General Coffee

le Mi Turkey Lake il OU ND AR Y #2 #1 e oop rL N BOU tria n Tra il Yell tr es qu E cket o w Ja i an PARK BOUNDARY PARK Y DAR Eq u es #1 - #4 Dan Lake ARY #1 il Tra ke e La Jak l rai pT West River am Sw K PAR #2 ND U BO que strian Tra KB Go ph ntee Seve RY Riv er Dent Lake iver DA PA R Gum Lake eR n Mil er E UN r ve Ri PARK BOUNDARY Riv BO t Eas r Swam p T rail Rive PAR K BOU NDA RY #7 #1- #4 e ak Picnic Shelter Group Shelter Group Lodge RV & Tent Camping Dump Station Pioneer Camping Amphitheater rL 0 Unpaved Park Road Paved Park Road River Longleaf Pine Restoration Area Sandhill Management Area Trading Post Cottages Staff Residence Ga Otter Creek Equestrain Trail (2.2 mile loop) Connector Equestrian Trail (0.8 mile) Yellow Jacket Equestrian Trail (1.6 mile loop) River Equestrian Trail (4.8 miles one-way) Gopher Loop (1.5 mile loop) East River Swamp Trail (1.25 mile one-way) West River Swamp Trail (1.4 miles one-way) Heritage Farm Interpretive Walk Forest Management Road R Heritage Farm Interpretive Walk 32 R PARK Burnham and Hawk's Nest Cottages Heritage Farm 0.25 0.5 Miles 32 ee Otter Cr k Eques tria n #5- #6 LEGEND Douglas – 8 miles West RY NDA BOU il Tra General Coffee State Park Trail Map nteen 46 John Coffee Road • Nicholls, GA 31554 • Park: 912-384-7082 • Emergency: 912-384-7082 • Reservations: 1-800-864-7275 • www.GeorgiaStateParks.org PAR K Seve East River Trail The East River Trail begins on the west side of the Seventeen Mile River near picnic shelters #5 and #6. The trail starts with a halfmile-long boardwalk that crosses the river to the east side of the park. As you walk along the boardwalk, keep an eye open for wading birds and river otters during the wet season and for deer and raccoon during the dry season. General Coffee State Park is one of southern Georgia’s “best kept secrets” and is known for interpretation of agricultural history at its Heritage Farm, with log cabins, a corn crib, tobacco barn, cane mill, barnyard animals and other exhibits. Seventeen Mile River winds through a cypress swamp where the park hosts rare and endangered plants. The threatened Indigo Snake and Gopher Tortoise make their homes in this Longleaf Pine/Wiregrass community. Overnight accommodations include camping, cottages, and the Burnham House, an elegantly decorated 19th century cabin perfect for romantic getaways. The park was donated to the state by a group of Coffee County citizens in 1970 and is named after General John Coffee, a planter, U.S. Congressman and military leader. Horse Trails The park features 12 miles (one-way) of horse trails that loop through the eastern side of the property. Parking for horse trailers is available at picnic shelter #7. All riders must check in at the park office before proceeding to the trail area. A small fee is charged for use of horse trails. Proof of negative Coggins test is required on all horses.. Riders will experience every type of habitat present at General Coffee State Park. The lower sandhill areas were clear-cut in the early 1970s and have re-grown as a mixed oak forest. Small sections of this area are being used as experimental areas to study various sandhill restoration techniques. The upper sandhill areas contain oaks and mature longleaf pine. The scrub area toward the back of the park is a rare glance at a unique ecosystem. The trail crosses several drainage areas and travels along the edge of the Seventeen Mile River and Otter Creek for several miles. The area abounds with wildlife such as whitetail deer, wild turkey, gopher tortoise, and many types of songbirds. Heritage Farm Interpretive Walk This half-mile walk loops around the pond located at the park’s award-winning Heritage Farm. The best place to begin and end your walk is at the farm’s parking lot. Located along the walk are interpretive stations were you can read about the habitats, plants and animals found at General Coffee State Park. This walk is also a popular with birding enthusiasts as many species of water birds and songbirds can be spotted near the pond year-round. Turkey Oak forest found in the sandhill areas. These upland forests are home to many types of songbirds and small mammals. During the spring and fall, these woods are full of native