Richard B. Russell

8 36 Y WA GH HI GA TO P RU TO GA G HI A HW Y 77 P A R K C KE B O V RS U N D ILL A R E R D OA A R K PARK ENTRANCE Y B O U N D A R Y P RUS SEL L ST AT E R P 20 19 18 17 PA R K D RIV 16 E 14 13 12 DISC GOLF 1 7 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 15 L a ke R i c h a rd B . R u s s e l l 11 6 R P R K B O U 3 N P D A R Y PER FER P RY RO AD Group Shelter RV Camping Cottage/Beach Trail Park Office Picnic Shelter Tent Camping Parking Picnic Area Dump Station Campground / Picnic Trail Blackwell Bridge Trail (BBT) BBT Rubberized Surface Restrooms and/or Comfort Stations Pay Phone Cottage R Staff Residence Paved Walkway 0 Wheelchair Accessible 0.25 0.5 Future Cottage 1 Miles 8 6 9 7 Dr Laundry ivin gR 1 P ge an 18 P Boat Ramp Beach Swimming ROWING DOCK Playground Ro wi ng 17 La ne s GA SC Y A R N D B O U Paved Road P P 5 Cottage Loop Campground Spur 2 4 P P A R K L E G E N D HAR A 10 11 P A R K 12 16 B O U N D A R Y 13 14 15 Richard B. Russell State Park Trail Map GA SC 2650 Russell State Park Drive, Elberton, GA 30635 • Park: 706-213-2045 • Emergency: 911 • Reservations: 1-800-864-7275 • www.GeorgiaStateParks.org P FUTU R E S I T E OF TH E M E G A BOAT R A M P RICHARD B. RUSSELL STATE PARK Located on a 26,500-acre lake, Richard B. Russell State Park offers some of the state’s finest fishing and boating. The park’s campground and fully equipped cottages are located on or near the water’s edge for a relaxing getaway. A nature trail follows the shoreline to one of the oldest steel pin bridges in the area, loops through the adjoining woods and returns to the beach. The park’s 18-hole golf course, Arrowhead Pointe, offers beautiful lake views. Several Indian sites were excavated near the park in 1980 before the lake was filled, indicating that Paleo-Indians lived in the area more than 10,000 years ago. This area is now called Rucker’s Bottom and lies deep within the waters of Lake Richard B. Russell. All park facilities are designed for wheelchair accessibility, including the swimming beach. Activities & Facilities • Camping - The park provides 28 tent and trailer campsites, all with water, electrical hookups and cable TV. A comfort station, pay phone and laundry room are located in the campground, as well as a sanitary disposal station. Also available is a boat ramp, handicapped accessible fishing dock and fish cleaning station. • Cottages - Seventeen rental cottages are equipped with cooking faciliities and utensils, towels and linens. All cottages have electric heat and air, TVs, fireplaces and dishwashers. Dogs are allowed only in select cottages. A boat ramp and fish cleaning station are located within the cottage area, as well as a laundry room. Boat docks are provided at most of the cottages. Three new cottages are scheduled to be built in the near future. • Lakeside Pavilion - Many functions such as reunions, meetings, receptions and parties may be held in this facility. Seating capacity is 175. Restrooms, a commercial kitchen, fireplace and separate BBQ shelter are provided. • Picknicking - Picnics are permitted at designated tables and covered shelters. Tables are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Picnic shelters may be reserved up to 11 months in advance. Please use trash receptacles. • Fishing - Park waters are open for legal fishing throughout the year. Anglers age 16 or older must have a valid resident/non-resident fishing license. Licenses can be purchased at local bait and tackle shops but are no longer sold at the park office. Bank fisherman not registered as overnight guests must be off premises no later than 10 p.m. • Boating - Private boats are permitted on park waters, and there are no horsepower limitations. Water skiing is permitted. All boating must comply with Georgia Boating Safety Laws. Pedal boats and canoes are available for rent. A new mega boat ramp is scheduled to be built in the near future. • Swimming - Swimming is permitted at the beach at no charge; however, there are no lifeguards and visitors swim at their own risk. Beach rules are posted at concession area, which is open Wednesday-Sunday during the summer. Wheelchair ramp access into the swimming area is provided. • Disc Golf - A 27-basket course offers visitors a chance to throw Frisbees-style discs off cement pads into a basket. Discs are sold at the park office. • Golf - An 18-hole, par-72 course offers beautiful lake views. A pro shop, club house and driving range are available. T R A I L D E S C R I P T I O N S Richard B. Russell State Park offers biking and hiking trails for all ages with 4.94 miles of beautiful nature trails connecting most park facilities. Please leave footprints only. We ask that you not pick any plants or