Thursday, February 13, 2020

Indian Springs State Park (Blog Hike #787)

Trail: Overland Nature Trail
Hike Location: Indian Springs State Park
Geographic Location: south of Jackson, GA (33.24757, -83.92199)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2020
Overview: A short but occasionally steep loop featuring a CCC-built stone spring house.
Photo Highlight:
Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Between Atlanta and Macon, take I-75 to SR 42 (exit 188).  Exit and go north on SR 42.  Drive SR 42 north 14.7 miles to the signed state park entrance on the left. Turn left to enter the park, pay the $5 entrance fee, and park in the perpendicular parking for the Spring Picnic Area on the right a few hundred feet inside the gatehouse.

The hike: Established in 1927, Indian Springs State Park is the oldest state park in Georgia, but the springs’ fame and significance date back much further.  Before white settlement, the Creek people came here seeking healing and refreshment from the springs’ mineral-laced sulphur-smelling waters.  In 1821, the State of Georgia and the Creek Nation signed the First Treaty of Indian Springs here.  In that treaty, the Creeks ceded thousands of acres of land to the state, including these springs.
            The construction of railroads brought visitors from all over the country, and from the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s a cluster of resort hotels operated near the springs.  By the 1920’s, most of these hotels had burned down or fallen into disrepair.  Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 459 came here in the 1930’s and built the stone structures visitors use today.  These structures include the impressive spring house where visitors still collect water-cooler-sized jugs of the springs’ water.
            In terms of amenities, the 528 acre park features some picnic shelters, a 62-site campground, 10 cottages, a museum, and 2 trails totaling 4 miles.  Just over three miles of the park’s trails are a multi-use trail that connects the park to nearby Dauset Trails Nature Center.  This hike features the park’s other trail, the Overland Nature Trail, and it includes a quick side trip to the park’s famous CCC-built spring house.
Trailhead: Overland Nature Trail
            The signed trailhead for the Overland Nature Trail is located beside the park road at the west end of the Spring Picnic Area.  The rooty dirt trail heads uphill on a moderate grade through mixed Piedmont forest that contains some nice beech trees.  The trail had been cleared of leaf litter on my visit, so all obstacles in the treadway were easily visible.  Where a spur trail exits left to continue following the park road, angle right to continue climbing on the moderate grade.
            Soon the top of the ridge comes into view, and after a brief flat area the trail descends into a tight ravine on a rather steep grade using one switchback.  When you reach the small creek at the bottom of the ravine, the Nature Trail’s short loop exits right.  Turn left to hike the longer loop.
Hiking along the ridge
            The trail climbs moderately to once again approach the top of the ridge.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevations on this hike is only about 60 feet, but some sections of trail are rather steep.  A gradual to moderate descent brings you to the bank of Aboothlacoosta Creek at 0.5 miles.  An obvious path leads left onto private property, but the official trail turns right to begin following the creek south.
Hiking along the creek
            The remainder of the Overland Nature Trail stays within 100 feet of Aboothlacoosta Creek, but a couple of steep areas will still need to be negotiated.  The clear-flowing and sandy-bottomed creek makes a very pleasant companion.  After walking over an unexpected rock outcrop, a flat walk returns you to the Spring Picnic Area.
Rock outcrop on the trail

CCC-built spring house
            To see the springs that made this area famous, angle left to cross the park road, and then walk behind the Stone Pavilion to find the spring house.  These impressive stone structures were built by the CCC, and park staffers still help visitors collect water at the spring.  Some stone steps beyond the spring house lead uphill to a museum that is open from 2-4pm the first Saturday of each month.  See how much history you can see to conclude your visit to Indian Springs State Park.

Friday, February 7, 2020

Dauset Trails Nature Center: Animal and Tree Trails (Blog Hike #786)

Trails: Animal and Tree Trails
Hike Location: Dauset Trails Nature Center
Geographic Location: south of Jackson, GA (33.23511, -83.94514)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2020
Overview: A gently rolling loop through a small zoo and arboretum.
Center Information: https://www.dausettrails.com/
Photo Highlight:
Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Between Atlanta and Macon, take I-75 to High Falls Road (exit 198).  Exit and go east on High Falls Rd.  Drive High Falls Rd. 4.4 miles to Mount Vernon Church Road (passing High Falls State Park on the way) and turn right on Mt. Vernon Church Rd.  The signed entrance to Dauset Trails Nature Center is 3.2 miles ahead on the left.  Turn left to enter the Center and park in the paved parking lot near the Visitor’s Center.

The hike: Owned and maintained by the private not-for-profit Daughtry Foundation, Dauset Trails Nature Center protects 1400 rolling acres of woods, fields, and ponds.  The Nature Center’s name is a contraction of its founders’ last names: Hampton Daughtry and David Settles.  The Center started in the early 1980’s as a single loop trail, but today it features 20 miles of trails, most of which can be used by both hikers and mountain bikers.  The Center is open from 9am-5pm every day except major holidays, but the entrance gate closes to new entries at 4pm.
            The Center’s grounds are divided into two distinct regions.  An interior region surrounded by a fence contains some hiker-only trails, the Visitor’s Center, an animal exhibit area, and an arboretum.  The exterior region features most of the hiking/biking trails, and it is less developed than the interior region.  This hike is comprised of a trip through the animal exhibit area on the Animal Trail and a trip through the arboretum on the Tree Trail, thus exploring all major points of interest in the interior region.
Start of the Animal Trail
            After walking out the front door of the Visitor’s Center, turn left and walk across a driveway to reach the signed start of the Animal Trail.  A wooden portal stands at the start of this concrete/asphalt trail, and some daffodils greet you here in season.  The Animal Trail winds among the numerous animal cages, and animals on exhibit include owls, hawks, coyotes, foxes, and a fantastic bald eagle.  All animals on exhibit here are rescued or injured animals that would not survive in the wild, so they get to extend their lives by educating people about their habits.  The animal exhibits also contain the home of General Beauregard Lee, a groundhog that does for Georgia what Punxatawney Phil does for Pennsylvania. 
Home of General Beauregard Lee
At 0.25 miles, you reach the bison pen, which featured a couple of bison, some deer, and some turkey vultures on my visit.  Past the bison pen, the trail leading to the exterior region exits right just before the Animal Trail reaches the east end of the earthen dam that forms the Visitor Center pond.  Turn right to leave the Animal Trail and walk across the dam.  A large number of Canada geese were enjoying this pond when I hiked here.
Bison pen

Visitor Center pond
            Just before you return to the parking lot, look to the right for the start of the Tree Trail.  The Tree Trail is unmarked except for 31 numbered posts that identify common trees in the forest; post #2 is visible just uphill from the trail’s start.  Tupelo, sassafras, hawthorn, and sweetgum are among the trees these posts help you identify.
The Tree Trail winds its way gradually uphill with the wire fence that separates the interior and exterior regions standing just to the west.  Leaf litter covered some roots and rocks on my visit, so be careful where you step.  When I came here on a Saturday afternoon in early February, I passed numerous families with kids on the Animal Trail, but I had the Tree Trail to myself.  I guess animals are more interesting to learn about than trees.
Lotus Pond
            At 0.7 miles, you reach a small pond the trail map calls Lotus Pond.  This pond appears to contain some water lilies in late summer.  Next the trail loops through a loblolly pine planting before arriving at the other side of Lotus Pond.  The open grassy area you drove through on the park entrance road appears to the right as you pass an area with some picnic tables.  A little more winding brings the trail back to the parking area to complete the hike.  While you are here, check out the reptile exhibit in the Visitor’s Center, or take a hike on one of the longer shared-use hiking/biking trails in the exterior region.