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Wormsloe State Historic Site

Savannah, Georgia

5.0/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

3.25 miles

Elevation Gain

82 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Lucas Bremer

Explore one of the most iconic sites in the South.

Most visitors to the historic Wormsloe Plantation only explore the iconic tree-lined Oak Avenue and the historic areas – but they also miss out on a larger portion of the historic site. A 3.2-mile loop explores the park’s popular and historic areas before ending at a Civil War-era Confederate earthworks "fort" on the Battery Trail.

The tour begins at the park’s entrance, a stone arch raised in 1913. Through the arch, the route stops at a small historic cottage to purchase entry passes to the site before driving the iconic Oak Avenue toward the ruins.

Four hundred Southern Live Oak trees make up Oak Avenue, their Spanish Moss-covered branches are what most think of when they plan to see Savannah. The trees were planted in the late 19th century.

The drive through Oak Avenue ends at a white fence, and the hike begins after parking at the museum. Leaving the museum trailhead, the hike follows Oak Avenue’s southernmost stretch to the plantation’s historic ruins. The estate of Noble Jones, which was completed in 1745, was a fortified tabby house constructed here on the Isle of Hope near Skidaway Island, eight miles south of Savannah.

The original Jones home rose a story and a half and boasted five rooms – a Mansion at the time. Today, the home’s ruins are mainly foundation of the original home, now thought to be the oldest remains in the Savannah area.

Departing the ruins, the hike makes a short loop to visit the family’s former gravesite (they’ve been since moved to Savannah’s historic Bonaventure Cemetery) before continuing on to the marshes of Jones Narrows. The hike offers views of the marshy grassland framed by old,and storm wrapped trees and a basin of shells left by prehistoric Native Americans.

heading further west on the trail, the hike catches views of the marshland and passes reconstructed examples of colonial life in coastal Georgia. The hike then moves into a palm and oak forest on the orange-blazed Battery Trail at .6 mile.

The Battery Trail hikes southbound on level trail, with more occasional views of the nearby marshes. 

The trail finds  Fort Wymberly at 1.8 miles, the site of 20-foot-high Confederate earthworks built in 1861. The mounds were constructed to protect against an attack on Savannah in the Civil War.

The hike then continues on until reaching back to the parking lot where one started the trek.

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Features

Photography
Hiking
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Groups
Picnic Area
River
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Wormsloe State Historic Site Reviews

While the oak tree lined road is amazing there are plenty of other things to do here. Lots of trails to explore and exhibit well worth it. 

Located just outside Savannah, GA, the Wormsloe Historic Site is one of the most iconic sites in the state, if not the entire south. The long avenue of live oaks create a stunning canopy where light leaks through amongst the ancient trees. For $10/person, you can drive the avenue and take pics of the trees before heading to the museum and the various other historic sites around the grounds. Get here early in the morning for that soft morning light or later in the afternoon/early evening for golden hour. To get the best shots, use a long lens and bracket your shots and compile into an HDR image in post. That way you'll get all the highlights and shadows to create a crisp, clean image. The long lens helps to compress the avenue and make the trees seem even more imposing and impressive.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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