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George L. Smith State Park: A Photo Essay

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Last weekend, the Camp Granola crew set off for a camping adventure in George L. Smith State Park in central Georgia. It was one of many trips we’ve taken around the state to complete the Georgia State Parks Geocaching Challenge. Being the types inclined to head to the mountains, the challenge has forced us to step put of our comfort zone and visit places that wouldn’t have been on our radar. The result is that we’ve discovered some really amazing places and it’s expanded our notions of what makes for great outdoor adventure locations.

George L. Smith State Park was no exception…

The icon of George L. Smith State Park, the Parrish Mill.
The Parrish Mill is a combination of grist mill, saw mill, covered bridge, and dam.
Built in 1880, the mill serves as the dam that holds 412-acre lake.
Downstream of the mill, the water churns its way down 15-mile Creek.
The mill museum is the gateway to the hiking trails.
The old mill generator is one of the many pieces of history to be seen at the museum.
Parrish Mill artifact.
412-acre lake is a paradise for both anglers and paddlers.
Three sisters stand out from the crowd.
Let your cares drift away in the silence of winter here.
Take a boat out and drift among the cypress and tupelo.
Be mesmerized by the dancing reflections in gentle winds.
A natural lake mirror makes the landscape more vibrant.
Two big brothers look over their little brother in the lake.
Sitting on the edge of the calm lake, you can get lost in the depth this subtle landscape has to offer.
Glassy waters give way to ripples in the gentle, cooling breezes that sweep across the lake.
George L. Smith State Park is more about boating than hiking but the 3 mile trail makes for a nice walk along the edge of the lake and through the drier lands that include gopher tortoise habitat.
The Disapproving Beagle helped us claim the George L. Smith State Park cache as part of the geocaching challenge.
Even from our camp’s backyard, the constantly changing light provided hours of dramatic textures.
Camp in the shade of cypress at George L. Smith State Park.
The combination of tall trees and watery reflections make for surreal images right at the edge of camp.
The hammock view from camp.

And now for your moment of green…

Get lost in the waters and reflections of George L. Smith State Park.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. The Guy says

    It looks like a wonderful setting for an afternoon stroll or even a camp over.

    Lovely pictures too Val, the place looks very appealing.

    Reply

    • valinreallife@gmail.com says

      It’s a very relaxing place. I tend to go more for mountain landscapes but the swamp holds it’s charms. 🙂

      Reply

  3. David Croyle says

    Great photos as always. You’ve really got an eye for composition. For the B&W photos, are you shooting in digital and then converting them later via software?

    Reply

    • valinreallife@gmail.com says

      Thanks, that’s a great compliment.

      I’m now shooting infrared with a converted Canon 50D but I was using an infrared filter for awhile. In both cases, I convert them to black and white once . You can also go with false-color which is really groovy but I’m not even remotely proficient in that post-processing yet.

      Reply

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