Laura S. Walker State Park: Big Creek and Lake Trails (Blog Hike #927)

Trails: Big Creek and Lake Trails
Hike Location: Laura S. Walker State Park
Geographic Location: southeast of Waycross, GA (31.14360, -82.21399)
Length: 3.2 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2023
Overview: A semiloop featuring 2 boardwalks, one along a creek and one over a lake.
Park Information: https://gastateparks.org/LauraSWalker
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=929591
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Waycross, take US 82 east 8.5 miles to SR 177 and turn right on SR 177.  Drive SR 177 south 2.1 miles to the park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and park in the small parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Though nothing you see in this park today would indicate such, Georgia's Laura S. Walker State Park actually began its life as Laura S. Walker National Park.  The national park was created by a proclamation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and in 1937 distressed farmland was purchased to form the park.  The depression-era Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the park's roads, trails, and buildings, and in 1941 it was deeded to the State of Georgia as Georgia's 13th state park.  The park is named for Laura Singleton Walker, a local writer and naturalist.

            Today the park presents itself as a beautiful mature park with fantastic amenities.  On point, the park offers a nice 42-site developed campground, a championship 18 hole golf course, 6 cottages, 7 picnic shelters, a small but scenic lake, and 4 miles of hiking trails.  The hike described here links the park's two most scenic areas, Big Creek and Laura S. Walker Lake, while passing through some classic longleaf pine forest.  Thus, this hike explores the best scenery this park has to offer.

Big Creek Trail trailhead

            From the Visitor Center, walk back out the park entrance road to SR 177; the Big Creek Trail enters the woods across the state road.  The traffic on the state highway moves fast, so be alert and cross briskly.  Almost immediately you reach a wooden information kiosk with trails going three directions.  Continue straight to begin following the red plastic diamond markers for the Big Creek Trail.

            Ignore side trails marked in blue and yellow, and stay right where the red-blazed trail forks.  This part of the hike passes through beautiful longleaf pines, and I saw numerous birds including goldfinches in this area.  Occasional interpretive signs help you identify common plants in the forest, the most numerous of which are saw palmettos.

Hiking under longleaf pines

            At 0.4 miles, the trail curves right to descend slightly and reach the area beside Big Creek.  A nice boardwalk keeps your feet dry while hiking through this wet and muddy area.  Big Creek is the main outlet for the dam that forms Laura S. Walker Lake, and in places the flowing black water seems to flow through a constructed channel.  A bench at the end of the boardwalk overlooks the creek and provides a nice place to rest and observe the area.

Big Creek boardwalk

            After the boardwalk ends, the trail undulates before passing through a small depression.  Next you pass a primitive campsite and a dirt parking area as you begin paralleling SR 177, which can be heard through the trees to the left.  At 1.2 miles, you return to the information kiosk near the trailhead.  If you are getting tired or running out of daylight, you can turn left and retrace your steps to the Visitor Center now.  To see more of the park, turn right to begin heading the same way you did before, but this time take the left fork when the red-blazed trail forks.

Big fork in Big Creek Trail

            The trail follows an old forest road to reach the northern park boundary and another trail intersection at 1.4 miles.  Confoundingly, all 3 trails that converge at this intersection are marked with red plastic diamonds.  If the park used a wider variety of markers to designate trails, navigating this trail system would be easier.  To continue this hike, turn left to begin hiking west along the north park boundary.

            The arrow-straight trail passes through more longleaf pine forest to reach another trail intersection at 1.65 miles.  The red diamonds head left to return to the information kiosk yet again, but you want to continue straight to begin following the green plastic diamonds that mark the Lake Trail.  The Lake Trail crosses SR 177 before splitting at a metal gate with chain-link fencing.  Angle right to head for Laura S. Walker Lake.

Lake Trail splits at chain-link gate

            The Lake Trail meanders as it descends gradually.  A few wet areas will need to be negotiated if it has rained recently, and I was glad I had worn my waterproof boots for this segment of the hike.  At 2.2 miles, you reach the highlight of this hike: the long wooden boardwalk over Laura S. Walker Lake.  The sandy soil filters the lake's water to make it exceptionally clear, and some Spanish moss-draped cypress trees along the shore add to the scenery.  Several benches invite you to rest and observe the lake.

Laura S. Walker Lake

            The Lake Trail continues through the park's cottage area along the south shore of the lake, but it does not form a loop.  Thus, you need to turn around, retrace your steps to the metal gate with chain-link fencing, and then turn right to begin the last leg of the Lake Trail.  After tracing around a park maintenance area, you come out at the park's group camp area.  Turn left twice to walk the park road back to the Visitor Center and complete the hike.