Laura S. Walker State Park - Waycross, GA - Georgia State Parks

Located near the northern edge of the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp, this park is home to many fascinating creatures and plants. Walking along the lake shore and nature trail, visitors may see alligators, carnivorous pitcher plants, the shy gopher tortoise, numerous oak varieties and saw palmettos.  More than 100 bird species have been seen at Laura Walker, with the best birding spot being the lakeside trail.  Yellow billed cuckoos are common in summer, and yellow shafted flickers, warblers, owls, cattle egrets, little blue herons, glossy ibis and numerous other species also populate the park.  It is not uncommon to see 50 wood ducks within an hour. The park’s lake offers opportunities for boating, skiing and fishing. A championship 18-hole golf course, The Lakes, features a clubhouse, golf pro and junior/senior citizen discounts. This is one of the few state parks named after a woman, and its name is richly deserved. Laura Walker was a Georgia writer, teacher, civic leader and naturalist who was a great lover of trees and worked for their preservation.