![]() | Don CarterTrails Map |
Trails Map of Don Carter State Park (SP) in Georgia. Published by Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.
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Don Carter State Park Trail Map
5000 N Browning Bridge Road • Gainesville, GA 30506 • 678-450-7726 • Reservations: 1-800-864-7275 • GaStateParks.org
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Restroom
Scenic Lookout
Trailhead (long hikes)
Visitors Center
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Beach
Boat Ramp
Bridge Number
Farm Gate
Tie Line
Courtesy Dock
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Dog Cove Paddle Trail
Flat Island Paddle Trail
Lost Cove Paddle Trail
Whale Tail Paddle Trail
Dog Creek Inner Loop
Dog Creek Outer Loop
Hiking Connector #1
Hiking Connector #2
Hiking Loop #1
Hiking Loop #2
Hiking Loop #3
Hiking Loop #4
Whale Tail Hiking Trail
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Water Trails - Dash/Double-Dot Line
Long Hiking Trails - Dash Line
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Huckleberry Trail
Overlook Trail
Parallel Trail
Terrapin Cove Trail
Woodland Trail
Equestrian Connector #1
Equestrian Connector #2
Equestrian Connector #3
Equestrian Loop #1
Equestrian Loop #2
Equestrian Loop #3
Equestrian Loop #4
Equestrian Spur #1
Dog Creek Inner Loop
Dog Creek Outer Loop
0 miles (approx.)
Don Carter
Short Hiking Trails - Dash/Dot Line
Equestrian Trails - Solid Line
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This is a mixed-use trail for both hikers & equestrians (no bicycles
permitted). Observe proper etiquette. Blazing: Purple rectangle.
Two bridges (B4 & B5). Junctions with: Dog Creek Inner Loop & the
following trails, which are for riders only: Equestrian Connector #1;
Equestrian Loop #2, & Equestrian Loop #4.
Easy to moderate - Natural surface - About 0.8 miles
This trail crosses North Browning Bridge Road. Use caution.
Blazing: Green rectangle. No bridges. Connects the parking lot to
Hiking Connector #1 & Hiking Loop #1.
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Travel upstream to the most northern island in Lake Lanier. See rocky
bluffs, reedy shoreline & explore 1-mile Flat Creek
B4 near the northern
end.
Woodland Loop (Hiking)
ADA-accessible & open to bicycles & strollers. Blazing: Green
rectangle. Parking near the Beach/Picnic Area. Junctions with Parallel
Trail & Dog Creek trails (which are mixed-use). Access to “walk-in”
campsites. Signs will warn of the only steep grade on this route.
Blazing: Yellow diamond. One bridge (B1). Access to North Browning
Bridge Road. Junctions with Equestrian Spur #1 & Equestrian
Connector #1.
Equestrian Loop #2
Easy - Natural surface - About 2 miles
Equestrian Loop #4
Easy to moderate - Natural surface - About 1.6 miles
Blazing: Pink diamond. Two bridges (B8 & B9). Junctions with
Equestrian Loop #2, Equestrian Loop #3 & Dog Creek Outer Loop.
Includes a ‘short-cut,’ bypassing a loop along the northern peninsula.
Equestrian Spur #1
Easy - Natural surface - About 0.2 miles
Blazing: Blue diamond. Gentle slope. No bridges. Connects the
parking lot to both Equestrian Loop #1 & Equestrian Connector #1
(also blazed in blue diamonds).
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Hiking Loop #4
Tie Line
Moderately strenuous - Natural surface - About 1.9 miles
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Kayak Shack
Blazing: Blue rectangles. Four bridges (B14, B15, B16, & B17).
Junctions with Hiking Loop #2 & the Whale Tail Spur. Includes views
of the lake.
No Motor Boats
B12
AquaCycle Rental / Concessions
Parking
Whale Tail Spur (Hiking)
Moderate - Natural surface - About 1.2 miles
Picnic Shelter
Blazing: Silver rectangles. Two bridges (B17 & B18 ). Junctions with
Hiking Loop #4. Views of the lake & access to a paddle boat ramp.
Playground
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Rest room iking Loo p #2
SHORT HIKING TRAILS
Trailhead (long hikes)
Huckleberry Loop (Hiking)
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Blazing: White rectangle. Parking available at the upper end of
the North Boat Ramp (furthest from the water). The Huckleberry
Trail begins as a spur, then divides to form a loop. You may hike in
either direction for views of the lake. Return back to the spur for
views of the Beach Cove. The trail is named after the native Georgia
huckleberries, which are related to blueberries.
Bridge (numbered)
B13
B14
Parallel Trail (Hiking)
Easy - Paved - About 0.5 miles
B15
Blazing: Purple rectangle. Connects Terrapin Cove Trail to
Huckleberry Trail & Woodland Loop. Access to many important
amenities (e.g., bathrooms, playgrounds, parking, etc.).
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Huckleberry Trail
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Visitor Center / Park Office
Easy - Natural surface - About 0.75 miles
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B10
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Blazing: Orange diamond. No bridges. Includes a couple short spurs &
two scenic overlooks of the lake. Junctions with Equestrian Loop #2
& Equestrian Loop #4.
Fishing Pier
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Moderate to strenuous - Natural surface - About 2.8 miles
Comfort Station
Fish-cleaning Station
Blazing: Lavender or pink rectangles. One bridge (B11). Includes
views of the lake. Junctions with Hiking Loop #1 & Hiking Loop #2.