flowers. Let us know of any safety hazards such as downed trees. Leashed pets are welcome on trails. Please respect the wildlife that call Richard B. Russell State Park home. COTTAGE LOOP TRAIL BLACKWELL BRIDGE TRAIL 1.29-mile loop / Compacted Gravel Surface / MODERATE Average Walking Time: 2.25 hours 1.6 miles / Rubberized Surface & Compacted Natural Soil EASY TO MODERATE / Average Walking Time: 1.5 hours This trail begins near cottage 1 and takes you along the connecting trail, then veers off to the left down a hill. This loop is hilly, crosses a steel bridge in the back of one cove and offers outstanding scenery along the lake’s banks across from the cottage area. At the connecting trail, turn right to return to the cottage area, go straight for a longer walk to the campground, or turn left to go to the beach. Near the rear of the beach parking lot you will find this well marked trail. The first section goes to the bridge and begins with an asphalt/ rubberized surface that is wheelchair accessible. No bikes are allowed on this surface. The loop starts and ends at the bridge. There is a sign to continue to the right where you follow the shoreline for half a mile. From an old road bed near a group shelter you will continue to the big steel bridge with a nice view of the lake on Vans Creek. This ends the easy portion of the trail. Continuing over the bridge and along the old road, the trail takes you back around a cove and up a hill and back down to the first little bridge where the loop began. Along this trail are old and young forests with more wildlife as you get further into the woods. COTTAGE / BEACH TRAIL 1.55 miles / Compacted Gravel Surface / EASY Average Walking Time: 1.5 hours Connecting the cottage and beach areas of the park, the Cottage / Beach Trail is flat and runs close to the main road. The woods are a mixture of hardwoods and pines. This trail is 1.55 miles in length, offers potential wildlife, has a steel bridge near the main road and is open to bicycle and foot traffic. CAMPGROUND SPUR 0.5 mile / Compacted Gravel Surface / EASY Average Walking Time: half hour This trail is one of the two trails that begin or end above campsite #28 and goes to the connecting trail, making it easy to ride a bike or walk to the cottage area, cottage loop trail, or the trail to the beach. SAFETY TIPS & ETIQUETTE • Tell someone your itinerary and expected return time. • Be prepared for unexpected weather changes by dressing in layers and carrying rain gear. Avoid cotton. Instead, choose from numerous fabrics that wick moisture, dry quickly or conserve heat. Many experienced hikers wear a lightweight wick-style shirt, while carrying a fleece pullover and rain jacket. • 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 a hot spot 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. • Pack out all trash. • Keep pets on a leash. • Do not pick flowers or disturb wildlife. CAMPGROUND / PICNIC TRAIL 0.5 mile / Compacted Gravel Surface / EASY Average Walking Time: half hour • Protect the landscape by staying on trails. This is the other trail that begins or ends above campsite #28 and is a more natural and hilly trail. It leads to the picnic area where it becomes asphalt all the way to the beach. A R R O W H E A D P O I N T E CLIMATE DATA FOR ELBERTON, GEORGIA G O L F C O U R S E The 6,800-yard course is situated on a peninsula within the state park and the water views are stunning, with 10 of the 18 holes skirting Lake Richard B. Russell. Bob Walker’s design has been compared to the more expensive courses at Lake Oconee because of the challenging layout and scenic vistas. One exception to that comparison is that there are no visible lakefront houses from any vantage point on the course, consistent with the state park golf course theme of “no crowds, no houses, no noise.” Arrowhead Pointe was also named in TravelGolf.com’s Top 10 Courses in Georgia, alongside such venerable courses as Augusta National, East Lake, TPC at Sugarloaf and Ocean Forest. Arrowhead Pointe is the only public course on the list. Month Avg. High Avg. Avg. Low Mean Precip. Record High Record Low Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 51ºF 57ºF 65ºF 73ºF 79ºF 86ºF 89ºF 88ºF 82ºF 72ºF 63ºF 53ºF 29ºF 30ºF 37ºF 44ºF 54ºF 62ºF 66ºF 65ºF 59ºF 45ºF 36ºF 30ºF -5ºF (1985) 5ºF (1967) 10ºF (1980) 21ºF (1983) 30ºF (1971) 38ºF (1972) 50ºF (1988) 48ºF (1968) 28ºF (1967) 19ºF (1962) 11ºF (1970) -6ºF (1962) 40ºF 44ºF 51ºF 58ºF 67ºF 74ºF 78ºF 76ºF 70ºF 59ºF 50ºF 42ºF 5.30 in 4.55 in 5.14 in 3.44 in 4.11 in 3.93 in 4.48 in 4.02 in 3.27 in 3.29 in 3.68 in 3.88 in 78ºF (1975) 80ºF (1977) 89ºF (1974) 92ºF (1986) 94ºF (1964) 101ºF (1978) 105ºF (1977) 106ºF (1983) 97ºF (1962) 92ºF (1986) 83ºF (1974) 78ºF (1971)