First Kolomoki Road CPyopnrdess
Second Kolomoki Road

PARK BOUNDARY
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PARK BOUNDARY

First Kolomoki Road

LEGEND

White Oaks Trail

Trillium Trail

Spruce Pine Trail

Connector Trail

Paved Road

Park Road

River

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Park Office & Museum Parking Group Shelter Staff Residence Overlook H Indian Mounds Tent & RV Camping

Dump Station Comfort Station Outhouse Picnic Shelter Restroom Hammock Site

Boat Ramp Playground Mini Golf Amphitheater

PARK BOUNDARY

Lake Kolomoki

Playfield

Hammock Area #1
Pioneer Area #1

Pioneer Area #2 liu

Group Camp Camp Hicita

Lake Yohola

Spruce Pine Trail (2.5 mi.)
PARK BOUNDARY

PARK BOUNDARY
m Trail (1.25 mi.) Tril

Second Kolomoki Road

Kolomoki Mounds Historic Park Trail Map
205 Indian Mounds Road Blakely, Georgia 39823 Emergency: 702-907-2150 GaStateParks.org

KOLOMOKI MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC PARK
This unusual park in southwest Georgia is an important archaeological site as well as a scenic recreational area. The Kolomoki settlement is one of the larger mound sites in the Southeast. Seven earthen mounds were built between 200-900 C.E. by the Swift Creek and Weeden Island Indians. The mounds include Georgia's oldest great temple mound, two burial mounds and four ceremonial mounds. The park's museum is partially situated inside an excavated mound, providing an unusual setting for viewing artifacts and a film. A small admission is charged at the museum. The word Kolomoki means Land of the White Oaks in the Muscogee (Creek) language.
Activities and Facilities
Camping - The park offers 24 campsites with a central bathhouse, sanitary disposal station, and water and electrical hook-ups. Two pioneer areas are available for groups.
Group Camp Large gatherings such as retreats and reunions can take advantage of the group camp with dining hall, six cabins, two craft shelters, baseball field, assembly shelter and lake. The dining hall may be rented when the group camp is not occupied.
Picnicking The park offers numerous picnic tables, four covered picnic shelters, and two group shelters for 50 or 125 people. Group shelters must be reserved in advance.
Fishing - Park waters are open for legal fishing througout the year. Both Lake Yohola (upper lake) and Lake Kolomoki (lower lake) have a dock and boat ramp. Anglers 16 or older must have a valid resident/non-resident fishing license. Bank fishing is allowed from 7 a.m. until dark.
Boating - Private boats are permitted on park waters with a 10 horsepower restriction. Boating is permitted until sundown. All boats must comply with the Georgia Boating Safety Law. Jon boats, canoes, kayaks, SUP and pedal boats are available for rent.
Other Activities This 1,293-acre state park also has nature trails, playground equipment, miniature golf and an amphitheater.

PARK TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION

TRILLIUM TRAIL This 1.25 mile loop traverses four natural communities. Starting along Lake Kolomoki, you will cross several springfed streams, climb a moist slope forest, ramble through an upland hardwood forest, and descend a dramatic steephead. Watch for transitions between communities as the trail climbs and descends. These communities appear much as they did when Native Americans grew their crops along the floodplain of Little Kolomoki Creek, now flooded by the lake. As you walk, try to imagine how you might find food, beverages, medicines, fuel, clothing, dyes, shelter and tools if you lived here hundreds of years ago.
Common birds found in this area include piliated and redbellied woodpeckers, flickers, yellow warblers, pine warblers, cardinals, nuthatch, chickadee and towhee. Wild turkey and bobwhite quail may be spotted on the ground, while redshouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk and turkey vultures soar overhead. Look for tracks of bobcat, red fox, deer, opossum and raccoon in the soil.
Hikers will see switchcane (a native bamboo), Southern magnolia (large green leaves), sassafrass (three leaf shapes growing on one plant), sarsparilla vine (used to make beverages), sparkleberry, hickory, muscadine grapes, dwarf palmetto (fan-like leaves), loblolly pine and spruce pine.
A separate brochure further describes plants, animals and geology at 20 numbered stops along the trail.
SPRUCE PINE TRAIL Part of Georgia's Southern Rivers Birding Trail, this 2.5-mile trail starts at the Lake Yohola dam, crosses a road and leads to Lake Kolomoki. The cypress pond area of this second lake is particularly good for birding. The terrain is somewhat rugged, and hikers can enjoy footbridges and wildlife observation platforms. Common trees include magnolia, dogwood, spruce pine and water oak. Wild azaleas bloom in spring. Frequently spotted wildlife includes turkey, deer, quail, bobcat and armadillo.
WHITE OAK TRAIL This 1.5-mile trail circles the mounds and passes through part of the village area, which was arranged in a horseshoe shape around the mounds. These woods provided timber used to build thatched huts for housing. Some of the gulleys and ravines have underground springs flowing from them, which provided an abundant water source for the village. These springs flow into Lake Kolomoki, then into the Chattahoochee River 12 miles away, which served as a major trade route. Archaeologist believe the Indians chose this site because of the rich farmland, wild game, fishing and abundant water.
INDIAN MOUNDS Hundreds of years ago, this area with its surrounding villages, burial mounds and ceremonial plaza was a center of population and activity in North America. This unblazed trail leads to 7 mounds and a cemetery, which are further explained by markers along the way. The gully's purpose has been debated since the 1840s. Some believe it was once

