Winder, GA
Fort Yargo State Park is an enjoyable park in Winder, GA that I’ve been able to go to with friends several times over the years for a nice barbecue picnic out by the lake. It has a fairly large beach area, kayaks and paddleboats to rent, fishing spots, large visitor center, and of course the old historic fort that gives the park its name. They updated a lot of the facilities not too long ago including adding some very nice bridges and recreation areas.
Kayaking Fort Yargo Lake (260 acres)
Since the boat docks are a bit separate from the other main areas of the park and the lake itself stretches around several different areas, I really like the variety you experience while paddling around. You launch right by a trail bridge the other side of which is full of marsh grass and shallow water. Coming back around you get a view of large pines and electrical girders before passing the extremely active beach area. Going around a corner, you pass by a quieter expanse of yurts and other rustic camping area. Then you get to the main visitor center area with its beautiful new footbridge near the fort and lots of people around. If you go under the bridge and continue under the roadway, you enter a very isolated shallow backwater with strange fish zipping around. The second trip mapped below was later in the fall of the same year and the colorful leaves on display added to the beauty.
