Moody Forest Natural Area

Why You Should Visit
Adjacent to the Altamaha River in Appling County, the 4,500-acre Moody Forest preserve contains the only known example of the longleaf pine-blackjack oak forest. As many as 300 to 350 acres of the property contain longleaf and slash pine trees that are 200 to 300 years old. Other special areas on the property include forests found on bluffs overlooking the floodplain, cypress-tupelo sloughs that contain trees over 600 years old, and bottomland hardwoods.

The Moody family came to Appling County over a century ago. They bought land - an estimated 4,000 acres-and built not only a house, but also a home and a way of life. They enjoyed a simple yet rich lifestyle that co-existed with the beautiful longleaf pine stands, cypress swamps and acre upon acre of undisturbed land abundant with wildlife.

In 1952, three siblings, Causs, Wade and Elizabeth, inherited from Jake Moody what has become known as
the Moody Forest. Determined to continue their legacy, the siblings protected the land, carrying on the legacy of Uncle Jake Moody.

Interpretative Trails
Nature enthusiasts can enjoy the beauty and serenity of Moody Forest Natural Area by exploring two interpretataive tails.

The two-mile Altamaha River Trail explores the bottomland forests along the Altamaha River. As you walk amidst red mulberry trees, swamp dogwood and bald cypress, stay alert for a host of wildlife, including yellow-bellied sliders and Mississippi kites. The floodplain forest with its massive old-growth and dense understory has been sculpted by the seasonal ebb and flow of the river, creating deep sloughs and an elevated river levee.

The three-mile Upland Loop Trail gradually descends from the pine-wiregrass uplands to the Altamaha River floodplain, traversing a variety of natural communities. From the diverse longleaf pine and wiregrass communities to the dense floodplain forests with massive old-growth cypress and gum trees, the Upland Loop Trail features a mosaic of landscapes supporting an abundance of wildlife, including the fedeally endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and the state threatened gopher tortoise. Download an Upland Loop Trail guide.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Moody Siblings © Milton Hopkins In December 1999, Elizabeth Moody, the last of the three siblings to own the property, passed away, leaving the fate of the Moody Forest to more than 30 heirs. While the property was in the family for several generations, the heirs sold the property to The Nature Conservancy through an open bidding process. The Conservancy is continuing to raise funds to protect the property. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) purchased approximately 1,700 acres of the tract from The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy and DNR will manage the property together, with the main focus placed on conservation and restoration of the longleaf pine forests.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Nature Conservancy and Georgia DNR jointly manage the property, working together to restore and protect the natural communities while providing educational and recreational opportunities, such as hiking and managed hunting. In order to restore the forest, the the Conservancy and Georgia DNR are using prescribed fire and other stewardship techniques. Georgia DNR law enforcement rangers patrol the property to deter harmful activities, such as the use of ATVs, camping, cutting of timber, littering and trash burning.

For more information
To learn more about the vast natural diversity at Moody Forest Natural Area and the Conservancy's on-going efforts to protect this special place, download a copy of the Moody Forest Natural Area fact sheet,

How to visit Moody Forest Natural Area
If you have any questions about planning your visit to Moody Forest, call preserve manager Scott Saucier at (912) 366-9549.

Directions:
1. Drive approximately seven miles north of Baxley on US-1/GA-15.
2. Turn right onto Lennox Road (at the BP Station).
3. Proceed down Lennox Road and turn left onto Spring Branch Road.
4. Continue on Spring Branch Road to a T-intersection with East River Road.
5. Turn right onto East River Road and drive for approximately one mile.
6. The Upland Loop Trailhead is on the left, just before the intersection with Jake Moody Road.
7. The Moody Forest Natural Area office is approximately one mile down East River Road.