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Equestrian Loop #3
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Blazing: Red diamond. Gentle slopes. One bridge (B8). Junctions with
Equestrian Connector #2, Equestrian Connector #3, an unnamed
connector, Equestrian Loop #3, Equestrian Loop #4 & Dog Creek
Outer Loop (which is a mixed-use trail).
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Courtesy Dock
Moderately strenuous - Natural surface - About 1.5 miles
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Easy to moderate - Natural surface - About 0.9 miles
Hiking Loop #3
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Equestrian Loop #1
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Blazing: White diamond. Very gentle slopes. No bridges. Serves as a
‘short-cut’ from one side of Equestrian Loop #2 to the opposite site.
Campsite
Blazing: White rectangles. Three bridges (B13 & B14). Junctions with
Hiking Loop #1, Hiking Loop #3, & Hiking Loop #4.
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Easy - Natural surface - About 0.7 miles
Cottage
Easy to moderate - Natural surface - About 1.7 miles
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Equestrian Connector #3
Boat Slip
Hiking Loop # 2
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Blazing: White diamond. Moderate slopes on occasion. Climbs to
a ridge & back down. Connects Equestrian Loop #2 to Dog Creek
Outer Loop (which is a mixed-use trail). Includes one bridge (B6).
Boat Ramp
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Easy - Natural surface - About 0.8 miles
Beach House
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Equestrian Connector #2
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Blazing: Yellow rectangles. Two bridges (B11 & B12). Junctions with
Hiking Connector #1, Hiking Connector #2, Hiking Loop #2, &
Hiking Loop #3.
B3
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Equ e s t r i a
Beach
Easy to moderate - Natural surface - About 1.3 miles
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Blazing: Blue diamond. Gentle slopes with some elevation changes.
Two bridges (B1 & B2). Connects Equestrian Loop #1 & Equestrian
Spur #1 to Dog Creek Outer Loop (which is a mixed-used trail).
Hiking Loop #1
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Easy - Natural surface - About 1.6 miles
Central Area Legend
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Equestrian Connector #1
Dog Creek Oute r
Easy - Natural surface - About 0.5 miles
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Hiking Connector #2
Trail crosses North Browning Bridge Road. Use caution. Blazing:
Dark-red rectangle. No bridges. Connects Terrapin Cove Trail to
Hiking Connector #1 & Hiking Loop #1.
B8
B5
Easy to moderate - Natural surface - About 1.2 miles
This is a mixed-use trail for both hikers & equestrians (no bicycles
permitted). Observe proper etiquette. Blazing: Green diamond.
Into & along the floodplain of Dog Creek. Two bridges (B4 & B5).
Junctions with: Dog Creek Inner Loop; Equestrian Connector #1;
Equestrian Loop #2, & Equestrian Loop #4.
an travel downstream (no
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Traverse across more open
qwater
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current) towards the park’s largest peninsula,
ctor # for
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the main center channel for full sun, or explore
more plants & wildlife.
Swift current after heavy rains - About 3 miles
Blazing: Red rectangle. Junctions with Parallel Trail, Overlook Trail, &
Hiking Connector #3. Provides access to the beach, visitor center,
RV-campground & cottages. A single-track trail, designed for
foot-traffic only. Day-use parking near the beach area or visitor
center. The name derived from an old Appalachian term for turtle.
Easy - Paved (ADA-accessible) - About 1.5 miles
Hiking Connector #1
Swift current after heavy rains - About 2 miles
Flat Island Paddle Trail
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Dog Creek Outer Loop
Easy - Natural surface - About 1.2 miles
Whale Tail Paddle Trail
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This is a mixed-use trail for both hikers & equestrians (no bicycles
permitted). Observe proper etiquette. Blazing: Black diamond.
Gentle slopes. No bridges. Junctions with: Dog Creek Outer Loop (an
external perimeter).
Terrapin Cove (Hiking)
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Easy - Natural surface - About 0.7 miles
Take a leisurely float around the cove from the kayak shack at the
boat ramp. Explore the western part of the cove wetlands or fish in
shaded areas.
Easy - Natural surface - About 1 mile
Dog Creek Outer Loop
Cross the main channel of the Chattahoochee into a larger cove &
B6 of the mighty river.
explore another tributary
Smooth water - About 1 mile
3
Dog Creek Inner Loop
This is a mixed-use trail for both hikers & equestrians (no bicycles
permitted). Observe proper etiquette. Blazing: Purple rectangle.
Gentle slopes. No bridges. Junctions with: Dog Creek Outer Loop (an
external perimeter).
Blazing: White rectangle. Scenic overlook of a fern-laced creek &
hardwood bottom land. Parking is available at the visitor center. It is
also has swings located along the way. Beyond the paved portion, a
set of rock steps connects to Terrapin Cove Trail.
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Dog
EQUESTRIAN TRAILS
Easy - Natural surface - About 0.7 miles
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Orientation: Each bridge has a number. Use them as
landmarks to stay oriented. On the map, look for this
symbol: B# If you call for help, tell the Park Ranger
where you are, relative to these bridge numbers.
Emergencies / After-hours 678.465.7566
Dog Creek Inner Loop
Smooth water - About 2 miles
Dog Cove Paddle Trail
B16
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State Park
an Cove Paddle Trail
Lost
PADDLE TRAILS
Easy - Paved (ADA accessible) - Only a couple hundred yards long
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Don Carter
Overlook Trail (Hiking)
LONG HIKING TRAILS
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