covered, providing a way to get to the creek during a siege, while others thought it provided dirt for the mounds. The main village was located in the plaza, now an open field in front of Mound A. The tallest mound is 56 feet high and the shortest is around 4 feet high.
MOUND A The Temple Mound, constructed more than 700 years ago, is 56 feet high and measures 325 by 200 feet at the base. Research indicates that it would have taken more than 2 million basket loads, each holding one cubic foot of earth, to build this mound. It is believed this mound served as the area's religious center.
MOUND B A series of wooden posts were erected in this mound, possibly for games.
MOUND C Archaeologists are unsure of Mound C's function, but it may have been made of sweepings from the plaza. The mound is approximately the same size as Mound B, and is located at the north end of the Temple Mound (corresponding to that of Mound B to the South).
MOUND D During the 1950s, this was excavated and rebuilt to its original size of 20 feet high and nearly 100 feet in diameter. D is one of the largest and most elaborately constructed burial mounds in the Southeastern United States. The mound was built to bury a leader along with sacrificed servants, trophy skulls, and wives. The remains of additional people, whose bodies had been stored in the temple awaiting burial, were included in the mound. Radiocarbon dating estimates the mound was built around 30 A.D.
MOUND E This burial mound of the Weeden Island Tribe was the first of the Kolomoki area to be scientifically excavated. Today, the park's museum is built into the mound, shown just as archaeologists left it. Four people were buried in this mound, along with 54 pottery items to be used in the afterlife. Radiocarbon dating in 1956 put the building around 170 B.C. The accuracy of radiocarbon dating is within 300 years.
MOUND F This mound is 60 feet long, 50 feet wide and six feet high, with an oval shape. Inside is a square, white clay platform 30 feet wide. Artifacts consist solely of a handful of sherds, most from the Weeden Island period.
MOUND G Burials of the Mercier family, owners of the Mercier Plantation that once included this land, are found here.
MOUND H Archaeologist Dr. William H. Sears speculated this small mound was used in the burial ceremony for the Mound D leader, then capped with red clay. An internal yellow clay platform, measuring three feet high, has not been disturbed.

SAFETY TIPS & ETIQUETTE
Tell someone your itinerary and expected return time.
Take a map, water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight and whistle. Three short blasts on a whistle are known as a call for help.
Do not stray from trails. If you become lost, stay in one location and wait for help. This will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
Don't count on cell phones to work in the wilderness, but if they do, be able to give details about your location.
Invest in good hiking socks such as those found at sporting goods stores. Avoid blisters by carrying "moleskin" and applying it as soon as you feel hot spots on your feet. Available in the foot care section of drug stores, moleskin is like felt that sticks to your skin.
Be prepared for unexpected rain and wind which can lead to hypothermia. Always carry quality rain gear and turn back in bad weather. If you become wet or cold, it is important to get dry and warm as quickly as possible.
Dress in layers and avoid cotton. Today's hikers can choose from numerous fabrics that wick moisture, dry quickly and conserve heat. Many experienced hikers wear a lightweight shirt that wicks moisture, while carrying a fleece pullover and rain jacket.
Pack out all trash.
Keep pets on a leash at all times and clean up after them.
Do not pick flowers, disturb wildlife or take anything off the park.
Protect the park and help prevent erosion by staying on marked trails.
CLIMATE DATA FOR BLAKELY, GEORGIA
Avg. Avg. Avg. Month High Low Mean Precip. Record High Record Low
Jan 60F 37F 48F 6.72 in 85F (1911) 6F (1924) Feb 64F 40F 52F 5.26 in 85F (1989) -1F (1899) Mar 72F 46F 59F 5.98 in 96F (1907) 17F (1980) Apr 79F 52F 66F 3.71 in 97F (1906) 30F (1987) May 85F 61F 73F 4.01 in 102F (1916) 34F (1903) Jun 91F 68F 79F 4.99 in 108F (1911) 47F (1984) Jul 92F 70F 81F 5.17 in 107F (1930) 50F (1901) Aug 92F 70F 81F 4.51 in 105F (1911) 56F (1986) Sep 88F 65F 77F 3.71 in 110F (1925) 40F (1967) Oct 80F 54F 67F 2.70 in 101F (1911) 29F (1917) Nov 71F 46F 59F 3.78 in 92F (1986) 15F (1950) Dec 63F 39F 51F 3.98 in 89F (1906) 6F (1962)