Bartram Trail (Appling, Georgia)

**shanewalker10** · 11-21-2010, 23:43

Myself and three friends went to the Bartram Trail in Appling Ga, which is a 8 Mile trail starting at the West Dam of Clarks Hill Lake and ending at Petersburg campground. Due to time and the fact we didnt want to camp at an overcrowded campsite full of RVs, we hiked about four miles and left the trail and found a nice site down by the lake. It was a great night, weather was perfect...got down to about 43. Was a little chilly around 5 am but we were plenty warm sleeping with just a sleeping bag and clothes (i also had a ccf pad...which helps alot). Great trip overall. The trail head is located on Clark's Hill Rd right before you get to West Dam. How do you upload pics? It wants the URL? Help out

**Cutter** · 11-22-2010, 02:05

Nice, glad you guys had fun.

cutter

**MattH** · 11-22-2010, 09:39

Not sure if you know, but the Corps of Engineers doesn't look fondly on camping anywhere but designated campsites. I asked a ranger last weekend. I ride my bike on Bartram a lot and do take the hammock and cook a trail lunch. You might also want to consider some orange since it is hunting season. Don't mean to be a downer, but you do need to think about those things.

**shanewalker10** · 11-22-2010, 11:08

yeah, i figured they wouldnt...but we didnt see any "no camping" signs...we only saw a sign that said camp in Petersburg designated sites but we werent near Petersburg yet. We made sure to leave no trace and pack out everything we packed in. The trail rules on the board did not mention anything about no camping or leaving the trail.

**MattH** · 11-22-2010, 17:23

I havent looked at the West Dam board lately, but the board at Petersburg does have the no camping lingo although its stuck in the middle of a huge lislt of rules in small print. I doubt any ranger is gonna be out patrolling at night anyway.

**shanewalker10** · 11-22-2010, 21:35

yeah... we figured as long as we didnt hurt anything or do anything at wrong...the most they could do is tell us to leave...maybe it would give them the idea that their needs to be more backcountry camping areas around here cause some people dont like camping in big parks.

**MattH** · 11-23-2010, 07:08

Exactly. That is why I made a point to stop a Ranger at the dam on my way home a couple of weeks ago. I would much rather camp out on the trail instead of in the big campground at PB.

I wonder if back country permits are available to camp on the Keg Creek trail. It is a 9 mile loop but I don't know if it is COE property or not.

**shanewalker10** · 11-23-2010, 12:29

how is the Keg Creek Trail? I cant find much info on it. Where is the trail head at?

**MattH** · 11-23-2010, 15:46

From Augusta, go out Washington Rd and go straight through Pollards Corner a mile or two. There is a bridge just past WildWood Park. You can park before the bridge and go in or you can cross the bridge and park. Both trail entrances are on the left side of the road. It basically loops around that part of the lake. Trail is rootier than Bartram.

You may or may not know this, but you can start at West Dam and go all the way to Keg Creek by trail now that the section between Petersburg and Wildwood Park is complete.

**shanewalker10** · 11-23-2010, 23:57

oh ok...sweet...I biked the new part of bartram over the summer. Its pretty awesome, they really made it nice, and pretty tough. i liked it alot...i'll have to check out the Keg Creek Trail