Published: June 28, 2007 12:45 pm         

Enjoying all the Natural Beauty of a state park

Located six miles west of the city of Adel, Reed Bingham State Park covers 1,613 acres of land in Cook County and Colquitt County and surrounds a 375-acre lake. It’s a major tourist attraction in the South Georgia area and a favorite destination for weekend boaters and water-skiers and offers some of the best bass, crappie, catfish and bream fishing in South Georgia.

Visitors can hike along Reed Bingham State Park’s 3.5-mile long Coastal Plains Nature Trail, which winds through a bald cypress swamp, pitcher plant bog and sandhill area. Those who are especially watchful might catch a glimpse of the threatened gopher tortoise and the indigo snake or the park’s most famous and loyal resident, the vulture.

Thousands of black vultures and turkey vultures — scavenging birds that feed on the remains of dead animals — arrive at Reed Bingham State Park in late November and remain through early April. Because of this, the park has become the largest winter vulture roost in Georgia.

Reed Bingham State Park boasts 46 recreational vehicle, trailer and tent campsites, a pioneer campground for organized groups only, six picnic shelters and four group shelters, a swimming beach, three boat ramps, an accessible fishing pier, a playground, miniature golf and bicycle and canoe rentals. The best times and places to view birds in their natural habitats are in the morning near the bridge and dam and near dusk along the nature trail boardwalk.

Reed Bingham State Park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and can be reached by calling (229) 896-3551. A nominal parking fee is charged.