Watson Mill more than just a bridge

Park offers number of programs, including history and nature hikes

  • Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe guides park visitors under Watson Mill Bridge, one of 16 remaining covered bridges in Georgia. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe guides park visitors under Watson Mill Bridge, one of 16 remaining covered bridges in Georgia. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe guides park visitors under Watson Mill Bridge, one of 16 remaining covered bridges in Georgia. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe guides park visitors under Watson Mill Bridge, one of 16 remaining covered bridges in Georgia. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • Swimming and sliding downs rocks in the South Fork Broad River are popular among youth at Watson Mill Bridge State Park. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Swimming and sliding downs rocks in the South Fork Broad River are popular among youth at Watson Mill Bridge State Park. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe explains the origins of Watson Mill Bridge while conducting a history hike through the park. The bridge was constructed by acclaimed bridge builder Washington W. King and completed in 1885. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe explains the origins of Watson Mill Bridge while conducting a history hike through the park. The bridge was constructed by acclaimed bridge builder Washington W. King and completed in 1885. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe explains the history of Watson Mill Bridge while conducting a history hike through the park. The bridge, standing at a length of 229 feet, is the longest surviving covered bridge in Georgia. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe explains the history of Watson Mill Bridge while conducting a history hike through the park. The bridge, standing at a length of 229 feet, is the longest surviving covered bridge in Georgia. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)

    Summer programming is in full swing at Watson Mill Bridge State Park.

     

    From outdoor art classes to night hikes in search of nocturnal critters, naturalist Sarah Ratcliffe has been in charge of formatting a summer schedule for many ages. 

     

    Kayaking sessions on the South Fork Broad River are among the newer activities the park offers. 

     

    “I only recently got paddling certified, so I was thrilled to start offering kayaking at the park,” said Ratcliffe, who doubles as an interpretative ranger. “We’re going to have more of them going forward, just so people can have more experiences at the park.”

     

    Once or twice a month, the park hosts guided history hikes, where Ratcliffe walks visitors through the history of the Watson Mill Bridge and the park at large.

     

    “We’ve been doing (guided history hikes) all throughout the summer and people seem to really love learning about the history of the bridge,” said park manager Jackson Mower, who is set to leave his role in mid-August. “It turns out a lot of people that have lived here, they just know the bridge has been here forever, but they don’t know a whole lot of the detailed history behind it.”

     

    The 1,118-acre park is home to the longest-surviving covered bridge in the state. Built in 1885, the Watson Mill Bridge, which is 229 feet long, is one of 16 remaining covered bridges in Georgia.

     

    Nominal prices for attending summer events range from $3 to $10, in addition to a parking fee ($5 a day/$50 for an annual pass).

     

    Beyond scheduled events, park goers can indulge in various other free activities. The park is home to four hiking trails and five miles of biking trails. Water activities such as swimming, tubing, fishing and kayaking are “huge” in popularity, Ratcliffe said.

     

    For a fee, horseback riding is also available along the park's 14 miles of equestrian trails.

     

    As the summer gives way to fall, park administration must handle increasing demands for access to campsites on the property. Watson Mill Bridge contains 32 campsites that can shelter 6-8 people each.    

     

    “We’ve had a ton of people coming in through the summer,” Mower said. “On the Fourth of July weekend, we were completely filled out. We didn’t have one open campsite.”