Big Oaks

Big Oaks Recreation Area is a 12-acre gently sloping site with good grass cover and scattered pine and hardwood trees throughout. The area experiences high levels of intense public use during peak recreation season and hosts numerous large special events annually, such as the Hartwell Dam Run and the Pre-Fourth Fireworks. The site offers day use and boat launching facilities, including a large picnic shelter with water and electric service, 26 picnic sites, a two-lane boat ramp, one courtesy dock, one comfort station, one playground, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout. Boating and water sports top the list of popular activities, and the two-lane ramp with its courtesy dock is provided for easy lake access. The area is also the access point to the paved walking trail located atop the Georgia earthen embankment of Hartwell Dam, and a 2.75-mile round-trip paved walking and bicycling path is located at the entrance to Big Oaks. Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. The dam and lake area boasts 8 campgrounds and 11 day-use facilities operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydropower, flood control and navigation; recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish and wildlife management were added later. Surrounding vegetation allows for plenty of shade, and the 962 miles of shoreline provide numerous swimming beaches, picnic areas and boat ramps.