Oconee Forest Park

Oconee Forest Park is a 60-acre natural area located behind the Intramural Fields of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. The park is administered by the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and serves as a recreational, educational, and research space for the university and local community.

The park features over 1.5 miles of hiking and walking trails that wind through a 100-year-old forest. Visitors can observe mature oak and hickory trees mingling with tulip poplars as they explore the trails. The park is home to the largest scarlet oak tree in Georgia, adding to its ecological significance.

At the heart of Oconee Forest Park lies the 15-acre Lake Herrick, providing opportunities for fishing and non-motorized boating. A pavilion overlooking the lake offers a scenic spot for picnics and gatherings. The park also includes a 1.2-mile mountain bike trail that forms a clockwise loop, traversing gravel roads and single-track woods trails.

Accessibility is a key feature of the park, with an ADA-compliant boardwalk and bridge donated by the family of Leon A. and Eugenia C. Hargreaves. This boardwalk begins at the parking lot near the tennis courts, ensuring that visitors of all abilities can enjoy the natural beauty of Oconee Forest Park.

The park serves as an outdoor classroom for University of Georgia students, particularly those in environmental studies and related fields. It provides a living laboratory for research projects and hands-on learning experiences in ecology and forest management.

Oconee Forest Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, offering a peaceful retreat for nature enthusiasts, students, and local residents alike. Its proximity to the university campus makes it a convenient escape into nature for those seeking a break from urban surroundings.