Georgia Natural Wonder #102 - Phinizy Swamp. 1,042

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Georgia Natural Wonder #102 - Phinizy Swamp

We continue on our waterfall to swamp theme in our second 100 Georgia Natural Wonders with a visit to Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, a 1,100-acre nature park in Augusta, Georgia. The park contains wetlands and woodlands and has a campus for water research and environmental education, which includes a visitor center.



It has many bald cypresses draped in Spanish moss.



And forests of loblolly and longleaf pine trees.



Birds commonly found at Phinizy Swamp include: red-shouldered hawks,



Great blue herons,



Wood ducks



And bald eagles.



Sometimes the park yields rarities for Georgia, including black-bellied whistling ducks,



Other wildlife commonly found in the park include frogs and toads;



Snakes, including water moccasin, pigmy rattlesnake, and copperhead;


Broad Banded Water Snake.

Beavers and muskrat;



Turtles;



And dragonflies.



Hike the ultra-scenic boardwalk trails at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta, exploring a wildlife-filled marshland draped in Spanish moss near the banks of the Savannah River.



There’s nothing quite like a morning hike at Phinizy Swamp. Early morning light blankets the swamp, casting a golden glow on this flat, scenic marsh just south of downtown Augusta. All around, the swamp’s inhabitants awaken. The swamp is suddenly brimming with life, as otters, tree frogs, amphibians, beavers, waterfowl, bobcats, and alligators take to the ground, air, and water as the day begins. Spanish moss blows languidly, draped in tendrils in the riverine forest and catching the breeze from the nearby Savannah River.



Phinizy Swamp Nature Park spans 1100 acres of riverine marsh and swampland, and its 14 miles of unpaved trails offer a beautifully scenic venue for a great bike, trail run, or hike near Augusta. It’s a wonderfully beautiful place for a nature walk, wildlife spotting, and a chance to connect with nature.



This relatively short but wonderful hike explores some of the nature park’s most picturesque places, following an extended boardwalk over the water-filled floodplain of Butler Creek, visiting the park’s visitor center and swamp’s research labs, and following a boardwalk around the rain garden’s glassy pond that’s often frequented by wildlife. This two trail combo makes for a great bird-watching stroll, a short kid-friendly nature walk, or a fantastic early morning running route through a wonderfully scenic wetland wonderland.



Phinizy Swamp Boardwalk and Rain Garden Trails: the hike

The adventure begins at the nature park’s parking area near the silos (view maps and driving directions), hiking eastbound to the Floodplain Boardwalk. The trail soon meets the boardwalk at under a tenth of a mile, following the boardwalk’s curve under a canopy of moss-draped trees.



The trail exits the tree cover, suddenly surrounded by the sun-drenched expanse of the Butler Creek floodplain. The creek meanders below the boardwalk, flowing nearly clear and flooding the surrounding landscape with water. The marsh is lush and vibrantly green, and wildlife tracks wind through the dense vegetation and over the mudflats bordering the creek.



At .1 mile, the boardwalk splits, offering an extension to the left that leads to a covered pavilion. The pavilion offers a perfect place to quietly observe the creek’s abundant wildlife. Fish swim in the creek’s shallows, waterfowl fly overhead, and the occasional beaver or otter scurries and swims through the verdant landscape.



Past the pavilion, the boardwalk climbs in a gentle arc, rising above the water-filled marshland and passing through moss-draped trees.



The trail reaches pavement, passing eastbound through the Phinizy Center Campus, home to the park’s research laboratories, visitor center, and ‘Swamp Shop,’ a great spot to stop for refreshments or a park map. Passing the visitor center, the hike follows a path toward the Rain Garden Trail, catching views of the glassy Rain Garden Pond from a wooden overlook.



The hike arcs eastbound around the pond, following a wooden boardwalk through dense vegetation. The pond’s waters and shoreline are home to many wildlife species, including turtles and tree frogs.



The hike reaches the end of the Rain Garden boardwalk at just over .5 mile. Views to the northeast stretch to the Windshear Tower and Distribution Canal, and a chance to spot osprey and hawks circling overhead in the air currents above the park’s wetland cells.



If you’re up for some additional mileage, the end of the Rain Garden boardwalk makes an excellent starting point for an adventure on one of the park’s many other trails. This hike turns around, following its outbound route in reverse and catching a second look at the swamp’s abundant flora and fauna on the return hike. The hike reaches the parking area and silos at just over 1.1 miles, completing the adventure. Fishing and hunting are not permitted within the park. Phinizy Swamp Nature Park is managed by Phinizy Center for Water Sciences.

Phinizy Center for Water Sciences

While it’s a simply beautiful place to explore, the swamp is also an important asset to the city as well as the research team that studies here. Once a devastated ecosystem, the swamp was revitalized for use as the final treatment of municipal water from the city of Augusta. It’s also home to the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences, a research center for the study of river ecology and water quality, and hosts many educational programs as well. Visit the Phinizy Center website for more information, and to learn how you can help contribute to its outstanding efforts and programs.



Clean water. A healthy environment. Economic prosperity. Community well-being. These are the driving goals behind what Phinizy Center, legally known as Phinizy Center for Water Sciences, does. Based out of the beautiful Phinizy Swamp Nature Park near downtown Augusta, Phinizy Center strives to investigate, collaborate, educate and innovate.



Phinizy Center, a private nonprofit 501© organization, was founded in 1996 in response to a critical need in the community for independent water quality research expertise, K-12 environmental education, and environmental stewardship. Phinizy Center provides leadership to balance sustainable watersheds and economic vitality through solutions-based research, education and public involvement.



Phinizy Center is highly qualified for these tasks, employing degreed scientists and educators with extensive professional work experience in the natural sciences. The Phinizy Center for Water Sciences research team studies rivers and watersheds without agenda or bias in order to understand impacts on water quality and quantity. Using sound science, they develop solutions that minimize negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystems that we all rely on. Access to this research allows government agencies, water managers, businesses, and individuals to make wise and informed decisions regarding our water resources.



Education is a cornerstone for learning and growth. At Phinizy Center, children and adults have the opportunity to discover more about natural and water sciences through hands-on educational programs within the living laboratory of the nature park.



Thousands participate each year in Phinizy’s award-winning programs designed to further understanding of our water systems and the people and animals that our water sustains. Reaching a milestone of educating 70,000 students over our 20-year program history, we take pride in knowing that those students, either as more informed citizens or future scientists, will be able to put this knowledge to work helping to create a sustainable future.



At Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, visitors are able to connect with nature 365 days a year without an admission charge. Guided hikes, bike rides and other events provide the community with opportunities to learn more about the importance of wetlands and our water systems. Through research, education, and recreation, Phinizy Center is making an impact regionally and throughout the Southeast.



Phinizy Swamp Wildlife Management Area is located in Richmond County. This 1,500-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game and waterfowl. There are also five ponds that provide walk-in fishing opportunities at Phinizy Swamp. No camping is allowed on the WMA.



Today's GNW Gal a Swamp beauty.