LOCATION: 360 Mt Vernon Road Jackson, GA 770-775-6798 LENGTH: 20 miles HIKING TIME: Varies TYPE: Loops RANKING: Easy to difficult. There are 3 levels of trails ACCESS: Mon-Sat 9-5; Sun 12-5. After hours trail use available from sunrise til 10 pm FEES: None. Donations are welcome USAGE: Sometimes heavy MAPS: Available at kiosk SURFACE: Dirt, tree roots FEATURES: 10 miles of horseback trails COMMENTS: Great for bird watching. Picnic tables available PET FRIENDLY: New in 2012, dogs are now allowed on trails with 6ft leash. Dogs are not allowed in fenced-in nature center area.
Dauset Trails Nature Center is a non-profit nature center run by The Daughtry Foundation in Jackson, GA. There are 1200 acres of woods, fields, creeks and lakes.
There are miles of multi-skill level trails through rocky, hilly woods and creeks. A few trails are for hiking only. We biked the trails in June, 2011 and it was a perfect day for a picnic at the end of the day. I found the trails to be a little difficult to bike but the younger guys really enjoyed the roughness.
For those mountain bikers there are great climbs with tight rocky and root infested single track followed by drops. The one complaint is the trail markings are a little difficult to follow.
There are animal exhibits for viewing and a garden trail. All of the animals are non-releasable and have either been injured or orphaned.
Camping is available for organized groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H, church groups, etc.
DIRECTIONS FROM ATLANTA: I-75 south to Highway 16 exit #205 (Griffin/Jackson exit). Turn left and travel 3.3 miles. Turn right onto High Falls Road and travel 10 miles. Turn left onto Mt. Vernon Church Road and travel 5 miles. Trail head is approximately 300 yards before the entrance to the nature center or parking is also available at the nature center.