wildflowers. Like the sandhill areas, the upland pine forest needs to burn periodically, every 2-5 years, to remain a pine forest. The park actively manages these areas by conducting controlled burns that prohibit the hardwood trees from taking over the pine forest and allow the young longleaf seedlings to germinate and grow. The Seventeen Mile River is an ephemeral river fed by runoff water from rainfall and fresh-water springs. Rivers such as this one are also called blackwater rivers due to their dark, tea-colored hue. During dry years, ephemeral rivers may completely dry up and the river bottom will be green with moss, ferns, grasses and wildflowers. During wetter years, the water level at this point in the river will reach to within a few feet of the bottom of the boardwalk. There are deeper areas of the river that are referred to as “lakes.” It is in these deeper areas that fish and other aquatic animals survive during the dry times to repopulate the river when the waters return. To judge the average water level in the river you just need to look for the point on the cypress trees were the trunk starts to sloop outward. Looking in the river area along this trail you will see a mixture of Cypress, Black Gum and Red Maple trees. Scattered within the river are small islands that support pond pine and other species of trees and bushes. This variety of plant life leads to a variety of wildlife. As you walk along the trail you may see or hear songbirds, owls, hawks, raccoons, whitetail deer, snakes, and many other animals. If you stroll along the trail soon after sunset on a summer evening, you may be treated to a light show as lightening bugs rise from the riverbanks for their nightly mating flight. As the trail leaves the river and you return to solid ground, you are climbing the side of a small hill. The change from river to upland happens within just a few feet of trail as you rapidly climb the few feet in elevation needed to go from a wet river bottom to a dry sandhill. Here it is easy to see how just a few feet of elevation can make a huge difference in the types of plants and animals that live in the area. Take note of the loose white sand that is common in these areas. The dry area you are now entering provides good growing conditions for trees such as hickory and oaks. The understory of the forest is full of different species of blueberry bushes. Gopher Loop is a 1.5-mile loop trail that takes you into the sandhill management area of the park. You may access this trail at two points, the trailhead near the main park road (there is a small parking area) or the West River Trail as it joins into Gopher Loop behind campground #2. This is the driest area in the park, and during the summer it can be very hot, so be sure to take water and a hat. It is along this trail that you have the best chance of seeing the protected Gopher Tortoise and the threatened Indigo Snake. The trail will cross and re-cross the park road and continue back down to the edge of the river. As you approach the river you will see a change take place in the forest as you enter wetter areas. Magnolia trees dominate this section of the riverbank. There are several different types of magnolias that grow in this area, but the dominant one is the Southern Magnolia. The best time to see these trees in bloom are the months of April and May. If you look carefully in the branches you may be lucky enough to see the rare Greenfly Orchid in bloom. West River Trail Beginning near picnic shelter #4, the West River Trail is the oldest trail on the park. This trail travels along the western edge of the Seventeen Mile River from the picnic area to campground #2. Along the route, the trail crosses several drainage areas where wet-weather creeks feed the river. The trail bed is relatively compacted and easy to walk, but the trail can be narrow in places with exposed tree roots. As you travel along this trail you will experience two habitats: the river on one side and mostly upland pine forest along the other side. This occurs because this trail is situated in what is known as the ecotone, or boundary zone between these two distinct habitats. The upland pine forest in this area is dominated by Longleaf Pine and Wiregrass. This