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OUT & ABOUT
The Red & Black | Thursday, November 9, 2006 | 3B
THE STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA OCONEE FOREST PARK
TREVOR WILLIAMS The Red s, Black
TREVOR WILLIAMS The Red & Black
Somehow, the word “botanical” just doesn’t
conjure up images of a rugged hike.
But with a five-mile network of interconnected
trails that lets you build your own excursion,
there’s just enough room in The State Botanical
Garden of Georgia for casual strollers and
intense hikers to coexist.
Micheale Quesna has fond memories of the
Garden.
The 26-year-old grew up in Athens and
graduated from the University with an English
major. Her senior prom was held there, and it
served as the backdrop for her engagement pic
tures.
Now she works in Atlanta and when she
comes home to visit family, the Garden offers
relief from her hectic life in the capital city.
“I love getting out of Atlanta on weekends.
There’s more to do here, and everything’s much
more accessible,” she said.
Especially the trails. Beginning near the
Shade Garden, the white loop is the longest of
the Garden’s trails, covering just over three miles
on a semicircular route along the western edge
of the complex.
It runs parallel with the Middle Oconee for
about half a mile before curving back toward the
Garden’s buildings and parking areas.
The orange loop takes second place for trail
length at about 1.2 miles.
It connects with the white to form the park’s
perimeter.
For a lighter walk, take the blue, yellow, red,
green or purple trails. These short jaunts offer
the option of connecting with white or orange for
a longer route.
The Garden trumps both Birchmore and Ben
Burton in length and in quality of scenery.
The ecological diversity in the area is
astounding and the forest’s leafy ceiling is espe
cially colorful.
For seclusion, though, this isn’t the place.
DETAILS
DIFFICULTY: 1-4
The wide variety of trails here makes difficulty your
call. It all depends on your stamina and how far
you’re willing to push it.
ESCAPE FACTOR: 1
With a sign on the Milledge exit ramp and the fact
that it carries the banner for all botanical gardens in
the state, it's probably not a good place to get away
from people.
LEAF SCORE: 5
If I knew dendrology, I’d tell you scientifically why the
leaves are better here. Put simply, it was just prettier
than the other parks.
INTANGIBLES: 3
With all the buildings and maps, the touristy orienta
tion of the place almost kills the adventure vibe.
But the park has benches for reflection and a lot of
area to explore.
Also, if you get bored of hiking, you can always
check out the actual gardens, or eat lunch at the cafe
inside the visitors center.
Laughter, voices and the rustle and thump of
runners’ footsteps pierce the quiet, making a
completely tranquil experience practically impos
sible.
Also, stay away from the Garden if you can’t
handle mushy stuff.
Aside from squirrels, couples in love with their
hands locked are the Garden’s most common
species of mammals.
If students aren’t careful, they might spend
four (or five) years playing flag football and ulti
mate frisbee in the shadow of the Oconee Forest
Park’s 100-year-old trees without ever taking
advantage of the natural beauty the park has to
offer.
The 60-acre park, which includes 15-acre
Lake Herrick, sits on a donated piece of land
next to the intramural fields.
It serves as an outdoor classroom for students
in the Warnell School of Forestry, but it’s also
open to those who need a local outlet for their
love for the outdoors.
Ben Hollenbeck, a first-year graduate
student studying school counseling, enjoys
hiking with his dog Keira, a 3-month-old
beagle/German shepherd mix he adopted about
a month ago.
“Recently we drove to New York, and she was
in the Catskills. She really liked Bear Mountain
for some reason,” he said.
They also made a trip to Stone Mountain, but
were disappointed to find that “they don't allow
dogs on trails.”
The Oconee Forest Park allows leashed dogs
to frolic along the hiking trails with their owners,
who swarm the park on weekends in masses
even greater than at dog-friendly Ben Burton
Park.
Judging by the amount of unfettered dogs,
though, it seems that the leashing stipulation isn’t
always observed.
For those who want to legally let their dog run
free, there’s a 15-acre off-leash area at the
southern end of the park, according to the park's
Web site.
The Web site also says the park “has over 1.5
miles of hiking trails.” But since they’re all criss
crossed and interconnected, length doesn’t mat
ter.
Being spontaneous does.
Just like on the Birchmore trail, losing your
DETAILS
DIFFICULTY: 3
Again, difficulty depends on stamina and effort, but
here’s a hint: for a more challenging hike or run, start
in the lowlands right next to the lake and work south
up the hills.
Also, protruding roots threaten to twist some ankles.
ESCAPE FACTOR: 2
People love to walk their dogs here, and I saw at
least three unleashed canines.
Runners also frequent the park, and it’s hard to
escape the screams and applause down by the
Intramural fields.
Your best bet in this place is deep in the forest, away
from trailheads.
Even here, you can still hear cars whoosh by on the
loop.
LEAF SCORE: 4
Just as beautiful as the Botanical Garden but without
the body of water.
INTANGIBLES: 4
The park boasts a vast array of things to do besides
hiking: Lake Herrick, an exercise trail, a restored
pond, ropes course and the IM fields are all nearby.
I also found an old stone hearth and chimney, the
remains of a house that used to occupy the land.
Interestingly, there were benches set up around it
and fresh coals in the fireplace.
way is impossible. The hiking trails all run into a
gravel service road that encircles the forest
and leads back to either the parking lot or the
Intermural fields.
Walking the trails here isn’t much more than
a scenic stroll, but strap on a 30- to 40-pound
pack and the trail’s steep descent to the lake
becomes a good training ground for the
Appalachian Trail.
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