Dauset Trails Nature Center
By SHERRI SMITH BROWN
Bring your mountain bike and enjoy the more than 17 miles of biking and hiking trails at Dauset Trails Nature Center.
You’ll discover more than 1,200 scenic acres where you can enjoy nature in a peaceful, family-oriented setting of streams, creeks, lakes, fields, gardens and wildlife at Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson.
You’ll see mammals, birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians that are native to Georgia—black bear, osprey, red fox, coyote, river otter and red-tailed hawk to name a few.
Children will particularly like the Farm Animals area with its rustic barn, a variety of farm animals, old farming equipment, tools and wagons. Walk along the Woodland Garden Trail to see native azaleas and woodland wildflowers or through the Children’s Garden to see perennials and a knot garden. Lotus, water lily, goldfish and other aquatic wildlife can be found in the Lotus Pond.
There are more than 17 miles of wooded hiking and biking trails, crossing hills, creeks and bottomland forests. Bring your horse and enjoy the 10 miles of separate horse riding trails. And of course, you will find picnic areas with pavilions and a large, open atrium room in the visitor’s center for large group events.
There is no fee for admission or parking at Dauset Trails Nature Center, but if you make a donation, you will take home a free souvenir.
Read more about Jackson and Butts County, or find other things to do in the Central Georgia Travel Region here at Brown’s Guides.
Tags: animals, Butts County, farm animals, Jackson, nature center
June 12th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Dauset Trails is a favorite place to mountain bike for many of us in the region. I’m itching to get back over there soon. Easy access for anyone along or near I-75 south of Atlanta.
Do note that the center is very protective of the trails, so they do close them after heavy rains. A call to Dauset before going is in order to make sure.
But, great riding through beautiful central Georgia terrain–none of it is terribly technical. A great place to combine riding with a family picnic, and activities for various ages.
Also, I’ve known of no other place that has a better “collection” of native Georgia wildlife. Something to see.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Love Dauset Trails. Been too long since I’ve gotten to ride there: work kept me from joining a friend there last Saturday.
Here’s a YouTube video that gives a sampling of one of the trails–love those helmet cams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1GJliR9QDc