Dauset Nature Center

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Dauset Nature Center is a private preserve with the best trail system in middle Georgia. The trails pass through thick hardwood forest and because there is no hunting, there's a good chance you'll encounter some deer. This route follows the recommended advanced route which covers most of the singletracks in the preserve. It's a great mix of rocky and rooty technical sections with short but fast flowing downhills. Hop onto the adjacent out-and-back Indian Springs Trail for an additional 6.0 miles of singletrack along Chief McIntosh Lake into Indian Springs State Park.

Warm up on the easy, flowy Bootlegger Trail singletrack. At the end of this trail, continue straight onto Fern Gully at a four-way intersection. From Fern Gully, you'll cross a bridge over Long Branch Creek. Turn left and then quickly right towards Huff 'n Puff Trail.

Huff 'n Puff is the premier and most difficult trail at Dauset Nature Center with more elevation change than the others at Dauset. There are a lot of moderately challenging root bundles, a few rocks, and several 2-4 foot dips and rises. You could probably jump off a few of the dips, but they are all rollable too. At the end of Huff 'n Puff, you'll come to a picnic area with a trail map. You'll need the map if you haven't downloaded a GPX or MTB Project mobile app because there are several trails at this intersection and it's easy to take the wrong one.

This route follows Leftover, which is a pleasant trail along Long Branch Creek. At the end of Leftover, turn left onto Sandy Creek Trail which follows Sandy Creek. There is a bit of a wicked climb at the beginning of Sandy Creek with roots in all the wrong places, but with a little power and finesse, you can clean it. After that, it's pretty smooth sailing along (and hopefully not in!) the creek. Shortly after you turn onto Sandy Creek Trail, you'll come to a new (2021) bridge (Dauset Connector) that allows you to connect to the new (2020) Jackson Woods trails north of Sandy Creek. These trails are a bit mellower than those at Dauset proper but definitely worth it.

The Dauset Nature Center loop continues onto Brownlee Trail.

Brownlee wraps back on itself and you end up at another multi-trail intersection. Turn right onto Leftover and then right again at the next big, confusing intersection onto Long Branch. Long Branch has some fun, flowy switchbacks before it becomes more tame along Long Branch Creek.

The rest of the loop has more buttery singletrack similar to what you've already ridden. After you pass the bridge on your left, turn right onto Wagon Track which becomes Turkey Trot. When you reach Dauset Loop Road, continue straight onto Pine Mountain Trail. At the end of Pine Mountain Trail, another short stint on Long Branch takes you to the 10 Two 18 connector.

Finally, what great ride doesn't finish with a little Moonshine Trail!

The Dauset Nature Center was created by Hampton Daughtry in 1977 with the idea to set aside a preserve for the enjoyment of nature and hiking. In addition to the hiking and biking trails, the preserve features various gardens and exhibits of both farm and wild animals (the wild have all been previously rescued from injuries but are not fit for re-release into the wild).