Plum Branch, South Carolina

The Cherokee Boat Ramp is easily my new favorite place for astrophotography in the Augusta area. If you drive around the boat ramp area for awhile, you'll notice plenty of spots to set up your camera and aim it down the beautiful Clarks Hill Lake. The ramp area creates a loop. Near the end of the...

West Dam is located across the road from one of the most prominent structures in area: J. Strom Thurmond Dam. Thurmond Lake is created by the dam and the park is located on this lake. Fishing is extremely popular here, especially for largemouth bass and striped bass. There is a large swimming are...

Starting at Thurmond Dam, drop your kayak in just below the dam and travel down the Savannah River. There are a couple places to you can choose to end your adventure:The first, and closest, is Riverside Park. Around the 7 mile mark downstream, Riverside park is a right hand turn towards a boat ra...

Mistletoe State Park is located on the beautiful Clark’s Hill Lake created by the J. Strom Thurmond Dam. The park offers an array of hiking trails, but is most well-known for its numerous camping spots and bass fishing. The park offers a whopping total of 100 camping sites, 4 of which are backcou...

Mistletoe State park encompasses 15 miles of hiking trails that lead both along Clarks Hill Lake and the river adjacent to it. Although not a necessarily strenuous hike, the 3.75-mile Cliatt Creek Nature Loop (white blaze) begins at the park’s nature center and features some amazing wildlife as i...

Beginning at Riverside Park, put in either at the concrete boat ramp or the beach. Paddle along until you exit the inlet and now you have a decision to make: right or left?Left: Turning left takes you on a longer and more difficult route than turning right (3 hours total), but it’s absolutely wor...

Out of all the adventures in Augusta, Kayaking the Augusta Canal might be my favorite. Hosted by the Savannah River Rapids Park, single kayaks, tandem, and paddleboards are available for rent ($20-$40) from the Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental Center located on the Savannah River Rapids Trail. The la...

Easily the most popular outdoor attraction in Augusta, the Savannah River Rapids Park marks the beginning of the Augusta Canal. The walkway flanks both the Savannah River and the Augusta Canal, allowing you to see both waterways from the trail. Reed River also flows into the canal producing some ...

Although it is not heavily advertised, Augusta's Rae Creek Aqueduct Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the area. Located across the bridge from the Lake Olmstead Trailhead, a dirt path leads you to the base of a 35 foot waterfall that flows into a swimming hole. Next to the waterfall is R...

Beginning at the 5th Street Marina, the Riverwalk is two tiered with an upper level and a lower level, closer to the river itself. As you walk north, you’ll reach the 8th street plaza and bulkhead which is home to the Saturday morning market and the famous fountain along the brick-lined road to t...

Before any trip I take I pull up the dark sky map: darksitefinder.com. This incredible tool is great in finding low light pollution areas nearby.However, when I don't feel like driving many hours away on dirt roads, this is a great alternative in the Southeast. Spend a night with professional an...

Phinizy offers miles of nature trails around the swamp and an expansive wooden boardwalk that allows visitors to walk the 100 meters across the swampy water. If you get lucky, you may see some of the resident beavers, alligators, and bobcats in their natural habitats. The narrow trails through th...

Nestled in between Augusta GA and Aiken SC, Redcliffe Plantation is one of the many large historic plantations in South Carolina. Built in 1859, it was once home to Hames Henry Hammond, an extremely successful businessman, congressman, governor, and senator.  The Greek-Revival style plantation ho...

Hidden in the back woods behind Augusta's domestic airport, the New Savannah River Lock and Dam is a favorite fishing spot for locals. Drive through the entrance to the park and you'll find a large selection of pavilions, fishing areas, a boat ramp, and even fish cleaning stations! Put your pole ...

Watson Mill State Park has many different things to offer. The main attraction is the Watson Mill covered bridge. It is the longest covered bridge in Georgia it was built in 1885. The bridge is still driveable today as long as you are in a smaller vehicle I did it in a minivan and had plenty of r...