Magnolia Springs Georgia State Park

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Wooden boardwalk and deck over the springs at Magnolia Springs State Park in Georgia. The park is well known for this crystal clear springs that are estimated to flow 7 million gallons per day. Wildlife near the springs include alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds and fish.

Magnolia Springs State Park in Georgia turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It is the perfect location for a wildlife photographer to bring the family along. For the photographer: Spanish Moss waving in the tall pines, a lake lined with lily pads sporting beautiful large white blooms, alligators, wading birds. For the family: nice campsites, a splash pad for the kids, canoe rentals.  

Alligtor basking on bank in Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

Magnolia Springs State Park was a short, 2-night, quickly planned birthday trip to another Georgia State Park; our 21st State Park visit. Because the actual ‘days in the field’ were so short, it really seemed to emphasize the processes of planning, packing, pitching. I believe camping can build life skills in kids if you let them be a part of the process. There is a fine balance of preparation and thought that goes into a multi-day outdoor excursion. Each and every meal requires previous thought, you have to be sure to have enough, and you must even be careful not to over pack.

Panorama Shot of Large Basking Alligator shot in Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

We arrived on my birthday, which happened to be Memorial Day, and the park was packed with picnickers. However, as we entered the campground at the back half of the park, the grounds were now nearly vacated. It seemed everyone else had come for a 3-day weekend, Friday to Monday trip. But rather wishing to skip work than miss church, we took the Monday to Wednesday option and thus missed the crowds.
 
We drove into the four “walk-in” tent sites and set up our solitary campsite. We were the only walk-in campers and had the area to ourselves. It was somewhat back in the woods off RV Central and gave a feeling of secluded camping, but with the amenities of a spigot and fire ring. One of the best parts of our trip was breakfast. Lunch and dinner might be less of an affair than those at home, but not breakfast. Not to be thwarted by a briefly malfunctioning propane canister, the aroma of eggs and bacon were quickly filling our little woodland retreat.

White phase Immature Little Blue Heron Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

The park itself turned out to be a pleasant little park. It isn’t a mountainous woodland retreat like some in north Georgia, but also didn’t have that small city park feel. The area was mainly flat and open with tall, longleaf pines standing throughout. Spanish Moss waved in the trees projecting a Heartland of the South feel.

The lake wasn’t too large, but was rimmed with beautiful bright green lily pads with large white blooms that opened and closed corresponding to the heat of the day. Megan couldn’t wait to get into the canoe for a closer look and to hopefully have her daddy pick some of the beautiful blooms. We also had fun exploring the Civil War remnants of Fort Lawton while looking for the geocache coordinates encoded in the educational kiosks.

Young American Alligator basking on bank in Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

Being a somewhat busy state park, the wildlife was somewhat accustomed to humans and thereby made the photography easier. I knew there would be some alligators at the park, but it was better than I expected. They were more numerous, and larger, than I anticipated for a small spring and creek in this part of the state.

Young Alligator basking on bank in Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

The spring for which the park gets its name was truly an awe inspiring spectacle pumping out millions of clean, pure gallons of water each day. The water was so clear and you could clearly see the underwater cave from which the underground spring flowed. And I had probably never seen such a huge concentration of turtles in one small area. Definitely a nice park for a day visit or even a short camping trip.  

Wooden sign at the springs at Magnolia Springs State Park in Georgia. The park is well known for this crystal clear springs that are estimated to flow 7 million gallons per day. Wildlife near the springs include alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds and fish.

Alligtor basking on bank in Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

Large American Alligator swimming in the swamp at Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

Alligator basking on bank in Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia

Two young Alligators Magnolia Springs State Park