Established in 1939 on worn-out cotton land, the 35,000-acre Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge in Jones and Jasper counties is now a forest of loblolly pine ridges and hardwood creek bottoms, home to a growing population of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and nearly 200 bird species. It’s about 25 miles north of Macon.
- HoursSunrise to sunset; free
- TrailsOver 7 miles, plus the 6-mile Little Rock Wildlife Drive
- Address718 Round Oak-Juliette Rd., Round Oak, GA 31038
- Phone478-775-4907
Hunt closures: the refuge closes to everyone but permitted hunters during the fall firearms deer hunts and spring turkey hunts, and parts may close for flooding, timber work or prescribed burns. Check the refuge’s alerts before you drive out.
Trails
| Trail | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Allison Lake Trail | 0.9 mile | Wintering waterfowl on the lake; photo and observation blind |
| Pine and Creek trails | 1.1 miles | Interconnecting loops through pine and bottomland hardwood forest |
| Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Trail | 2.9 miles | Passes a woodpecker colony; best in May and June nesting season |
| Dragonfly Trail | 1-mile loop | Ponds and wetlands |
| Little Rock Hiking Trail | 1-mile loop | Seasonal, Feb. 16 to Nov. 14 |
Little Rock Wildlife Drive is a 6-mile self-guided auto tour on narrow gravel roads through upland pine, hardwoods, native grasslands and seasonal wetlands. Ticks and chiggers are out most of the year and bad in summer and early fall, so bring repellent.
Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers
These endangered woodpeckers need old, living pines to nest in, and most of the old-growth pine they depend on across the South was logged long ago. They excavate cavities in living pines and drill resin wells around them; the sticky resin seems to keep rat snakes from climbing to the nest. They live in family groups, and young males often stay to help feed the next year’s nestlings. The refuge manages its pines in staggered stands, with prescribed fire and thinning, so there are always old trees for the birds.
Wildlife Through the Year
Birds
Nearly 200 species. Look for woodpeckers, warblers, flycatchers, brown-headed nuthatches and chickadees in the forest; wood ducks, herons and kingfishers at the ponds; hawks, bluebirds and wild turkeys in openings.
Seasons
Spring migration peaks in late March and April and fall migration in September and October; December and January are best for ducks.
Mammals
White-tailed deer and fox and gray squirrels by day; opossums, bats, beavers, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and bobcats at night.
Ponds
Creeks, beaver ponds and managed ponds with wood duck boxes. Fishing is allowed in designated ponds in season under refuge rules.
Refuge Ponds
Little Rock Area
Walking Trails
Wading Birds
Waterfowl
Night LifeRules and Getting There
Leashed pets are allowed under close control. Hunting is by refuge permit only, with deer and turkey gun hunts by quota draw; camping and fires are allowed only with a hunt permit in the designated campground. Groups can request environmental education programs in advance. From I-75, take Exit 186 at Forsyth and drive east on Juliette Road about 18 miles.
Refuge EntranceNearby: Jones County and our wildlife areas guide.
Sources we checked
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