Fort Yargo State Park offers a captivating blend of history, outdoor activities, and serene landscapes; this park is a haven for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat or an action-packed adventure, Fort Yargo State Park promises an unforgettable experience. Join us as we embark on a journey to this remarkable destination.
Fort Yargo State Park is about 1 hour east of Atlanta and about 20 minutes west of Athens, Georgia, offering many outdoor activities. The park costs $5 for the whole day, or you can buy an annual pass for $50.
Fort Yargo was named after a log fortification built in the 1790s during the Georgia frontier era. You can explore the remnants of the fort, imagining the stories of the early settlers and the challenges they faced. The park’s visitor center also provides valuable insights into the region’s history, enriching your understanding of the past.
We went to the park knowing that we wanted to go on a hike and kayaking on the lake, and that is precisely what we did!
The park has a well-maintained hiking trail that takes you around the whole lake and is 7 miles long. We started at the beach pavilion and followed the path south around the lake.
I loved that this trail weaved in and out of the forest and along the lake shoreline. Along the path, you also pass over beautiful bridges to get from one side of the lake to the other. It was a very easy hike with minimal elevation changes.
The paths also cross over with the mountain bike trails the parks have. There is a 13-mile bike-only trail and other shared trails.
We went for about two miles before we turned around. It was fun to see all the people fishing and enjoying the park. I also loved how there were lots of bathrooms that were very accessible, especially on the south side of the lake!
This park offers a beach for the public too. It was very busy and loud when we went on a Sunday afternoon with everyone utilizing the beach. That was the only complaint about the park, the loudness. People were playing loud music, and there were lots of parties going on. Brandon and I nicknamed it “party beach.”
But, since the park is so large, you can easily avoid the noise and people.
We love the GA State Parks because they allow you to bring your own kayaks. Brandon and I love to go kayaking in our inflatable kayaks!!
We got these kayaks a while ago to save money since places charge you about $10 – 20 an hour. We got ours for about $80 and have used them countless times! The other nice thing about inflatable kayaks is that you do not need a permit or license in Georgia State Parks.
So we blew them up and set out for the lake! The park does offer kayaks, paddle boats, and canoes for rent. It was nice to paddle away from all the noise and people and enjoy the lake alone. There were a lot of fishermen out on the lake too.
Lake Yargo is giant, so you could spend all day paddling around! Unfortunately, we forgot sunscreen, so we didn’t spend as much time as we wanted on the water.
After soaking in the sunny and floating on the water, we called it a day at Fort Yargo State Park.
We would love to come back and do many other activities the park offers, like swimming at the beach, trying out the mini golf course, hiking the whole loop, or even fishing. This park offers so many different outdoor recreation activities.
We would also love to go camping at the park and try the Yurts! So, we will be back!
