The Ocmulgee Mounds are a highlight of Macon. Here are the best things to do at the park

It’s always a good time to take in what’s going on at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and a good time to visit. The park is one of Macon’s truest treasures and in reality, one much bigger than Macon itself as far as historical longevity and as a place people have called home through the centuries.

Of course, there’s the important activity toward the park increasing its footprint and receiving an out-and-out National Park designation, but with summer holidays here I’m offering a list, a reminder, of things to do and reasons to go to Ocmulgee Mounds. It’s not comprehensive, but it’s my list with occasional commentary. I’m not ranking them like a Top 10 list, I’ll leave that up to you. Here we go.

Take a hike or ride your bike

There are plenty of trails, loops and ground to cover at Ocmulgee Mounds through open spaces, forested areas and wetlands. Any time is a good time to enjoy a walk in the park, but Lisa Lemon said she particularly loves morning walks along shaded trails like the Bartram and Opelofa trails.

Lemon is executive director of the Ocmulgee Mounds Association, which is the official, open-membership, non-profit, community partner organization of the park that works to provide support for educational programs, events and exhibits.

You can walk anytime from opening at 8 a.m. until the gate closes at 5 p.m. The park is open for free every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The visitor center opens at 9 a.m.

Trails at the park are well-marked, easy to follow and generally not what most would call difficult.

As for bike riding, bikes and e-bikes are only allowed on park roads and the River Trail and Heritage Trail.

Enjoy a picnic

Picnics are allowed on the grounds surrounding the visitor center where there’s plenty of flat ground to spread out on and a few shaded picnic tables.

Take a tour inside the Earth Lodge

As a rule, the Earth Lodge is open for visitors to enter and have a look. You’ll walk a number of paces through a low entryway into the main area where, again, there is a strong sense of things past.

There are regularly scheduled tours led by park rangers, especially during the summer on Saturdays at 11 a.m.

But wait - here’s an important caveat and the reason you should check with the park through their social media or by contacting them: some events and activities may be canceled due to repair or maintenance work, weather or, in the case of wetland-floodplain trails, being impassably covered with water.

Right now, the boardwalk section of the River Trail is closed and entry to the Earth Lodge and tours are on-again, off-again due to electrical work being done that impacts lights and air conditioning to the lodge. Check with the park.

Don’t forget the big landmarks

Of course, you’ll want to see the mounds and other landmarks at the park. From the visitor center, a half-mile trail runs past the Earth Lodge, through an old trading post site to the Great Temple Mound. Signs warn not to climb on mounds, but a stairway takes you high atop the Great Temple Mound where the view is tremendous. The sense of history and the importance of those who lived there is palpable.

Take advantage of special activities for kids

While virtually everything at the park is family-friendly, there are some special events and activities for kids, such as the Kids Pottery Program on Saturday from 2 to 2:30 p.m. where kids can learn to make pottery using the Native American coil method. They create clay pots to take home.

See the museum at the visitor center

If you’ve been walking the trails and things are heating up, that’s no reason to quit the park, just head to the visitor center and visit the museum within. Sometimes overlooked, the museum and other displays in the center provide a remarkable source of information and inspiration on the people and history of Ocmulgee. There are artifacts, dioramas and other attractions, including a 17-minute movie.

Check out the gift shop

A visit to the gift shop is another worthy goal and often worth a trip on its own when looking for something unique as a present for someone. It’s more than the average tourist or museum gift shop, though you can get mugs, T-shirts, hats and the like there along with related toys and trinkets. But there’s more: run by the Ocmulgee Mounds Association with profits supporting park programs, the shop has become a showcase and local source for fine art and crafts by Muscogee (Creek) artists and artisans.

The Muscogee (Creek) were the last to inhabit the mounds area before being wrongfully driven off their land during what is known as The Trail of Tears to Oklahoma. You’ll find artwork, prints, crafts, jewelry, beadwork and more. There are also books of many sorts including Macon and pre-Macon history. There’s a selection of project items, mostly for kids, such as clay for pottery work.

Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration

Of course, there’s the annual Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration that brings Native artists, crafters, vendors, foods and cultural displays and celebrations to the park from across the southeast. This year it’s Sept. 14-15 and admission is free. Not enough can be favorably said about this event and its activities and celebrations of Native cultures through storytelling, music, dance and more.

But probably best of all is the chance to meet and build lasting relationships with those coming to the park to present their history, modern life and ways. For some who come, they’re returning to their homeland, many for the first time. I like seeing the event becoming less of a “show” and more of a gathering.

There’s much more that could be listed but hopefully, this whets your appetite as a reminder to be part of this great local treasure. But I will mention two more things you might do at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in days ahead. First, while hiking the trails, seeing the sites and partaking in activities, be sure to do some pondering. Reflect on what was, what happened, who was here and where and who they are now. We’re all part of Ocmulgee now and happily, there’s a growing realignment between those who were here but heartlessly removed and we who’ve remained since. Without being “spooky,” take time to reflect and consider what’s to come.

And finally, very soon, we’ll all hopefully be going to Ocmulgee Mounds to celebrate a name change and its new status as a fully designated National Park, Georgia’s first.

To keep tabs on the park and its activities, go to nps.gov/ocmu and facebook.com/ocmulgeemoundsnps. For more on the Ocmulgee Mounds Association, their work, activities and how you can be a part, go to ocmulgeemounds.org and instagram.com/ocmulgeemounds. To keep informed and be part of efforts to expand and make the park a National Park, go to ocmulgeepark.org.

And when you’re at the park, be sure to tip your hat and say thank you to a park ranger for all they do.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.wpannell@gmail.com.

This story was originally published June 20, 2024 at 9:43 AM.