Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park · Georgia

Heritage Trail

1.7 mi of trail, end to end · about 40 ft of climbing · 70 ft of descent · 288 ft–369 ft · asphalt, wood surface · trail class Developed, Highly Developed · bike, hiking · seasonal

293 ft 293 ft · 1.1 mi high 293 ft

Trailheads Access trail Trailhead? trading post? 362 ft Drive there · Cornfield Mound Trailhead 368 ft Drive there · Heritage Trailhead 311 ft Drive there · Heritage Trailhead 358 ft Drive there · McDougal Trailhead 370 ft Drive there

Cornfield Mound Trail the Park Service's write-up

5-10 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Cornfield Mound Trailhead

A flat, dirt path leading through woods.
Cornfield Mound Trail Photo: NPS/Martinson

This trail is a grass and dirt trail that goes past the Corn Field Mound and prehistoric trenches, and ends at the Heritage Trail. The Corn Field Mound is believed to have originally been a ceremonial cornfield. Later the mound was built over the field. The purpose of the prehistoric trenches is unknown. It could have been used for a fortification or for borrow pits for mound building.

Accessibility The trail is part dirt and part grassy. It is level with no grade.

This hike on nps.gov

Funeral Loop Trail the Park Service's write-up

15-30 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Funeral Loop Trailhead

A park bench next to a leaf-covered dirt trail in woods.
Funeral Loop Trail Photo: NPS/Martinson

This loop trail starts near the Funeral Mound parking lot at the end of the park road. It explores a more secluded part of the park as it descends from open fields alongside the park road into a stand of trees.

Accessibility The trail is dirt, and is mostly flat with some gentle inclines.

This hike on nps.gov

Heritage Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-90 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Heritage Trailhead

A paved trail through woods.
Heritage Trail Photo: NPS/Martinson

This trail is a biking and hiking trail that runs through the park. It begins behind the visitor center and goes to the Clinton Street foot gate. Along the trail you may encounter deer, woodpeckers, and lizards.

Accessibility The trail is paved and is mostly flat with some gentle slopes. One section has a steep grade leading down to a wooden bridge at the junction between the Heritage Trail and a gravel path leading towards the Main Trail of the park.

This hike on nps.gov

Main Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-90 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Main Trailhead

A park bench overlooking the paved main trail leading towards the Earth Lodge.
Main Trail leading towards the Earth Lodge Photo: NPS/Martinson

This 1/2-mile trail leads to three of Ocmulgee Mounds' most popular points of interest – the Earth Lodge, the Trading Post site, and the Great Temple Mound Complex.

Accessibility The majority of this 1/2 mile trail is paved, with a small section near the Trading Post being grass. The grade is flat other than a slight incline at the beginning leading to the Earth Lodge, another incline on the bridge over the railroad, and one descent on a narrower paved path leading down from the Trading Post towards the Great Temple Mound parking lot.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

Other trails from the same trailheads

All 17 trails in Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.