Vogel State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vogel State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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View of Lake Trahlyta
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 Vogel State Park
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Vogel State Park
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Blairsville, Georgia |
| Area | 233 acres (0.94 km2) |
| Established | 1931 |
| Governing body | Georgia Department of Natural Resources |
Vogel State Park is a beautiful place in northern Georgia. It covers about 233 acres (94 hectares) and sits at the bottom of Blood Mountain inside the Chattahoochee National Forest. It was one of the first two state parks created in Georgia back in 1931. Many parts of the park were built by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.
The park has lovely streams, a waterfall, and a lake called Lake Trahlyta. It's located high up in the mountains, about 2,500 feet (762 meters) above sea level. This makes it one of Georgia's highest state parks. The mountains around the lake are home to many different kinds of plants and animals.
You can find several hiking trails here. Some are easy, like the Bear Hair Gap Trail, and others are more challenging, like the Coosa Backcountry Trail. This longer trail goes up towards Blood Mountain and connects to the famous Appalachian Trail. Vogel State Park is a great spot for camping, staying in cabins, swimming, boating, and other fun outdoor activities.
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About Vogel State Park
Vogel State Park is located about 11 miles (18 km) south of Blairsville in the mountains of north Georgia. Because it's nearly 2,500 feet (762 meters) high, the park often stays cool in the summer. This makes it one of Georgia's most popular state parks.
The park offers hiking trails, cozy cabins, and a 20-acre (8-hectare) pond called Lake Trahlyta. This lake was created when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a dam on Wolf Creek. Lake Trahlyta is named after a Cherokee maiden who is buried a few miles away. The CCC workers also built the first cabins, picnic spots, and camping areas at Vogel.
Vogel is Georgia's second oldest state park. The land was given to the state in 1927 by August H. Vogel and Fred Vogel, Jr. Their family used to own a leather company in Wisconsin. They harvested bark from oak and hemlock trees on thousands of acres they owned in North Georgia. This bark was sent to Wisconsin to be used for tanning leather. After World War I, new ways to tan leather were invented, so the bark was no longer needed. The Vogel family then gave their land to Georgia to create this beautiful state park.
Fun Activities at Vogel State Park
Vogel State Park has many outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. These include camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, and swimming. The park has 103 spots for tents, trailers, and RVs, plus 18 walk-in campsites and 35 cottages. Most of the camping spots have electricity and water. There are also picnic shelters, group camping areas, and hot showers.
The main attraction of the park is Lake Trahlyta. The lake has a swimming beach and a place to launch non-motorized boats. You can rent pedal boats, kayaks, and paddleboards during certain times of the year. The lake is home to bass and bream fish, and it's regularly stocked with trout during fishing season. The park also has a general store, a miniature golf course, and a museum about the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Hiking Trails for All Levels
Vogel State Park has four hiking trails that go through different forest areas and offer various levels of difficulty.
- The Bear Hair Gap Trail is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and is considered moderately difficult. It starts and ends in Vogel but mostly loops through the Chattahoochee National Forest.
- The Trahlyta Lake Loop Trail is an easy 1-mile (1.6 km) walk around the lake.
- The Byron Herbert Reese Nature Trail is a shorter 0.8-mile (1.3 km) path.
For experienced hikers, there's the Coosa Backcountry Trail. This challenging 12.5-mile (20.1 km) loop climbs up Coosa Bald and Slaughter Mountain. It crosses streams and goes up to Duncan's Ridge, reaching over 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) in elevation. This trail connects with the Duncan Ridge Trail and eventually leads towards Blood Mountain and the Appalachian Trail.
Yearly Events and Festivals
Vogel State Park hosts many special events throughout the year. These include a Wildflower Walk in the spring, a CCC Reunion, and a Kids Fishing Rodeo. There's also an Independence Day flag-raising ceremony and bicycle parade. In September, you can enjoy the Mountain Music and Arts & Craft Festival. Other events include a Fall Hoedown, the Duncan Ridge Trail 50K/30K Race, and a Christmas Tree Lighting.
Nature and Wildlife
Vogel State Park is part of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. This area has many valleys, ridges, and mountains that were formed over millions of years by Earth's moving plates. This varied landscape creates a home for many different kinds of plants and animals.
The rocks in the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains are mostly metamorphic rocks. These are rocks that have changed due to heat and pressure. The area's climate, plants, and animals are similar to those found in Pennsylvania. You can find eastern hemlock and eastern white pine trees here. The forests also have rich, high-altitude plants, including rare wildflowers and ferns.
The park is home to white-tailed deer, grouse, and raccoons. The deer population, which had almost disappeared by 1895, has grown back thanks to park ranger Arthur Woody, who reintroduced them in the 1930s. More than 100 types of birds live in or pass through the area. These include songbirds like the Canada warbler and Blackburnian warbler. You might also see hawks, owls, woodpeckers, and many other species. Birdwatchers love this area, especially in late spring and early fall when migratory birds are present. The creeks around the lake are also full of different kinds of salamanders.
Vogel Museum
The Vogel Museum at the park tells the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It has exhibits, documents, photos, and items that show what the CCC did to build Vogel State Park and other parks in Georgia.
See also
