Banks Lake

Scenic Banks Lake's still water reflects the
numerous cypress trees.

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located just a few miles east of Interstate 75 in Lakeland, Georgia, and just off the end of a runway of Moody Air Force Base.  The beautiful cypress lake provides 900 acres of open water to explore by boat.  The Burt Reynolds movie, Gator, was filmed here in 1976.  We put the kayaks in at the Banks Lake Outpost store/landing and headed out.  I had been warned by a number of my boating friends that the lake was loaded with alligators (I knew not to tell my wife or I would be making the trip alone!). 

Cypress trees changing color in the Fall

This late-November day had the tops of the cypress trees a beautiful color of orange and red.  The trees are loaded with Spanish Moss that hangs so gracefully from its limbs.

Back to the alligators...we only saw two the entire time.  The first one, however, was substantial.  As we watched him drop out of site, all of a sudden our kayaks began to move much quicker.  Interesting how that works.  Our most enjoyable time was spent weaving in and out of the clusters of trees.  The water was quieter there and the noise from nearby Highway 122 was dimmed as well.  This allowed us to easily spot our second gator who slowly departed our area...and stopped...and dropped.  You guessed it, time for the move your kayak fast drill.

Sunrise is a spectacular time at Banks Lake

Banks Lake has a 1/2 mile walking trail, boardwalk and observation platform are great areas to observe osprey, bald eagle, wood storks, red-shouldered hawks and wading birds.  Large numbers of sandhill cranes visit the refuge during the winter months.

The Vitals
Gas:  Available 1 mile east in Lakeland or several miles away in Hahira, GA.
Food:  Mom & Pop stores close by or Valdosta is 15 miles to the south.
GPS Coordinates:  31.035241,-83.096634