West Point Lake and the Views of the Water
West Point Lake stretches for about 35 miles along the Chattahoochee River on the border between Alabama and Georgia; its shoreline totals about 525 miles. The artificial reservoir is formed by the West Point Dam on the Chattahoochee River. The two figures describe different dimensions: the length follows the course of the river, while the shoreline measures the contact between water and land on a very different scale. The location of the parks at West Point Dam is also helpful for orientation: they are on the Alabama side of the lake.
Fishing, camping and boating are all possible at West Point Lake, bringing together a range of recreational interests. Along the Chattahoochee River, there are access points for launching and taking out boats at Old Shawmut Airport Boat Landing, Langdale Boat Landing and River View Boat Landing. These named locations offer specific points of reference for activities on the river. The parks at West Point Dam provide a different kind of location information: they are on the Alabama side of the lake.
Nature Trails and Birdlife
You can also explore the landscape on foot from different perspectives. The Alligator Creek Nature Trail and the Beaver Creek Interpretive Trail pass through a varied landscape with habitats ranging from wetlands to forests of different ages. Yellowthroats, Swamp Sparrows, Pileated Woodpeckers and Great Horned Owls can be found along the trails of the Alligator Creek Nature Trail. The range of habitats and the species offer two perspectives on the trails: different environments on the one hand and birdlife on the other. The Alligator Creek Trail is one mile long.
Regional History at the Museum and Beyond
The Chambers County Museum is housed in a former Central of Georgia Railway depot. Its exhibits explore life in the county in the past and provide a historical context for a visit to the museum. An extensive collection of regional pottery dates back to Alabama’s early history. The pottery was made from clays from Chambers County and Randolph County. Its source materials connect the collection specifically to two counties and give its regional context a tangible connection.
The museum also features an exhibit with scrapbooks, photographs, trophies and a pair of boxing gloves. If this particular display is important to your visit, confirm that it will be on view before making a special trip to the museum.
Joe Louis connects a local biography with the history of boxing. The boxer was born in rural Chambers County and lived there until his early teens. The eight-foot-tall Joe Louis statue depicts him. From 1937 to 1949, he was the world heavyweight boxing champion. Another historic site is Fort Tyler, which is located in Lanett, Alabama, and West Point, Georgia.
A Culinary Highlight
The Farmers’ Market in Valley offers its own culinary highlight: seasonal, locally grown vegetables are available to buy there. A look at local produce thus complements the themes of water, nature and history.
Discover more destinations: Lanett, Wadley, Macon, Covington County, Russell, Greene County, Tallapoosa County, Marion County.
For the broader travel overview: Alabama.
