Want to explore nature? Here are the top rated Georgia hiking trails in the Macon area

It’s time to go on a hike.

The crisp mornings and warm days are here and what better way to enjoy them than with a brisk, exciting hike through scenic local trails.

If you’ve got a pup, grab a leash. And if you’ve got a friend, grab an extra water bottle.

Here are Macon’s best walking and hiking trails, complete with a rating, intensity score and length from the AllTrails App:

Bartram and River Loop Trail

Bartram and River Loop trail in Macon, Georgia offers some beautiful scenery.
Bartram and River Loop trail in Macon, Georgia offers some beautiful scenery.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Length: 2.4 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “Decent trails, switches terrain a bit and has a lot of wildlife to observe including deer, turtles, various birds, even an alligator. Not shaded so watch the temps,” one hiker said.

Pig Trail

Rating: 4.4/5 stars

Length: 7.4 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Review: “Nice trails, good place to go for a long hike around here. Scenery isn’t spectacular or anything, but the forest is pretty and I saw some critters,” a hiker said.

Ocmulgee National Monument Loop

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Length: 5.5 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “Nice easy trail of woods, meadows and some pavement and gravel,” a commenter said.

Ocmulgee National Monument River Trail

Rating: 4.4/5 stars

Length: 1.8 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “The trail is a nice shaded trip along the river. There is a bench with some shade at the mid way point. I had a blast,” a hiker said.

Opelofa and Bartram Trails Loop

Opelofa trail in Macon, Georgia.
Opelofa trail in Macon, Georgia.

Rating: 4.6/5 stars

Length: 1.8 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “Love this trail! So much wildlife to see and different terrain. Well marked and maintained trails. Lots of neat things to see here,” a hiker said.

Brown’s Mount Trail

Rating: 4.3/5 stars

Length: 1.2 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “It was a little overgrown, but still beautiful. It’s a better hike in the winter. Saw wild pigs in the woods,” one reviewer said.

Funeral Mound Loop

Rating: 4.7/5 stars

Length: 0.8 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “Nice trail. Some paved, some not. Dog-friendly and many shaded areas,” a hiker said.

Wesleyan Loop

Rating: 4.4/5 stars

Length: 1.4 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “Many trails to check out. Was dry when we visited. Easy, shaded. Nice gem in the middle of town. Many entrances around Wesleyan campus,” a reviewer said.

North Macon Trails at Theron Ussery Park

Rating: 4/5 stars

Length: 1.1 miles

Intensity: Easy

Review: “This trail is great! It is cleared off, well marked and very beautiful. I would highly recommend hiking here,” one person said.

Don’t see your favorite trail on the list? Email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com and let me know where you like to walk or hike.