The Georgia Department of Natural Resources manages the conservation and protection of Georgia's state parks and recreation areas. Georgia has more than 50 state parks, historic sites and recreation areas with a diversity of landscape environments and native wildlife for visitors to enjoy. Georgia's state animals include the right whale as the state marine mammal, the brown thrasher as the state bird, and the largemouth bass as the state fish.
Crooked River State Park
Crooked River State Park in St. Mary's on Georgia's southeastern coast has 500 acres of maritime forest and salt marsh landscapes. Campsites, cottages, picnic shelters, nature center and playground are available for the park's visitors. Activities to enjoy while at Crooked River include geocaching, saltwater fishing, hiking, boating and kayaking and birding on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. Gopher tortoises, fiddler crabs and herons are among the native wildlife in the park, as well as dolphins and sharks along the river's edge and snails, fish and crabs in the tidepools. Wild horses can be seen at the nearby Cumberland Island National Seashore.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon State Park in the northwestern corner of the state on the western edge of Lookout Mountain is in Rising Fawn, between Trenton and LaFayette. The park's rugged mountain scenery includes views of gorges, waterfalls, sandstone and shale, creeks and canyons from the mountain's various elevations between 800 and 1,980 feet. Challenging hiking on the area's knowingly named trails includes the West Rim Loop, Waterfalls Trail, the Backcountry Loop, Sitton's Gulch Trail and the Long Branch Trail. Fishing, camping, geocaching and picnicking are other activities offered in the park. Mountain lion, bobcat, black bear, deer, fox, bats, opossum, cottontail rabbits and squirrels are native to this area of Georgia.
High Falls State Park
High Falls State Park in Jackson in central Georgia is more than 1,000 acres on the Towaliga River. The park has a waterfall, the remains of a ghost town from the 1800's and a swimming pool. Activities for visitors include camping, geocaching, hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking and swimming. Native wildlife include river otter, weasel, mink, wolf, fox, coyote, deer, raccoon, black bear and wild pig.
Skidaway Island State Park
Skidaway Island State Park is 550 acres in the southeastern part of Georgia near Savannah. The park is on the border of the intracoastal waterway, Skidaway narrows. The landscape consists of live oaks, salt marsh and seaside forests. Park activities and facilities include picnicking, camping, playgrounds, an interpretive center, an observation tower geocaching, hiking, biking and ranger programs. Native wildlife include deer, raccoon, fiddler crabs, turtles and birds such as egrets and painted buntings.
Stephen C. Foster State Park
Stephen C. Foster State Park is 80 acres at the entrance to Okefenokee Swamp. The swamp is a national wildlife refuge with more than 400,000 acres of moss-covered cypress and black swamp waters on Georgia's southeastern coast. The remote park is home to raccoon, turtles, black bear, deer and the swamp has 12,000 American alligators. Alligators can be observed during pontoon boat tours. Park activities include camping, picnicking, hiking and boating on the river.
References
- "National Audubon Society Regional Guide to the Southeastern States: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, "; Peter Alden; 1999
- "Foghorn Outdoors: Alabama & Georgia Camping: The Complete Guide to More Than 380 Campgrounds"; Marilyn Sue Windle; 2002
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources: State Parks & Historic Sites
- The University of Georgia: Georgia Wildlife Web
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