Normally we don’t recommend state parks in this column because we lean toward places where dogs can run free to get more exercise and have some fun. But Georgia has some beautiful parks that offer many forms of recreation and relaxation for the whole family, where the family dog can be a part of the outing. Most of them offer access to national forest trails for hiking, and on these trails the dog can run free, so you can have it both ways.

Vogel State Park is one of Georgia’s nicest state parks, and is a great place to spend a day, a weekend, or even longer. The park has cabins as well as a campground for overnight stay. Dogs are permitted in the campground, but not in the cabins. There are picnic areas for daytrippers.

The park is built around Lake Trahlyta, a beautiful lake nestled in the woods with a mountain rising behind it. Swimming, fishing, and boating are all available. There are trails for short or long hikes, and there is a small museum that traces the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the development of the park.

This is a place where you can do as much or as little as you want. Vogel offers four trails, two within the park, and two outside. The Lake Trail is a level one mile loop around the lake, and the Nature Trail is is a half mile walk with interpretive signs along the way. Outside the park are the Coosa Trail, which at almost 13 miles is too long for a dayhike, but is perfect for an overnight backpacking trip. The fourth trail, the Bear Hair Trail, is just right for a morning or afternoon hike. It is a four mile loop, with a side trail to a scenic overlook that adds half a mile and is worth the walk.

The trail begins at a stone stairway on the road between the park store and the campground; a short path leads to the start of the trails. Both the Coosa (yellow blaze) and Bear Hair (orange blaze) trails begin here. Go left for ¼ mile until the trail crosses the stream. This is where the Bear Hair Trail begins and ends. The trail can be hiked in either direction; we chose the right fork and traveled in a counterclockwise direction.

The trail starts uphill and gains elevation for the first 1½ miles, then levels off and is an easy hike the rest of the way. It follows a tumbling brook upstream through a hardwood forest, passing through laurel and rhododendron so thick in places that it forms a canopy over the path. At about the 1¼ mile point a spur trail leads off to the left. This trail goes to an overlook that provides a great view of Trahlyta Lake and the surrounding mountains, and is about a half mile round trip.

The Bear Hair Trail soon crosses a creek and begins to descend through more laurel and rhododendron until it reaches the junction with the yellow blazed Coosa Trail. A sign points the way back to the park, and the now orange and yellow blazed trail is downhill all the way.

The Bear Hair and Coosa trails are in the national forest, so the dogs can run free, but in the park, leash rules apply. After the hike you can cool off in the lake, take a nap under a tree, read a book, or whatever you enjoy. Vogel is a great place to relax.