Our review of Fort Yargo State Park’s Camper Cabins, new two bedroom lakeside cabins that are modern, comfy, and offer a great getaway with access to the park’s best features. And several are dog-friendly, too!
With many miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, a sandy beach, boating, fishing, swimming, a disc golf course and more, there’s plenty of outdoor adventure to be had at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia. With so much to do, why not spend the night and grab more family-friendly outdoor adventure?
We had the chance to overnight at one of Fort Yargo’s new ‘Camper Cabins,’ and loved the cabin’s cozy, well-equipped, rustic-modern furnishings. We booked one of two dog-friendly cabins in early April and left longing for a few more nights at the park. The highlights? Catching a gorgeous, over-the-lake sunset, hiking and running Fort Yargo’s trails, relaxing on the cabin’s oversized, screened-in back porch, campfires in the cabin’s fire pit, and sleeping in the cabin’s nearly brand-new interior with clean, modern furnishings. At a reasonable price, Fort Yargo’s cabins are an excellent value for an overnight or long weekend getaway.
Our Fort Yargo State Park cabin review
Car packed, we set off from Atlanta with our favorite hiking buddy, our black lab Jake, for an overnight stay at the park. Fort Yargo’s new camper cabins are nestled lakeside in the park amid a grove of towering pine. They’re two bedroom, one bath cabins with large kitchens and outdoor areas, and are Fort Yargo’s newest – and arguably nicest – overnight accommodations.
After a quick (and easy) check-in, we headed to our dog-friendly cabin, #8. (Not all are dog-friendly, so if you’re traveling with your four-pawed adventure pup, be sure to reserve one of the dog-friendly cabins.) A short drive around the lake, past Fort Yargo’s Campground #2, and down a short, easy-to-drive dirt road led us to the cabins.
The cabin is light-filled, airy, modern and downright comfy. The cabins are nearly brand new, furnished with modern furnishings and decorated in a rustic-modern decor. A large living room features a pull-out couch, flat screen TV, and a duo of oversized, comfortable leather chairs, perfect for lounging. Adjacent to the living room, the kitchen area features a full-sized fridge, stove and sink, and a dining area with a large round table and chairs to seat five.
The cabin has two roomy bedrooms with comfortable-yet-firm full-sized beds, and ample clothes storage in each with large closets and dressers. Off the hall to one bedroom, the cabin features a full bath with shower/tub combo and rustic-modern tile. With a single bathroom, two bedrooms and a pull-out couch, the cabin was perfectly sized for a small family or few friends.
The cabin’s interior is impressive, but our by-far favorite feature is located off the living room via a sliding door: an oversized, screened-in porch that nearly spans the cabin’s entire length. With a between-the-trees view of Fort Yargo’s lake, it’s an excellent covered outdoor space for relaxing, eating and entertaining. On the porch, an oversized picnic table easily seats 10, and two tall-backed wooden rocking chairs are coveted spots for relaxing, gazing at the lake or reading a book.
Each cabin also offers a graveled outdoor area with a square picnic table that seats 8 and a metal-ring fire pit with fold-over grill for tasty culinary creations on the grill. Set in a grove of tall pine on the shore of the lake, the outdoor space is peaceful: songbirds sing nearly continuously, and birds of prey circle overhead. And though we didn’t see any deer, we were greeted by three wild turkeys just outside our cabin when we were headed out for a morning run.
So why’s it called a ‘camper cabin’?
The ‘cabin’ half of the name is evident: this is a nicely-featured, comfortable, climate controlled cabin in a great location with a ton of great amenities. The ‘camper’ designation is at the service level: there’s no maid service, linens or soaps provided, so guests need to pack similarly as they do when camping. The payoff? A great cabin at a great price, well under the price of similar full-service cabins.
We packed food, paper towels, bathroom essentials (shampoo, towels, soap, etc.), hand towels, bed linens (or sleeping bags), pillows, dish soap, dishes, silverware, grill equipment, and kitchen utensils (pots, pans, spatulas, spoons, etc.). Also good to pack: a bath mat, a good book (or two), firewood, and sweet tea (or adults, something stronger) for sipping on the back porch. The cabin doesn’t have a coffee maker, so if you’re a coffee addict like me, pack a french press – or venture into the town of Winder, a short 1-mile drive, for coffee and breakfast.
Fort Yargo State Park: outdoor adventures
There’s a lot to do at the park, including our favorite Fort Yargo trail, the southern half of the Fort Yargo Lake Loop. The park’s main hiking, running and walking trail circles the lake in a 7-mile loop, and it’s accessible via a short hike downhill through the woods to the lake.
Kayak the lake’s meandering shore or catch a scenic sunrise or sunset run on the park’s nearly level, mostly-shaded trails. Catch some singletrack on Fort Yargo’s popular 12-mile mountain biking loop. Catch some rays at the park’s sandy beach, or play a round of disc golf. Fish, or take the kids to the park’s popular playground. There’s plenty of outdoor adventures to be had at the park – and if the weather is uncooperative, the cabin’s oversized screen porch makes a great, covered outdoor hangout.
Fort Yargo Camper Cabins: bottom line
Tucked into one of the Fort Yargo’s most scenic and quiet sections with the prettiest, natural cross-lake views, the park’s nearly-brand-new Camper Cabins offer modern furnishings, great amenities and access to great Fort Yargo outdoor adventures. Stunning sunsets, beautiful reflections in the lake’s glassy surface, grilling a great meal, hiking the trails and relaxing at the cabin: our camper cabin experience was pretty much perfection. We can’t wait to return.
Please Remember
Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out.
Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Please always practice good trail etiquette. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions.
