Middle Georgia is home to some of the best hikes in Georgia. Many of the trails, Dauset Trails, Hitchiti, Allison Lake, The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Wise Creek, High Falls State Park and the Ocmulgee River are less than 30 minutes from Forsyth. Georgia’s temperate climate permits year round hiking which is also the best form of exercise.

One of our most breathtakingly beautiful parks is the Dauset Trails Nature Center. The woods, fields, creeks and lakes offers both animal exhibits and the viewing of wild life while hiking or biking 18 miles of trails.

Walk-in visitors are encouraged to explore the injured or orphaned animals and snakes on their own. The animals include a black bear, cougar, bald eagle, bobcat, bison, owls, hawks, river otter, snakes and alligators. There’s no fee for viewing the animals or using the trails. Other opportunities that require reservations or cost a nominal fee include an environmental education program and campground for organized groups, two pavilions for family reunions and an atrium and open air chapel and for weddings.

Mother nature was a guest of honor when Bud, my husband, and I got married at the Dauset Trail chapel a decade ago. Our family and friends smiled when a couple of Canada geese honked when we said our vows.

Dauset Trails is magical in the spring. Wild flowers are blooming, the hardwoods are green again and the sunshine feels great because it’s cool.

Hiking is for everyone. It’s good for the body, mind and soul. Dauset trails is a protected sanctuary where parents and their wide-eyed children can watch a doe and her fawn cross their path. Where kids can feed the ducks, hear birds sing, look at flowers in bloom or glimpse a squirrel scamper up a tree.

Because the 18 miles has many circular loops and intersecting trails a map is recommended. They are free and available at the Nature Center Headquarters and on the notice board in the biker’s parking lot. A favorite three-mile loop trail follows Sandy Creek and its southern tributary. While hiking the trail every turn in the creek becomes a new adventure. A startled deer or the slow rowing action of a blue heron retreating. The bubbling creeks numerous rock outcropping are great for picnics.

Dauset Trails is funded by the Daughtry Foundation. Hampton Daughtry and David Settle created the 1100 acre non-profit private education and recreation center in 1978. The name “Dauset” was derived from the first few letters of the names of Daughtry and Settle. Daughtry wrote, “Dauset Trails was conceived with the idea of preserving some of our natural terrain along with its wildlife in hopes that they would be of interest to coming generations and would serve as a gentle reminder of the wonders of our heritage.”

Duaset Trails has great beauty, wonder and delight where the natural world becomes a classroom, playground and cathedral.

The nature center is open from 9 to 5 and the bike entrance is open until 10. The trails are located off Highway 42 on Mt. Vernon Road just south of Indian Springs State Park.