Georgia / Hart County

Big Oaks

Closed — Open year-round for day use only. No overnight camping is allowed. Group shelter available for reservation April 1 through September 30. A $7 per vehicle fee applies for boat launching.

About

Big Oaks Recreation Area is a 12-acre day-use facility located on Hartwell Lake in Hart County, Georgia, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The gently sloping site features good grass cover with scattered pine and hardwood trees throughout, providing ample shade for visitors. This popular recreation area experiences high levels of use during peak season and serves as a venue for numerous large special events annually, including the Hartwell Dam Run and Pre-Fourth of July Fireworks. The site offers extensive day-use facilities including a large group shelter equipped with water and electric service, 26 individual picnic sites, a two-lane boat ramp with a courtesy dock for easy lake access, one comfort station with restrooms, a playground, and well-maintained paved roads and parking areas throughout. Big Oaks serves as the access point to the paved walking and bicycling trail located atop the Georgia earthen embankment of Hartwell Dam, offering a 2.75-mile roundtrip path for hiking and cycling. Hartwell Lake is a 56,000-acre man-made reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers, with 962 miles of shoreline. The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydropower, flood control, and navigation, with recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish and wildlife management added later. It is important to note that Big Oaks is strictly a day-use area and no overnight camping is allowed.

Directions

From Hartwell, GA, take Highway 29 North towards Anderson, SC for about 5 miles. Big Oaks is located on the left next to the Hartwell Visitor Center and Manager's Office at 5823 Dam Road.

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