Tugaloo State Park

09/07/2026

🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️ Tugaloo Triathlon – Saturday, September 12!

Howdy, folks! Just a quick reminder that the Annual Tugaloo Triathlon will take place this Saturday, September 12.

⚠️ From approximately 7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.:

The beach and main day-use area will be unavailable for vehicle access and parking.
Park roads will remain open to park visitors, but traffic will be restricted at times. If you need to travel through the park during the event, please use extreme caution, drive slowly, and watch carefully for triathlon participants.

📣 Want to watch the race? Spectators should park in the main overflow parking area and walk to the beach area. Please plan to arrive before the race begins at 8:00 a.m.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we work to provide a safe and enjoyable event for participants and visitors!

For additional event information, visit:

  Tugaloo Olympic, Sprint and AquabikeSaturday, September 12, 2026Olympic: 1.5k Swim, 42k Bike, 10k RunSprint: 500 Yard Swim, 14 Mile Bike , 5K RunA Georgia Multisports ProductionRace Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026Race Time: 8:00 amLocation: Tugaloo State Park at Lake Hartwell, 1763 Tugaloo Sta...

09/07/2026

Thank You Brave Ones, for finding and taking Ranger TUG back into our Office where he can cool down!! You guys rock!! 😎

09/05/2026

Its a brand new month, and as usual, our local Gnome Ranger TUG has found his way out of the Park Office again....

Rumor has it that he was watching some sort of sports match the other day and passed out due to heat exhaustion... PLEASE help us find Ranger TUG so we can give this gnome some water!💧

The rest of you - remember to stay hydrated out there!! 🔥 🥵

08/29/2026

A little clarification on that incredible bald eagle photo! 🦅🐟

We’ve seen quite a few comments and questions about the bald eagle photo we recently shared, so we wanted to clear up the story behind it.

After talking with the photographer, we discovered that this photo was actually taken on July 16th, 2025, when the lake was at full pool. The photographer recently came across the photo in her memories and shared it with us, and we thought it was too incredible not to share!

And for those wondering—the photo is real! It was taken on an Samsung Galaxy S21 and has not been AI-generated or altered to create the eagle, fish, or scene.

We apologize for the confusion about when the photo was taken. We shared it because it was an amazing moment captured at the park, but we should have included the original date when we posted it.

So, mystery solved: real eagle, real fish, real photo… just a little older than we initially realized. 😊🦅

Thanks to everyone who asked questions and helped us get the story straight!

Bald Eagle with the catch of the day! Photo credit goes to Brandi Glass, thank you for sharing this epic photo!

08/27/2026

🌿 Volunteer with us at Tugaloo State Park! 🌿

Looking for a way to get involved, give back, and help support one of Georgia’s beautiful state parks? Join us this Sunday at 2 PM at the Nature Hut for the monthly Friends of Tugaloo State Park meeting.

The Friends of Tugaloo help support the park through volunteer projects, events, maintenance needs, hospitality, and special improvements that benefit our visitors and preserve the park for future generations.

Whether you’re a longtime volunteer or just curious about how to get involved, we’d love to have you join us!

📍 Nature Hut
🕑 This Sunday at 2 PM

See the attached flyer for more details.

08/26/2026

2027 Halloween in the Campground will officially be on October 30th! Georgia residents can book their campsites this week!

Also, as a reminder, TUG Halloween in the Campground for this year (2026) will be BOTH Oct 24th & Oct 31st.

08/26/2026

🌅 Last-minute Labor Day getaway! 🌅

We currently have two cottages available at Tugaloo State Park for Labor Day weekend, September 4–6!

Enjoy a relaxing weekend on Lake Hartwell with swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, mini golf, playgrounds, beautiful sunsets, and plenty of space to unwind.

Availability may not last long, so book your cottage soon:
https://gastateparks.org/Reservations

08/15/2026

🚣‍♂️📦 Build it. Paddle it. Try not to sink it! 📦🚣‍♀️

Lavonia Rotary’s 2026 Cardboard Boat Regatta is coming to Tugaloo State Park on Saturday, September 19, from 10 AM–12 PM!

Bring your creativity, team spirit, and a boat made of cardboard—because apparently that’s a thing we’re trusting on Lake Hartwell. 😄

To pick up a registration packet, contact John Hylton at [email protected] or 706-246-2823.

Come join the fun and see who floats, who paddles, and who becomes part of the entertainment! 🌊

08/15/2026

Due to weather concerns the Blacklight Bug Hunt program has been canceled for tonight from 9pm-10pm. Our apologies for any inconvenience!

08/14/2026

We’ve made a few adjustments to our August program schedule and wanted to share the most up-to-date flyer with everyone. Thank you for your understanding as we work to provide the best possible programs for our visitors.

We hope to see you soon at Tugaloo State Park! For questions please give us a call at 706-356-4362.