Five miles from the Thurmond Dam and Visitors Center, Modoc Campground sits on two adjoining peninsulas that jut into the waters of Thurmond Lake, which is also known as Clarks Hill Lake. All but one of its 70 campsites have electricity; the remaining site is primitive and has no utilities. Each of the camping peninsulas has its own boat ramp, hiking trail and playground. The recreation area of which the campground is a part offers a variety of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, picnicking, swimming and water-skiing. Campers also have access to flush and vault toilets, laundry facilities, showers, potable water and a dump station.
On the Georgia side of Thurmond Lake sits Petersburg Campground, which has 94 sites, 85 with water and electric hookups. One of the primitive sites is set aside for group camping and can accommodate up to 50 people. A popular destination for anglers, the waters of the lake are home to largemouth bass, bream, catfish, crappie and striped bass. Recreational facilities open to campers include two swimming beaches, a fishing dock, boat ramp, playground, hiking trail and a picnic shelter that’s available on a first-come, first-served basis. Among the campground’s other amenities are flush and vault toilets, drinking water, showers and a dump station. The campground is roughly 7 miles west of Clarks Hill.
Wildwood Park, part of the Columbia County (Georgia) parks system, also lies along the shores of Thurmond Lake, about 10 miles west-southwest of Clarks Hill. The 975-acre park’s three campgrounds together have 61 campsites, all with water and electricity. In addition to its camping areas, the park’s recreational facilities include six-lane boat ramps, three championship disc golf courses, a swimming beach and a picnic area with seven covered pavilions. Campers in each of the three campgrounds have ready access to restrooms and showers. The park is also home to the International Disc Golf Center & Hall of Fame.
Seventeen miles west of Clarks Hill, Ridge Road Campground near Appling, Georgia, sits on a peninsula that juts into the waters of Thurmond Lake. Nearby are several hiking trails, including the 27-mile Bartram Trail that winds its way along the shores of the lake. Among the other recreational activities available to campers are boating, canoeing, fishing, hunting, personal water crafting, swimming and water-skiing. The campground has 69 campsites, 63 with water and electricity; the remaining six sites are reserved for primitive tent camping. Other facilities include a boat ramp, dock, fish-cleaning station, flush and vault toilets, showers and a dump station.
Georgia’s Mistletoe State Park, 18 miles west of Clarks Hill, has facilities for RV and tent campers, as well as 10 rental cottages. Its campground has nearly 100 sites, most with water and electricity. Also available are three primitive campsites in the park’s backcountry. Like the other parks and recreation areas in the Clarks Hill area, the state park borders sprawling Thurmond Lake and offers a wide array of water-related recreational activities. Boat and canoe rentals are available. Other recreational facilities include biking and hiking trails, picnic areas and a playground. Campers also have access to restrooms, showers, laundry facilities and a dump station.
