Magnolia Springs State Park, named for its crystal-clear spring, is located in southeast Georgia. Park visitors can hike, bike, boat, fish, picnic, enjoy two playgrounds, and stay in cottages or campsites.
Magnolia Springs State Park
2023 Price: $5 per vehicle
Pay via ParkPass envelope and keep the hangtag in your vehicle as proof of payment. You can also pre-buy online or buy an annual pass if you plan to visit multiple times or multiple Georgia parks.
Spring
Seven million gallons of water flow out of the spring per day. It is gorgeous! I loved the vibrant colors, especially the aqua in the basin. The spring is almost 20 feet deep but so clear that you can see the bottom.
Along the edge of the spring is a boardwalk with interpretive signs. Here you can view the spring from multiple angles and enjoy the wildlife living there.
Just before the boardwalk, a long footbridge crosses over the stream. Looking down we spied tons of fish!
Hiking
We hiked two main trails while at the park: Kingfisher Trail and Beaver Trail.
Kingfisher Trail
Marked with painted red blazes, this 0.5-mile loop starts behind the spring boardwalk. The trail is easy to moderate in difficulty but on uneven ground.
We saw several birds and insects. There were also wooden posts with animal information signs.
Beaver Trail
This 1.4-mile loop starts along Magnolia Lake near the rear of the park. Marked with white blazes, the path starts on a wooden plank boardwalk and transitions to sand and dirt. Beaver Trail is mostly flat with roots but there are some areas of elevation.
Near the far end of the loop, there is a small observation deck with views of the lake. Here there are a couple of benches to relax and enjoy the environment. More benches dot the path through the woods.
Beautiful water lilies were in bloom at the start of the trail.
Wildlife
We spotted a good amount of wildlife. They were scattered around the park, but I’ve grouped them below by types.
Birds
Birds we heard and saw along the hikes above include cardinals, tufted titmice, red-eyed vireos, northern parulas, great crested flycatchers, double-crested cormorants, and brown-headed cowbirds.
Reptiles and Fish
Near the spring were several species of fish and a couple of turtles swimming around. An alligator was visible in the distance at Magnolia Lake.
Insects
Several bugs, other than the dreaded mosquitos, gave flutters of wings and pops of color. We spotted red-spotted purple butterflies, dozens of dragonflies, and a six-spotted tiger beetle.
Camp Lawton
This site was known as Camp Lawton during the American Civil War. It was once considered the “world’s largest prison,” holding more than 10,000 Union prisoners of war.
The stockade was short-lived – it was planned, built, run, and abandoned within a few months in 1864.
Little remains of the stockade today; however, parts of the earthen fort that guarded the camp can still be seen. The 0.75-mile Fort Lawton Historic Trail near the park office takes you in a loop around the area.
Good to Know
We visited on a Thursday. It was very busy with small children in the morning, but the parking lot was empty by 1:30 p.m. These kids stayed primarily on the playgrounds and near the spring.
I highly recommend bug spray. We sprayed ourselves and I still had 5 mosquito bites.
Anyone who is interested in crystal springs should definitely add this to your list! In addition to the incredible spring, this park offers history, hiking, and housing. What more can you ask for?
I’m looking this up. I want to find how close Magnolia Springs is to I-75. It would be a pleasant stop on the way to Florida. Thank you for these informative blogs. I’ve never been disappointed.
I’m always up for a natural spring. The color and clarity of the springs are amazing and always worth a trip!