Fishing
Lake Russell is a trophy striper lake with 540 miles of shoreline. Other species of fish include crappie, large mouth bass, spotted bass, flathead catfish, channel catfish, trout and various types of bream.
Located on a 26,650 acre lake, Richard B. Russell State Park offers some of the state’s finest fishing and boating. A nature trail follows the shoreline to one of the oldest steel pin bridges in the area, loops through the adjoining woods and returns to the beach.
This park is known for its well-kept disc golf course, where Frisbee-style discs are thrown into metal baskets. This sport is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by all ages. For traditional golfers, the park’s 18-hole Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course offers a pro shop and annual passes. Several Indian sites were excavated near the park in 1980 before the lake was filled, indicating that Paleo-Indians lived in the area more than 10,000 years ago. This area is now called Rucker’s Bottom and lies deep within the waters of Lake Richard B. Russell.
Day Hiking
Cottage Loop Trail
1.29-mile loop | Compacted Gravel Surface | Moderate | 2.25 hours
This trail begins near cottage 1 and takes you along the connecting trail, then veers off to the left down a hill. This loop is hilly, crosses a steel bridge in the back of one cove and offers outstanding scenery along the lake’s banks across from the cottage area. At the connecting trail, turn right to return to the cottage area, go straight for a longer walk to the campground, or turn left to go to the beach.
Cottage/Beach Trail
1.55 miles | Compacted Gravel Surface | Easy | 1.5 hours
Connecting the cottage and beach areas of the park, the Cottage/Beach Trail is flat and runs close to the main road. The woods are a mixture of hardwoods and pines. This trail is 1.55 miles in length, offers potential wildlife, has a steel bridge near the main road and is open to bicycle and foot traffic.
Campground Spur
0.5 mile | Compacted Gravel Surface | Easy | Half-hour
This trail is one of the two trails that begin or end above campsite #28 and goes to the connecting trail, making it easy to ride a bike or walk to the cottage area, cottage loop trail, or the trail to the beach.
Campground/Picnic Trail
0.5 mile | Compacted Gravel Surface | Easy | Half-hour
This is the other trail that begins or ends above campsite #28 and is a more natural and hilly trail. It leads to the picnic area where it becomes asphalt all the way to the beach.
Blackwell Bridge Trail
1.6 miles | Rubberized Surface & Compacted Natural Soil | Easy to Moderate | 1.5 hours
Near the rear of the beach parking lot you will find this well marked trail. The first section goes to the bridge and begins with an asphalt/rubberized surface that is wheelchair accessible. No bikes are allowed on this surface. The loop starts and ends at the bridge. There is a sign to continue to the right where you follow the shoreline for half a mile. From an old road bed near a group shelter you will continue to the big steel bridge with a nice view of the lake on Vans Creek. This ends the easy portion of the trail. Continuing over the bridge and along the old road, the trail takes you back around a cove and up a hill and back down to the first little bridge where the loop began. Along this trail are old and young forests with more wildlife as you get further into the woods.
Hunting
Elbert County Wildlife Management Area is located in Elberton. This 2,500-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, and small game. No camping is allowed on the property.
Deer
ARCHERY
- Sept. 11-Oct. 8
PRIMITIVE
- Oct. 9-15
FIREARMS
- Buck Only: Oct. 16-29
- Oct. 30-Jan. 1
Turkey
Apr. 9-May 15
Small Game
Aug. 15-Feb. 28
Coyote
May 16-31
Special Regs
Beverly Tract is Archery Only for deer. No camping. Sign-In required only on Vaughter Tract.
Directions
From Elberton This WMA consists of 5 separate tracts in Elbert Co. Beverly Tract: Take GA HWY 72 east 5 miles; turn north on Pearl Mill Rd.; go 1.5 miles to area. Elbert Tract: Take GA HWY 72 east 10 miles to Bobby Brown State Park Rd.; turn south, area is east of road. Heardmont Tract: Take GA HWY 72 east 5 miles; turn north on Pearl Mill Rd.; bear right on Heardmont Rd.; turn right on Johnsontown Rd.; follow to area. Pickens Tract: From Elberton, take HWY 77 north 1.2 miles. Turn right and take Ruckersville Rd 11.4 miles. Turn right onto Turner Hill Rd. Take Turner Hill Rd. 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Cougar Pointe Dr. and follow to entrance sign. Vaughter Tract: Take GA HWY 77 north 3 miles and turn right onto HWY 368; go 3 miles to Harmony Rd.; turn left and continue to entrance sign on right.