is one of the two types of longleaf habitats seen at General Coffee State Park. The other is the Longleaf- Gopher Loop Scattered throughout the sandhill are many Gopher Tortoise colonies. Each colony usually contains 10-15 burrows and is home to 10 or more tortoises. This species is the only tortoise in the Southeast and is an important member of the sandhill community. The Gopher Tortoise is often referred to as a keystone species since upward of 300 other species of wildlife will utilize the Gopher Tortoise burrow to stay cool in the heat of the summer and to escape the fires that are an important part of this ecosystem. These burrows can be over 30 feet in length and may be 6 or more feet below the surface of the ground. Located at the entrance to each burrow is an area of sand called the apron. This is the sand that the tortoise kicks out of the burrow as it is digging its tunnel. It is in this apron area that the female tortoise will lay her eggs. When walking around these burrows, be very careful to not step on the apron or near the tunnel entrance, as sometimes the beginning of the tunnel will collapse under your weight. A restoration project began in this sandhill area in 2005. Due to many years of surpressing fires, various oak tree species began to shade out the longleaf pines, wiregrass and many plants the Gopher Tortoises depends on for food. Tobring balance back to the system and allow for future controlled burns, the oaks had to be thinned out and 25,000 Longleaf Pine seedlings were planted. To many this may look like a dry desolate area, but it is in fact teaming with life. If you look closely you may see Longleaf Pines in the grass stage, and if you visit during the summer you will see the wiregrass and many wildflowers in bloom. These wildflowers and grasses attract many types of insects that in turn attract animals that eat insects. Due to the arid conditions, the best time to see wildlife in the sandhill is early in the morning and late in the evening. SAFETY TIPS & ETIQUETTE • Tell someone your itinerary and expected return time. • Take a map, water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight and whistle. Three short blasts on a whistle are known as a call for help. • Do not stray from trails. If you become lost, stay in one location and wait for help. This will make it easier for rescuers to find you. • Don’t count on cell phones to work in the wilderness, but if they do, be able to give details about your location. • Invest in good hiking socks such as those found at sporting goods stores. Avoid blisters by carrying “moleskin” and applying it as soon as you feel hot spots on your feet. Available in the foot care section of drug stores, moleskin is like felt that sticks to your skin. • Be prepared for unexpected rain and wind which can lead to hypothermia. Always carry quality rain gear and turn back in bad weather. If you become wet or cold, it is important to get dry and warm as quickly as possible. • Dress in layers and avoid cotton. Today’s hikers can choose from numerous fabrics that wick moisture, dry quickly and conserve heat. Many experienced hikers wear a lightweight shirt that wicks moisture, while carrying a fleece pullover and rain jacket. • Pack out all trash. • Keep pets on a leash at all times and clean up after them. • Do not pick flowers, disturb wildlife or take anything off the park. • Protect the park and help prevent erosion by staying on marked trails. CLIMATE DATA FOR NICHOLLS, GEORGIA Month Avg. High Avg. Low Mean Avg. Precip. Record High Record Low Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 62ºF 66ºF 73ºF 79ºF 86ºF 90ºF 92ºF 91ºF 87ºF 80ºF 72ºF 64ºF 41ºF 44ºF 49ºF 54ºF 62ºF 69ºF 72ºF 71ºF 68ºF 57ºF 50ºF 43ºF 4.83 in 3.93 in 4.80 in 3.16 in 3.04 in 5.49 in 6.01 in 5.50 in 3.34 in 2.79 in 2.57 in 3.67 in -1ºF (1985) 13ºF (1996) 18ºF (1980) 31ºF (1987) 40ºF (1971) 47ºF (1984) 56ºF (1967) 57ºF (1957) 40ºF (1967) 26ºF (1954) 15ºF (1950) 7ºF (1962) 52ºF 55ºF 61ºF 67ºF 74ºF 79ºF 82ºF 81ºF 77ºF 68ºF 61ºF 54ºF 83ºF (1975) 86ºF (1989) 91ºF (1963) 96ºF (1986) 100ºF (1967) 104ºF (1985) 104ºF (2000) 105ºF (1995) 101ºF (1990) 95ºF (1986) 89ºF (1957) 83ºF (1978) printed on recycled paper 20,000 / $1765 - December 2013