Elberton, GA
This state park along the GA/SC border rests on a huge lake formed by the Savannah River and several other creeks running in. It’s perhaps better known for golfing since it has what seems to be a highly regarded (and very active) golf course called Arrowhead Pointe as well as large disc golf field. The park was also the site of the practice area for the 1996 Olympic rowing teams and has markers to that effect noted. The beach area is surprisingly well-equipped in that it has bathhouses, a snack stand, and some unique pavilions. The other signature part of the park is one of Georgia’s oldest steel pin truss bridges which was re-located here to make a trail across part of the lake.
Kayaking on (a portion of) Lake Richard B. Russell ( 26,650 acres)
You can enter the lake from several different boat ramps but the main ones are up near the entrance on the Savannah River side of the park or the one towards the end of the golf course (also the 1996 site of the Olympic Rowing team) on the other side. From that entrance, it’s easy to paddle up the lake towards Vans Creek and pass by the signature features of the park like the steel bridge, beach area, and pavilions. I originally thought I’d loop around to the other boat ramp but it was oppressively sunny and hot that and going up just up one side of the peninsula and back down around the edge was a full eight miles. I knew there was no way I was also going to make it up to the top on the other side and back without major heat exhaustion! Still, the sunny weather made for nice views and interesting to watch all the golf carts going up and down on bridges along the shore. The lake was also very active with large party boats.
