Hard Labor Creek State Park — Attraction in Madison

It's all lovely but in regards to the Horse/equestrian Park which is where we spend most of our time: the stalls are clean, safe, secure. They really put the horses first. There's an enclosure around the three stables to keep non-owners away from the horses and to make sure escape artists don't get anywhere. The camp hosts are horse people and look out for the horses and are able to assist in an emergency and answer intelligent horse questions. All that ridiculousness of non horsey people causing problems in equestrian campgrounds and making it unsafe for horse campers, that doesn't happen here. Everybody has to yield to the horses, per the law. Kids can't ride their bikes around horses, per the law. Everybody is kept safe. The sites are huge. All but one of them is a pull-through. The horse trails are great. Of course, there's always new trees falling everyday and it's hard for maintenance to maintain trails while there's horses on them so they just shut down and repair one section at a time. However, we've been all over the US and this is far better than most places. I'm actually going to say it's one of the better places we've been. I think they are well over 30 miles of trails. The grades aren't crazy but you will wear a horse out and I would suggest shoes or boots. The bathrooms aren't new but they're clean. There's firewood and stall bedding available to purchase right in camp so you don't have to go anywhere. The prices are reasonable and the quality is high. IF CAMPING ISNT YOUR THING, you don't have to stay in the equestrian campground to keep your horses in the stalls. If you rent a cottage you can keep the horses in stalls. Stall locks are provided and in emergencies the camp host and emergency staff are equipped to get them to safety while you're on your way.

Also, trail passes are available for purchase for day riders. There are dozens of day riders passing through but the park is big enough you rarely run into each other on the trail. I believe the day passes are like $5, but we bought annual passes that are good at every Georgia Horse Park for $70. I would guesstimate there are tens of thousands of day riders that come through here annually. Day riders are welcome to ask the camp hosts questions, use the restroom/comfort facilities in the campground, and there's water available for the horses. I recently learned the day use area is set up for a highline, although horses must be in stalls overnight. Note that no horses are permitted in the campground at any time for any reason. Apparently Georgia law is really strict on that. You can bring them up to the comfort station next to the stables and leave them at a tie post next to the mounting block but that's as far as they can go.

Non-Horse people are welcome to camp here. It's super tranquil and basically everybody we've met has been super nice. Just know that you can't interact with horses that you don't own and the law says everybody has to yield to horses, even pedestrians and kids. Little known pro tip: Per Georgia law (not campground rules) failure to yield to horses results in financial and criminal liability. Just know that this campground was meant for horses and horse trailers/horse camping rigs, so sites are massive but the electric is only 30 amp. Also kids can't be riding bikes or playing in a way that will bother the horses outside of the campsites. This is a horse park after all, not a kids park. Hard Labor Creek has several other campgrounds with playgrounds, but only one horse park. The non-horse people who camp here are usually looking to enjoy the quiet that the horses also enjoy.

We really love it here, with and without the horses. Our dogs love it. They would stay out all day and all night if we let them. The park rangers will crack down if dogs are off leash, barking excessively or acting aggressive. But that hasn't been an issue for us and the sites are far enough apart that we haven't had any problems. You really don't hear your neighbors and you barely see them unless your horses are...

Very affordable camping, but it doesn't feel remote. Camping reservation doesn't include parking pass.

We came with an old tent, but it was mostly RV's. Loved our lot (21 - probably the best one for actual tent camping), but other campers and their lights are still very visible to you. Driving through, it feels more like a parking lot with very few opportunities to feel truly alone at night. We heard our neighbors laughing well into the night. Their outdoor string lights turned off well after lights out, but I refuse to trample on someone elses good time. Not enough roudy people these days. ;). Some camp spots were blocked in entirely by a sea of RV's, but those spots were SUPER close to the bathroom.

Bathroom's are cleaned daily, but they need TLC bad. The building exterior is beautiful and looked new, but the showers have a ton of hardwater buildup, limescale and beginnings of rust on the walls/metal. The water pressure is unbelievaby poor. I have taken a lot of camp showers, but this was by far the worst I have ever experienced. Trying to rinse my hair and body took over four times as long through this tiny nozzle that sprayed very wide. You couldn't step in and out of the stream to lather. It was like a grocery store mister nozzle that you hoped to shower with by attaining enough sweat from it.... and I am not even exaggerating that. The handle was weird with the pressure too; no tension to hold it in place on warmer settings. I thought the disabled shower stalls would be better, but the shower experience was the same. There is a disabled stall in the normal bathroom, but there is there is also a family bathroom located at the front of the building. I decided to use that but they just offered a second nozzle lower to the ground. Honestly, the lower nozzle had better flow, but it was situated in a way that one side of your body would definitely be favored over another. You can't turn around easily becuase it is just a bench seat. Disabled stalls should include removable shower heads and this didn't. Seat looked as though it hadn't been cleaned in years. They probably don't get complaints becuase most people likely shower in their RV's. If I ever go back, I will bring Bar Keeper's Friend and a scrub brush.

There are horse trails, but you have to bring your own horse. There is kayaking, but it is seasonal. We went in late Feb, which was 'out of season', but the weather was actually comfortable for a fire. There was enough fallen debree to burn our entire stay. We went hiking to find one of the shorter trails led along the campsites (dont have to drive to the trailhead if you figure out the route well enough). We grilled out, and enjoyed the view of the lake. People were geocashing, enjoying the campground's putt-putt course, and the kids playground. Our only creature comforts were a blow up mattress and a heated blanket (high 50's weather). We went to Rutledge and Madison for 11am brunch, thrifting and sight seeing.

We had a good time despite our older tent's water barrier failing in the rain. I didn't realize our tent was so old. We stuck through it and had a great...

This is a review about their mountain biking trails (MTB). I had my 1st visit here a few weeks ago in late June of 2024. I was able to ride the Red (Advanced) and Green (Easy) loops. Each loop was around 5 miles each. Overall it was a super fun ride and a nice change up from riding at Ft. Yargo State Park, which is where I usually ride.

Couple of things that I noticed (when compared to Ft. Yargo State Park's trails). The Red (Advanced) was quite challenging, however if you are accustomed to riding the Monster mile and 3-step hill at Ft. Yargo then you will not have any issues. It is similar but just 5 miles of a good "need to pay attention" ride. The Green (Easy) loop was a fun ride and if you are accustomed to riding around the normal trails at Ft. Yargo then this will be a comfortable ride for you. It is similar in needed skill set. Nothing too advanced or surprising.

Overall signage was great, however not really needed once you get out into the woods for it is very isolated with alot if dense underbrush so it is really easy to see where the trail goes for, although very narrow, it is simple to follow. Little confusion about where each trail stated but I think that was more on me. I do recommend riding with someone else, or bring along a good kit, for in some spots it is a very bumpy ride. Most of this is caused by roots, however there are some rocks that will give your front shocks a good workout (mainly on the Red trail). When I was out there riding I did not see nor hear another person. Very isolated. Only interaction was at the trail head by the parking lot. At the trailhead there is also a concrete bathroom in case you need to change.

Am looking forward to going back and riding the other trails that I was unable to ride my first time out there. (I was worried about blowing a tire and I did not bring a patch kit - again, alot rougher than Ft. Yargo, but still alot of fun)

If you are comfortable riding at Ft. Yargo then this is a great set of trails to try to give some variety to your ride. Same goes the opposite as well. If you are comfortable riding at Hard Labor Creek (even if just the easy loops) then you can handle riding at Ft. Yargo the main blue and the yellow (slightly easier), just take the bypasses to skip the...