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)
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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 park covering 233 acres (0.94 km2) (about 94 hectares) in northern Georgia. It sits right at the base of Blood Mountain within the huge Chattahoochee National Forest. This park was one of the very first state parks in Georgia, created way back in 1931. Many of its buildings and areas were built by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s. The CCC was a program that helped young men find work during the Great Depression.
Vogel State Park is known for its pretty streams, a cool waterfall, and a lovely lake called Lake Trahlyta. At about 2,500 feet (760 m) above sea level, it's one of Georgia's highest parks. This high-up location means it's often cooler here, especially in summer. The mountains around the lake are home to many different kinds of plants and animals. You can find several hiking trails here, like the Bear Hair Gap Trail. There's also the tougher Coosa Backcountry Trail, which goes up towards Blood Mountain and the famous Appalachian Trail. The park offers lots of fun activities like camping, staying in cabins, swimming, and boating.
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Discovering Vogel State Park's History
Vogel State Park is located about 11 miles (18 km) south of Blairsville in the North Georgia mountains. Because it's nearly 2,500 feet (760 m) high, Vogel State Park stays cool in the summer. This makes it one of Georgia's most popular state parks. The park has hiking trails, cozy cabins, and a 20 acres (81,000 m2) pond called Lake Trahlyta. This lake was made when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a dam across Wolf Creek.
The lake is named after Trahlyta, a Cherokee maiden. She is said to be buried a few miles from the park. The CCC workers also built the first cabins, picnic spots, and camping areas at Vogel.
How Vogel State Park Began
Vogel is the second oldest state park in Georgia. The land for the park was given to the state in 1927. It was a gift from August H. Vogel and Fred Vogel, Jr. They were from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their family owned the Pfister & Vogel Leather Company. This company used bark from oak and hemlock trees to make leather. The Vogel family owned thousands of acres in North Georgia where they collected this bark.
During World War I, new ways were found to make leather without tree bark. So, the Vogel family no longer needed their land in Georgia. They decided to give it to the state to create this beautiful park for everyone to enjoy.
Fun Things to Do at Vogel State Park
Vogel State Park is a great place for outdoor adventures! You can go camping, hiking, boating, and fishing here. The park has many places to stay, including 103 spots for tents, trailers, and RVs. There are also 18 walk-in campsites and 35 cabins. Most of the camping spots have electricity and water. You'll also find picnic shelters and special areas for group camping. Hot showers are available too!
Enjoying Lake Trahlyta
The main attraction at the park is Lake Trahlyta. The lake has a swimming beach and a place to launch boats. Only non-motorized boats are allowed, like pedal boats, kayaks, and paddle boards. You can rent these during certain times of the year. The lake is home to bass and bream fish. It's also stocked with about 5,000 trout during fishing season.
At the park, you can also visit a general store, play miniature golf, and learn about the Civilian Conservation Corps at their museum.
Explore the Trails: Hiking Adventures
Vogel State Park has four hiking trails. They offer different challenges and show off various forest areas.
- The Bear Hair Gap Trail is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and is moderately difficult. It starts and ends in Vogel, but most of it goes 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, easy walk at about 0.8 miles.
The Coosa Backcountry Trail is a challenging 12.5 miles (20.1 km) loop. It climbs up Coosa Bald and Slaughter Mountain. This trail crosses streams and goes up to Duncan's Ridge, near the top of Coosa Bald. From there, it joins the Duncan Ridge Trail. The trail then goes down, climbs to Wildcat Knob, and crosses State Route 180. After that, it's a steep climb up Slaughter Mountain. The Coosa Backcountry Trail then splits from the Duncan Ridge Trail. The Duncan Ridge Trail leads to Blood Mountain and the Appalachian Trail. The Coosa Backcountry Trail goes back down the mountain and connects with the Bear Hair Gap Trail, leading you back to the park. You can also reach the Appalachian Trail from nearby Neel's Gap.
Yearly Events at the Park
Vogel State Park hosts many fun events throughout the year. These include:
- A Wildflower Walk in spring.
- A CCC Reunion.
- A Kids Fishing Rodeo.
- An Independence Day flag-raising and bicycle parade.
- A Mountain Music and Arts & Craft Festival in September.
- A Fall Hoedown.
- The Duncan Ridge Trail 50K/30K Race.
- A Christmas Tree Lighting.
Wildlife and Plants of Vogel State Park
Vogel State Park is in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. This area has many valleys, ridges, and mountains. They were formed over millions of years by Earth's plates moving and crashing together. This created a landscape with 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.
Trees and Wildflowers
The park is near the southern edge where trees like eastern hemlock and eastern white pine grow. In lower areas, you'll find more oak and hickory trees. The forests around the park have many unique high-altitude plants. These include rare wildflowers and ferns. One special flower is the Persistent Trillium, which grows near Rhododendron plants. You might also see Dutchman's breeches, squirrel corn, and waterleaf plants.
Animals of the Park
The park is home to white-tailed deer, grouse, and raccoons. The deer disappeared from the area by 1895. But park ranger Arthur Woody brought them back in the 1930s. Now, there are many deer again.
Over 100 kinds of birds live in or pass through the area. You can see songbirds like the Canada warbler, Blackburnian, black-throated blue, black-throated green, and chestnut-sided warblers. There are also hawks, owls, woodpeckers, and many other types of birds. 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: Learn About the CCC
The park has its own museum called the Vogel Museum. Here, you can see exhibits, documents, photos, and other items. They tell the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and their work. You can learn about how the CCC helped build Vogel State Park and other parks in Georgia.
