Richmond Hill Convention & Visitor Bureau

Fall in Richmond Hill is an invitation to get outside. As summer's heat gives way to cooler days (daily average temperatures drop to 74°F by month's end), October offers a much more comfortable outdoor experience at the parks and waterways around town, whether you’re the type for a gentle stroll or a vigorous trail run. From walking through historic landscapes to letting your dog practice her acrobatics, or sleeping under the stars, here are three easy ways to make the most of fall.

A is for Acreage

No matter what your fitness level, there’s an outdoor walk, hike, or trail run for you at Fort McAllister State Park. With 1,725 acres of live-oak forest, salt marsh, tidal creeks, and riverfront, the landscape changes as you move through the park. One minute you are walking beneath Spanish moss-draped oaks, and the next you are beside marshland or looking toward the Ogeechee River.

• Easy — Magnolia Trail: Less than a mile, Magnolia Trail is the easiest choice for a short nature walk. The loop winds through the Savage Island campground area and along the shoreline, with views of salt marsh and coastal vegetation including palmettos, magnolias, and Spanish moss.
• Moderate— Redbird Creek Trail: The Redbird Creek Trail is just over three miles and winds through maritime forest and around Redbird Creek, with bridges, interpretive signs, and an observation area overlooking the marsh. There’s minimal elevation, but prepare for muddy stretches after a rain.
• Moderate — J.F. Gregory Park: J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill has a roughly three-mile walking trail that follows the top of a dike surrounding a 300-acre former rice field. The site predates the Civil War and is a great site to spot otters, beavers, alligators, and armadillos, along with songbirds and wading birds.

B is for Bark Park

Fall adventures aren't just for people. Bryan County Bark Park, Richmond Hill's off-leash dog park, was built with community support and has become a favorite place for four-legged guests to run, play, and socialize. The park includes two acres of amenities, including water fountains, water bowls, poop-bag stations, a swimming pond, a double-gated entrance, and a hose/washing area, as well as a section named Bryan's Playground. This colorful agility course has nine challenges, including a dog walk, hoop jump, teeter-totter, weave posts, and King of the Hill. It's more than exercise for dogs; it can be a natural gathering place for their humans, too. A shared love of pets gives neighbors an easy reason to stop, chat, and make new connections.

C is for Camping

Camping is one of Richmond Hill's biggest advantages for anyone who wants to spend time outdoors, with the mild weather and state-managed amenities supporting peaceful days and nights under the stars.

The Savannah South KOA Campground has plenty of options for outdoor overnighting. RV slots (including back-in spaces along the 35-acre fishing lake), tent pads, and one- and two-bedroom cabins all have access to a swimming pool, a rec center, laundry, and fire pits. You’ll meet fellow nature lovers at the camp store at day’s end; like you, they’ll be grabbing a refreshment to enjoy during a memorable sunset spent watching egrets, ibis, and blue herons settling into the waterside trees.

Fort McAllister State Park has it all. Firstly, there’s plenty of room: 67 campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs, along with one backcountry campsite that’s a mile-and-a-half hike to reach and two pioneer campgrounds for groups or more primitive-style camping. The main campground is shaded by coastal trees and bordered by tidal Redbird Creek. Campers have access to a boat ramp, fishing dock, and nature trail, while another ramp provides access to the Ogeechee River.

For campers who want basic comforts, the developed campground offers restrooms, hot showers, laundry facilities, a dump station, picnic tables, and fire rings, with electrical and water hookups available at campsites. The park also has seven elevated cottages near the marsh for people who want the scenery and campground setting without sleeping in a tent. Campers are surrounded by live oaks, Spanish moss, marsh, and tidal water rather than a conventional suburban campground.

That range makes Richmond Hill appealing to several kinds of campers. Tent campers can sleep beneath the oaks, RV travelers can have hookups and easier amenities, and car campers can get the outdoor experience without committing to primitive camping.

A second big draw of Fort McAllister is its fun and educational programming. In October alone, events include the annual candle lantern tour in which guests experience nighttime cannon firings, guided camp tours, a blacksmith shop, and Civil War-era medical displays, a haunted trail walk, and an evening devoted to decorating your campsite for Halloween.

Add the hiking trails, waterfront access, and the nearby Bark Park to camping, and you’ve got a whole Richmond Hill outdoor weekend…with a whole rest of the alphabet, from driving to wakeboarding, waiting to be discovered.