We tent camped for 2 nights in campsite #1 in campground #1. This site is the first site to the right when you pull into the campground. There are trash cans at the campground exit and a direct line of sight view of the dump station. The west river trail runs right behind the campsite. The site itself is spacious with plenty of shade. There are a couple of good sets of trees for hanging a hammock. The electric box is a little further from the tent pad (which is packed sand and not gravel) than most sites I’ve stayed at, so I was happy that I brought an extension cord. The camp restrooms are adequate but not at all ADA accessible at campground #1. There are 3 toilet stalls, 2 that have working latches, and 2 shower stalls- both with working latches. Both of the showers have a small little room for you to change clothes with a hook on the wall and a hook on the door and a little bench. If you’re tall, be ready to duck to get your head under the water because the shower heads are low. Temperature and pressure were good. Bonus perk- stray cats at the campground.
The park itself has some cool trails. We hiked the west river trail all the way to the farm at the front of the park. It took us over wooden boardwalks over swampy Cyprus areas and through the forest around the 17 mile river. It was pretty and the heritage tobacco farm was really cool. There are restrooms and a coke machine at the farm. The coke machine takes cards, but bring lots of water with you. There are lots of animals that are used to being fed, so buy some food at the visitor’s center, or prepare to be made to feel guilty. The farm is situated next to a small lake, and when the world isn’t shutdown due to COVID-19, they rent boats. The lake is big enough to boat around in for a little while and there are fish to be caught- carp from what I could tell.
There was a small gravel road that split off from the first group picnic shelter area that takes you down to the 17 mile river for fishing access. The 17 mile river dries up some years, but the deeper “lakes” keep water in them during those dry years. The river wasn’t flowing while we were here, but there was some standing water in places that would have been dry if it hadn’t rained recently.
The park is about an hour and a half drive from the main entrance of the Okefenokee swamp. We drove down there and rented a kayak so we both could go paddle the swamp. On the way down there, somewhere outside of waycross, we passed a mudding course, if that’s more your style.
Overall, this is someplace that I probably wouldn’t come back to because I’ve done all the things that the park has to offer, and there are more parks to explore. It’s definitely worth a visit for a night or two, or as a jumping off point for other activities this part of the state has to offer.
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