Columbia County: Views, Trails and History

Discover Columbia County through its waterways, trails and historic places. Clarks Hill Lake, natural attractions and museums each offer something different. Columbia County is near Augusta and about two hours from Atlanta.

Water, Parks and Nature

Mistletoe State Park is located on Clarks Hill Lake, which covers 71,100 acres. The park has 15.5 miles of trails with varying levels of difficulty. Its year-round program includes astronomy events, concerts and nature walks. Wildwood Park provides access to Clarks Hill Lake; Heggie’s Rock Preserve covers about 101 acres in Columbia County.

Savannah Rapids Park covers 33 acres, is used for passive recreation and has been a destination for nature lovers for more than 150 years. The park’s Lockkeeper’s Cottage, built around 1880, houses Columbia County’s state-certified visitor center. In this way, the park’s recreational role and a historic building are combined with a practical visitor service.

Trails, Paddling and Choosing a Route

The Euchee Creek Greenway is about 4.2 miles long and is used for walking, running and cycling. Visitors can access it from trailheads at Patriots Park or in the Canterbury Farms neighborhood. The Reed Creek Boardwalk is closed until further notice due to damage from Hurricane Helene; please check its current status before your trip. The Bartram Trail is an 18.5-mile point-to-point route with trails of varying difficulty; it is suitable for mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and camping. The Evans To Lock Trail is six miles long, fully paved and wheelchair accessible.

These routes differ in more than just length: the Bartram Trail is described as a point-to-point route with varying levels of difficulty and several activities. The Evans To Lock Trail has clearly defined features: it is fully paved and wheelchair accessible.

Serene18 is a self-guided paddling experience for kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. It has five sections and offers a challenge in which completed routes can be stamped in the official Explorer Pass. The International Disc Golf Center’s facilities include three challenging, championship-level disc golf courses; the center is closed following Hurricane Helene.

The Wetland Interpretive Center is free to visit and features live animal exhibits and informative displays. Guided walks are available by request. Please check the latest visitor information before your trip.

History and Culture

Old Kiokee Baptist Church is Georgia’s oldest continuously operating Baptist church. Its current building was constructed at this site in 1808. In Appling, the Columbia County Courthouse dates to around 1812 and is Georgia’s oldest courthouse still in use. The two places offer different perspectives on the county’s history: religious heritage and public institutions.

The Harlem Museum and Welcome Center explores the history of the city of Harlem and part of Columbia County’s history. Its current location offers more storage capacity for the collection and a larger exhibition space for exploring the history of Laurel and Hardy and their social impact. The museum adds a focus on local and regional history to the area’s historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Grovetown, Evans, Harlem, Mcintosh, Tattnall County, Lowndes, Chatham, Houston.

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.