Visit Us
The Piedmont Refuge Visitor Center is located on Allison Lake Road. It contains exhibits describing refuge wildlife and habitats. It is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm except on federal holidays.
Access to most parts of the refuge is by gravel roads and foot travel paths. There are over 50 miles of refuge gravel roads that are open to vehicle travel most of the year. Hiking on the refuge is enjoyable throughout the year. Over seven miles of walking trails are available. Trail maps are available at the Visitor Center.
Activities
A parking area and three interconnecting walking trails are located adjacent to Allison Lake and the visitor center. These trails are limited to foot travel and involve some moderate walking over uneven and hilly terrain. The 0.9 mile Allison Lake Trail and the 1.1 mile Pine & Creek Trails interconnect and provide foot access through mixed pine-hardwood habitat and views of Allison Lake. The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) Trail is 2.9 miles starting at Allison Lake and travels through an active RCW site. Cavity trees are characterized by accumulations of sap around the cavity and are marked by a painted white stripe around the tree at 4.5 feet high.
The Little Rock Wildlife Drive is a 6-mile self-guided auto tour route over narrow graveled roads. Many different habitats can be observed including uplands pine, hardwoods, native grass fields, creeks, a pond and seasonally flooded areas. There are two hiking trails located near Pond 21 on the Drive that provide hiking opportunities.
The Dragonfly Trail is 1-mile loop around the 10 acre pond. The Little Rock Hiking Trail, starting at pond 21 on the Wildlife Drive, is a 1-mile loop along a gravel road through open native grass fields and seasonally flooded impoundments. This trail is seasonally open from February 16 to November 14 and is closed during peak waterfowl use.
Trails
A parking area and three interconnecting walking trails are located adjacent to Allison Lake and the visitor center. These trails are limited to foot travel and involve some moderate walking over uneven and hilly terrain. The 0.9 mile Allison Lake Trail and the 1.1 mile Pine & Creek Trails interconnect and provide foot access through mixed pine-hardwood habitat and views of Allison Lake. The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) Trail is 2.9 miles starting at Allison Lake and travels through an active RCW site. Cavity trees are characterized by accumulations of sap around the cavity and are marked by a painted white stripe around the tree at 4.5 feet high.
The Dragonfly Trail is 1-mile loop around the 10 acre pond. The Little Rock Hiking Trail, starting at pond 21 on the Wildlife Drive, is a 1-mile loop along a gravel road through open native grass fields and seasonally flooded impoundments. This trail is seasonally open from February 16 to November 14 and is closed during peak waterfowl use.
Related Documents
Please see the Walking Trail Map and Hunting and Fishing Regulations below for more detailed information.
Other Facilities in the Complex
Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge staff also manages Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which is located along the Ocmulgee River in Bibb and Twiggs counties, Georgia. Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge is also in the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Rules and Policies
The refuge is open during daylight hours, sunrise to sunset.
Ticks and chiggers are present throughout the year and are especially bad in the summer and early fall. Use a strong insect repellent and dress appropriately.
Venomous snakes such as copperheads and timber rattlesnakes are present across the refuge so be aware when walking trails.
The refuge is closed to everyone except permitted hunters during refuge firearm deer hunts in the fall. The dates the refuge is closed are published annually, and will be updated by July of each year. Please refer to our Hunting & Fishing Regulations brochure for more detailed information.
Portions of the refuge may be closed due to heavy rains, local flooding, and prescribed burning.
Locations
Piedmont NWR is located in central Georgia in Jones and Jasper Counties, approximately 25 miles north of Macon and 18 miles east of Forsyth. The refuge may be visited by exiting I-75 at Exit 186 in Forsyth and driving east along Juliette Road for 18 miles. Upon entering the refuge, follow signs to the Visitor Center & Allison Lake for 5 more miles. An alternate route is State Highway 11, between Gray and Monticello. Just north of Round Oak on Hwy 11, turn west on Round Oak-Juliette Road and proceed for 3 miles to Allison Lake Road. The Refuge Office and Visitor Center are located on Allison Lake Road.