Tag Archives: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Gear Swap, Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 2020-03-07

Something new: a fun filled day of promoting paddle activities, trying various boat designs. Aiding paddlers with finding a new boat or getting rid of an old one. If the owner permits, you can try out a boat right there in Banks Lake. This should help get everyone ready to kick off a new paddling season in the great Suwannee River Basin.

Many thanks to Lanier County, Banks Lake Outdoors, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their cooperation in this event.

When: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday, March 7, 2020

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County.

GPS: 31.035097, -83.097045

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: yourself. If you have something to swap, bring that. If you want to try out a boat, bring usual personal flotation device, and boat paddles, or there will be loaners. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $5 (five dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

Banks Lake Boat Ramp
Banks Lake Boat Ramp, December 22, 2018

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Banks Lake Solstice Light Parade, 2019-12-21

Update 2019-12-25: Pictures: WWALS Light Parade at Banks Lake 2019-12-21

Update 2019-11-13: There will be a $50 first prize, and smaller second and third prizes. Also food!

Marking the winter solstice and the ending of 2019 with a decorated evening lighted boat parade and contest with hot chocolate and cookies. First event of its kind in the area.

Please go all out with lights for your boat (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark, and it’s a light parade! It will be totally dark after sunset. There will be no moon.

[Winter Solstice 2019]
Winter Solstice 2019

Banks Lake is part of the WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

When: Gather 3:00 PM, launch 5:00 PM, Sunset 5:34 PM, Moonset 2:16 PM, Saturday, December 21, 2019

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.

Boats: are available from Banks Lake Outdoors if you reserve in advance, and they may be free rental.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

[Headlamp]
Headlamp. Photo: John S. Quarterman, Banks Lake, 2019-05-18.

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Banks Lake Full Cold Moon Paddle, 2019-12-12

Leisurely sunset paddle and watch the full moon rise over the lake.

You must have a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark. It will be totally dark after sunset.

Banks Lake is part of the WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5:00 PM, Sunset 5:32 PM, Moonrise 6:10 PM, Thursday, December 12, 2019

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.

Boats: are available from Banks Lake Outdoors if you reserve in advance, and they may be free rental.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

[Luna paddler]
Luna paddler. Photo: John S. Quarterman, Banks Lake, 2019-05-18.

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Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, 2019-11-12

Join us for a leisurely sunset paddle at our mini-Okefenokee, the Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, to watch sun set and the full moon rise. The moon will rise at 6:02 p.m. and if the skies are clear we will watch the full moon slowly rise above the tree tops and shine across the water. We will also paddle near a dead tree bat house and hopefully watch bats emerge from the tree just after sunset.

You must have a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark. It will be totally dark after sunset.

When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5 PM, Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, first aid kit, and lights: it will be dark. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Kayaks are available to borrow but please let us know at least 2 days prior to the event.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

[Ripples]
Ripples in moonglow. Photo: John S. Quarterman, Banks Lake, 2019-07-16.

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Shirley practicing at Banks Lake 2019-10-12

Shirley Kokidko, taking out at Banks Lake, where we will paddle tonight to see the sun set and the full moon rise. It’s free to WWALS members, and only $10 per person for non-members. Boats will be available at the lake for free rental from NWXpeditions.

[Loading boat]
Loading boat

Follow the link for details about this evening’s outing. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Hunter’s Moon Paddle 2019-10-13

Join us for a Full Moon paddle and star gazing at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This is a leisurely paddle around the refuge that lies in the Grand Bay–Banks Lake ecosystem, in the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

When: Gather 5:45 PM, launch 6:15 PM, Sunday, October 13, 2019

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.

GPS: 31.035097, -83.097045

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
And a light! It’s going to be dark.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

[Yellow]
Yellow Sunset
Photo: John S. Quarterman, sun setting at Banks Lake, July 16, 2019.

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Banks Lake Full Corn Moon Paddle 2019-09-14

Join us for a Full Moon paddle and star gazing at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This is a leisurely paddle around the refuge that lies in the Grand Bay–Banks Lake ecosystem. This will also be nine days before the Fall Equinox, so day and night will be almost as equal as they ever get.

When: Gather 6:30 PM, launch 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 14, 2019

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.

GPS: 31.035097, -83.097045

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
And a light! It’s going to be dark.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

[Almost]
Photo: John S. Quarterman, sun setting at Banks Lake, July 16, 2019.

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Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle 2019-08-15

Leisurely sunset paddle and watch the full moon rise over the lake.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, Thursday, August 15, 2019.
The sun will set 8:15 p.m., and the moon will rise 8:41 p.m.

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.

GPS: 31.035097, -83.097045

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
And a light! It’s going to be dark.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

[Trees saluting the moon]
Photo: John S. Quarterman, Banks Lake, July 16, 2019.

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Pictures: Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle 2019-07-16

A fine full moon paddle on Banks Lake, plus Jupiter and a gator.

[Moon paddlers]
Moon paddlers Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle, 2019-07-16

Join us for our monthly leisurely sunset paddle and watch the full moon rise over Banks Lake, our mini-Okefenokee in Lanier County, Georgia, with ospreys, fish, turtles, birds, and bats in the cypress trees. Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in the Grand Bay–Banks Lake ecosystem, which comprises the second-largest freshwater wetland system in Georgia.

Remember to BRING A LIGHT for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow stick, head lamp, or flashlight) so other boaters can see you in the dark.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, Launch 8:00 PM, Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Sunset: 8:37 p.m.; moonrise: 8:41 p.m.

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
And a light! It’s going to be dark.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

[Among paddlers]
Photo: John S. Quarterman, May 2019 Banks Lake Full Moon Paddle.

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