lake Shore, Walk-in-the-Pines, and Yucca Trace Trails

Hike Location: Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park

Geographic Location: west of Cordele, GA (31.96152, -83.90906)

Length: 3 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: December 2013

Overview: A quick jaunt along Lake Blackshear followed by a longer journey through pine forest.

Park Information: http://gastateparks.org/GeorgiaVeterans

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=240348
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In south-central Georgia, take I-75 to US 280 (exit 101).  Exit and go west on US 280.  Drive US 280 west 10 miles to the park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park.  Cross a railroad track and an inlet of Lake Blackshear on the park entrance road, then turn left immediately after crossing Lake Blackshear to begin a rough dirt road.  The trailhead for the Lake Shore Trail, where this hike begins, is at a cul de sac at the end of this short dirt road.

The hike: Located just 10 miles west of busy I-75, Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park was established in 1931 as a memorial to all veterans of the United States Armed Forces.  Consequently, an outdoor ordinance exhibit featuring military machinery from the Revolutionary War through the Gulf War stands at the center of the park beside the Visitor Center and Museum.  If you are at all interested in military history, it is well worth a few minutes to walk the blacktop path through the collection of aircraft, tanks, armored personnel vehicles, cannons, and other items on display there.

In addition to the outdoor museum, the park boasts a fine complement of recreation options.  The park’s centerpiece is the Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club, which features several boat ramps and a fine 18 hole golf course that you drove by on your way in.  Lodging facilities include 77 tent and trailer campsites and 10 cottages.  Other facilities include two pioneer campgrounds, 4 picnic shelters, and a disc golf course.  The facilities and location combine to make this park one of the most popular state parks in Georgia.

For hikers, the park offers three trails totaling 3.5 miles.  The 0.5 mile one-way Lake Shore Trail explores the bald cypress forest along Lake Blackshear.  The 1 mile Yucca Trace Trail takes visitors through the sandy pine forest away from the lake, as does the 1.5 mile Walk in the Pines Trail, which connects the other two trails and forms its own loop in the process.  This hike uses parts of all three trails to form a longer loop that explores all major points of interest in the park.

Trailhead: Lake Shore Trail

The Lake Shore Trail begins at the rear of the cul de sac at a sign that says “nature trail” and a red carsonite post.  Walk through a gap in the wooden fence and head east on the wide dirt trail.  Lake Blackshear lies just through the trees to the left, and a drier wetland area lies to the right.  Interpretive signs tell about the trees and animals that live in this lakeside forest.

At only 0.1 miles, you arrive at a short side trail exiting right that leads to a wooden overlook of the wetland area.  A sign tells of alligators that live in the wetland, but I did not see any such creatures on my visit.  I did however see a snowy egret perched on a cypress knee beside Lake Blackshear a little further down the trail.  Back on the main trail, the trail continues east as the bald cypress forest beside the lake appears on the left.  Some interpretive signs tell about the cypress forest, which is covered by thick layers of Spanish moss.

Bald cypress forest along Lake Blackshear

At 0.2 miles, the trail curves sharply right to parallel some railroad tracks.  This set of railroad tracks is used by the S.A.M. Shortline Excursion Train, a scenic railroad that takes passengers from Cordele to Plains, crossing Lake Blackshear in the process.  After paralleling the railroad for a short distance, the trail continues to curve right as it passes through some older pine forest.

0.3 miles into the hike, the trail curves sharply left where an unmarked two-track path exits right to a maintenance area.  The wide sandy trail now heads south into younger pine forest with a dense, grassy understory.  At 0.4 miles, the Lake Shore Trail ends at an intersection with the Walk in the Pines Trail, which goes softly left and right to form its loop.  Angle left here to begin hiking the Walk in the Pines Trail clockwise.

Beginning the Walk in the Pines Trail

The Spanish moss-draped bald cypress and live oak trees are left behind in favor of tall, sparse loblolly pines with a dense understory of wiregrass.  The wide sandy two-track trail heads southeast with the S.A.M. railroad track merely feet through the trees to your left.  Near 0.5 miles, you cross the dirt access road for the pioneer camping area, which is located across the railroad tracks to your left.

At 0.7 miles, the trail curves right where an old road continues straight.  Some yucca plants join the understory in the dry, sandy soil.  0.9 miles into the hike, you cross a dirt park maintenance road.  Look for the yellow carsonite posts that mark the trail so that you do not confuse the trail and the road.

Crossing the dirt park maintenance road

At 1.2 miles, you arrive at a bench and a T-intersection.  The trail going right continues the Walk in the Pines Trail, and you could take it to form a short loop through the eastern half of the park.  To see the entire park, turn left at this intersection.  Quickly you cross the main park road.  This road is another opportunity to short-cut the hike: the trailhead is down the road to the right.

On the west side of the main park road, pick up the Yucca Trace Trail where it enters the forest at a pair of blue carsonite posts.  The forest in this part of the park is different from what you have seen so far.  Persimmon and other deciduous trees now crowd the trail, and some interpretive signs help you identify the various trees.

Hiking the Yucca Trace Trail

Nearly 2 miles into the hike, a spur trail to the campground exits left.  Continue forward on the nearly arrow-straight Yucca Trace Trail.  At 2.4 miles, the Yucca Trace Trail ends at a small parking area by the campground road.  The trailhead for a fitness trail and the first tee of the disc golf course are also served by this parking area. 

Outdoor ordinance exhibit

To get back to your car, a 0.6 mile road walk will be required.  Turn right here and at the next intersection, then turn left at the arch-like Georgia Veterans Memorial.  Pass the ordinance exhibit (this would be a great opportunity to tour it) and the Visitor Center on the left to arrive back at the lakeside parking area, thus completing the hike.