Brantley Nature Trail

Hard Labor Creek State Park is a 5,804 acre park located between near Rutledge, Georgia. The park is named after Hard Labor Creek which comes either from enslaved people who once tilled the summer fields, or from Native Americans who found the area around the stream difficult to ford.

This short loop hike starts at the trading post in the park and heads north to Lake Brantley – which was named for the Brantley family who were killed by Native Americans here in 1813. At this point you have the option of adding the Beaver Pond Trail to the loop for a 2.7 mile hike or heading south on the Bentley Trail to complete the loop in about half the distance. There is only ~100 feet of elevation change on this hike and it is suitable for all ages.