Hiking route to all Ocmulgee mounds and historic sites (click to enlarge)

HIKE TO THE OCMULGEE MOUNDS AND HISTORIC SITES

Stop 7: Great Temple Mound and Lesser Temple Mound

Whether you hiked or skipped the loop trail near Funeral Mound (Stop 6), continue down the road to reach Great Temple Mound and Lesser Temple Mound, the two largest mounds within Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.

Ocmulgee’s Lesser Temple Mound (left) and Great Temple Mound (right)

The two mounds were built on top of a natural hill. To get to the top, you can either take the uphill path that cuts through the tall grass or continue a little farther down the road to the vehicle parking lot where you can take stairs. I took the grass path.

Path to Ocmulgee’s Great and Lesser Temple Mounds when coming from Funeral Mound

At the base of the grass path is the start of the River Trail, a trail that leads to the Ocmulgee River. If you want to hike this trail, you don’t have to start here. The trail passes behind Great Temple Mound, so you can pick it up after visiting the mound.

Start of the River Trail at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

You can actually walk on the top of Great Temple Mound, the larger of the two mounds, and get spectacular views of the area, though to do so requires climbing up a number of staircases. (To learn more about the history of Great Temple Mound, see the History of Ocmulgee Indian Mounds web page here on National Park Planner.)

View of Ocmulgee’s Lesser Temple Mound (right) and Funeral Mound (left in the far distance)

View from the top of Great Temple Mound towards the Ocmulgee Mounds visitor center

Staircase to the top of the Great Temple Mound at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

The top of Lesser Temple Mound is also accessible by a staircase, though this one is much shorter. Three fourths of Lesser Temple Mound was destroyed when the railroad was built.

Lesser Temple Mound at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

To continue to the next stop on your hike around Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, the River Trail, take the exit off the backside of the staircase and walk down the grass-covered hill to the paved path.

Path to the River Trail from the backside of Great Temple Mound

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