Bark Ranger Maisy’s GRAND SOUTHEASTERN TOUR JUNE 2024: Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, GA.

Posted byparksadventurerPosted in2025, Bark Ranger, Dog Life, National Pak, NPS, TravelTags:, , , , , , , ,

Hey there Adventurers! At long last we arrive at the last stop on Bark Ranger Maisy’s first big #USBarkRangers trip: Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon, GA. This stop had more sentimental value to it as this was a stop I had already made before with my Bark Ranger Bella. But, this was Maisy’s turn to check out the park!

We finally got a fairly decent sign picture together!

Ocmulgee Mounds is often found on a short list of NPS sites to be promoted to the nation’s 64th National Park. Personally, I don’t see that happening, but who knows! In any event, it’s a neat site that protects traces, mostly earthworks, of thousands of years of indigenous culture, most recently Southeastern Woodlands and Mississippian peoples. The earthworks in this park include burial and ceremonial mounds, trenches, and a temple which date back 1000 years. However, there is evidence of occupation of this site going back a dozen millenia! So cool!

Maisy gave a good pose in front of this bridge. Taken by me.
Taken atop the Great Temple Mound.
This is the Great Temple Mound.
Getting up to the top of the Great Temple Mound is not terribly hard for able bodied dogs and folks, but there are a lot of steps.
This is the burial mound as seen from the top of the Great Temple Mound.

Located in Macon, the site is neither remote, nor isolated. You will hear human civilization while visiting this relatively small site. The size of this park, plus its proximity to neighborhoods and major highways is why I do not believe this will be National Park number 64. That being the case, Ocmulgee is a great historical place that is entirely dog friendly! Dogs are free to walk all the trails on leash and are allowed on all of the mounds. Note that some of the trails come with an alligator warning, so bear that in mind! My visit was in June 2024 and the site was “in between” Bark Ranger programs. As of my typing this, in March 2025 (I know…I’m behind!) it appears that is still the case. I do know that when Bella did this in 2022, they had a checklist of activities to do including taking the dog into the Earth Lodge, a reconstructed lodge near the visitor center that still has the original flooring dating back to 1015!

This is the outside of the Earth Lodge.
This is the entrance way into the Earth Lodge.
Inside the Earth Lodge. The old original floor is behind the glass.

The stop at Ocmulgee was a great ending to an awesome whirlwind trip with my new Bark Ranger Maisy! I am looking forward to more trips like this with her in the future!

Published by parksadventurer

I am on multiple journeys: A weightloss journey and a travel journey! Just trying to explore!

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