R. Shaefer Heard Park
West Point, Georgia · on West Point Lake · R. Shaefer Heard Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $34/night
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About R. Shaefer Heard Park
R. Shaefer Heard Park is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) campground and day-use area on the southern/eastern shore of West Point Lake near West Point, Georgia. The swimming hole here is official, with Recreation.gov listing swimming as an activity, and campers describe specific waterfront sites with beach and step access into the lake.
The park sits in a forested, rolling-hills setting on West Point Lake, a 25,900-acre Corps-managed reservoir on the Chattahoochee River along the Georgia-Alabama line with roughly 525 miles of shoreline. The campground and day-use shelters overlook the water, with a boat ramp and lakeside hiking trail (Lakeside Trail) on site.
Swimming at R. Shaefer Heard Park
Swimming is an officially listed activity at the campground, and campers describe informal but well-used swim access at several waterfront campsites rather than a single supervised swim beach: a cove at site 60 described as ideal for swimming, wooden/concrete steps into the water at site 61, and a designated sandy beach area at site 48. Water is reservoir/lake water (calm, no current) suited to casual wading and swimming rather than deep-water diving; no lifeguard service is mentioned.
How to get to this swimming hole
From West Point, Georgia, take U.S. Highway 29 north about 4 miles, turn at the West Point Project sign, then take a short drive to a right turn into the campground entrance at 101 Shaefer Heard Park Road, West Point, GA 31833.
Parking: Day-use parking is first-come, first-served in designated spaces only; campground sites have paved 20x50 ft back-in pads (RVs up to 50 ft).
The hike in
Lakeside Trail
No hike is needed to reach the water, swim access is directly at waterfront campsites (steps, cove, sand beach) and the day-use shoreline. Separately, an on-site multi-mile Lakeside Trail winds through the campground/day-use forest for hiking and mountain biking, but it is a recreational side trail, not a route required to reach any swim spot.
A September 2025 visitor review described the trails as 'fairly overgrown' at that time; no official trailhead location or mileage was found for the Lakeside Trail.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Water access is calm reservoir water with shallow, gentle entry at the site-48 beach and at step/cove access on some campsites, plus an on-site playground and picnic shelters. However, there is no lifeguard at any swim area (it's informal site-level access, not a supervised beach), and campers have reported fire ants at the campground, so adults should supervise closely and check the ground for ant mounds before setting up.
Parking
Free
Day-use parking is free and first-come, first-served in designated spaces only (no overflow/roadside parking allowed). Overnight campsites are paved 20x50 ft back-in pads booked through Recreation.gov, reported by campers at roughly $34/night (not an official day-use fee).
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms/bath house serve the campground's waterfront sites (one 2025 camper review noted the restroom is 'across the street' with only a few showers for some sites); the day-use area's two group shelters each include their own restroom facilities.
Hours
Campground entrance gates are locked 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. EST (opened only for emergencies); no separate day-use area hours are published.
On the water
Restrictions: Life jackets are required for water-related activities per the official day-use and campground rules. No no-wake, electric-only, or carry-in-only restriction was found in official sources; boat ramps are on-site at both the campground and day-use area, and nearby marinas rent motorized pontoon boats with up to 115hp engines, implying standard motorized use is allowed on this section of the lake.
Boat ramps are available at both the R. Shaefer Heard campground and the adjacent day-use area.
Rentals nearby
Trifecta Pontoon boat rental (fits up to 10 people) plus add-on towable tubes; single-person kayaks are not listed here (see Highland Marina for those)
1133 County Road 294, Lanett, Alabama 36863 - on the Alabama shore of West Point Lake, about 1.9 miles from R. Shaefer Heard Park per nearby-facility data · Marina store/fuel dock: Wed-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm, closed Mon-Tue
Pontoon boat rentals (Trifecta and Lowe pontoons, both ~115hp, and a double-decker party pontoon with slide fitting up to 14) plus single-person kayak rentals by the hour
1000 Seminole Rd, LaGrange, Georgia 30240 - on the Georgia shore of West Point Lake; exact driving distance from R. Shaefer Heard Park was not confirmed (it is further from the park than Southern Harbor Marina, which is not listed in its own nearby-facilities data) · Sun-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm
R. Shaefer Heard Park: FAQ
Does R. Shaefer Heard Park charge a fee?
Camping sites run about $34/night booked through Recreation.gov; a $10 service fee applies to reservation changes/cancellations. No separate day-use entry fee was found in official sources.
Is R. Shaefer Heard Park kid friendly?
Water access is calm reservoir water with shallow, gentle entry at the site-48 beach and at step/cove access on some campsites, plus an on-site playground and picnic shelters. However, there is no lifeguard at any swim area (it's informal site-level access, not a supervised beach), and campers have reported fire ants at the campground, so adults should supervise closely and check the ground for ant mounds before setting up.
Do I need to hike to reach R. Shaefer Heard Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for R. Shaefer Heard Park?
Day-use parking is free and first-come, first-served in designated spaces only (no overflow/roadside parking allowed). Overnight campsites are paved 20x50 ft back-in pads booked through Recreation.gov, reported by campers at roughly $34/night (not an official day-use fee).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to R. Shaefer Heard Park?
Boat ramps are available at both the R. Shaefer Heard campground and the adjacent day-use area.
What are the rules at R. Shaefer Heard Park?
Life jackets required for water-related activities per the official day-use listing; pets must be leashed (under 6 ft) and wild/aggressive animals prohibited; golf carts, ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes prohibited; campground gates locked 10pm-7am; 4-vehicle-per-campsite limit.
What water body is R. Shaefer Heard Park on?
R. Shaefer Heard Park is on West Point Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
More swimming holes near West Point
★ Top verifiedCallaway Gardens Robin Lake Beach
Pine Mountain, Georgialake
⛺🛶
Blue Hole
Allison Mills, Alabamawaterfall pool
🥾 4 mi hike
Coleman Lake Campground and Picnic Area
Fruithurst, Alabamalake
⛺🛶🏄
Silver Comet Trail -- Coot's Lake Beach Trailhead
Rockmart, Georgialake
★ Top verifiedPine Lake Beach
Stone Mountain, Georgialake
🛶🏄
Proctor Landing Park
Acworth, Georgiareservoir