How To Avoid Meeting Huge, Scary Spiders Face-to-Face on Georgia Hiking Trails

There's old and excellent hiking advice shared among the expert Georgia trail trekkers: on early morning hikes, never go first. Instead, invite one of your tall friends to lead the excursion.

At 6-5, I'm the first friend on early hikes, clearing the trail of spider webs. I've met more than a few Georgia spiders web-to-face!Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Well, at six feet, five inches tall, I am the friend that fellow trekkers send ahead. And that is how I've come to meet my unfair share of ugly Georgia spiders. For a more detailed account and photos of the Georgia spiders I've met while hiking, visit OurTravelCafe.com, (where advertising may provide income to the site and author.)

What's worse than a spider web blocking a trail? THIS! It's a cluster of spiders on a shared web. Yes, I looked it up -- cluster is correctPhoto byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Here are a few of the common Georgia spiders I've met face-to-face -- or, more accurately, web-to-face:

Joro Spider. With 34 common spiders, I don't think Georgia needed another. But likely riding along with plants and goods from China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan, we got number 35 in 2015. They liked our climate, and decided to stay and multiply and multiply and multiply. With bodies up to one-inch, their legs can stretch to four inches. And they have supersized webs.

The non-native Joro spider is huge. I couldn't maintain focus -- and neither could my camera -- as we tried to capture this photo.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Golden Silk Spider. Also known as banana spiders, the females are particularly impressive in size with bodies up to two inches long and legs twice that. Plus, these devious devils can actually adjust the hue of their webs based on sunlight conditions.

Sometimes, I like to stop just to admire a near-perfect spider web when its trailside rather than blocking the way.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Spotted Orbweaver. Neoscona crucifera hangs out at the edge of its web, ready to devour its small prey. They hang out in fields, parks, backyards, and gardens. They are nocturnal and are very seldom seen during the day -- until you take a web to the face. Then, they stay to the side of the remaining web and likely laugh with your friends!

The spotted orb weavers hides to the side of its web , and likely laughs with your friends when your face meets its silky web!Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

For more on the Georgia spiders I have met, visit OurTravelCafe.com. If you want more about others of Georgia's 35 spiders that I haven't met, check out this Georgia-focused article at ThePetEnthusiast.com.

More Hiking from DeanLand

We do lots of Georgia hiking. Here are some of our favorite and most popular recent hiking posts from Newsbreak and OurTravelCafe.com:

Ever-Changing Beauty of Our Favorite Hiking Trails

Favorite Hiking Near Atlanta

Hiking the Palisades of the 'Hooch

All Hiking Posts at OurTravelCafe.com

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You can follow DeanLand here on Newsbreak and see our posts more frequently in your feed. Simply use the "follow" button, located before and after this article on your phone, or on the left side menu on your computer. You can also see extended posts on family-friendly activities by DeanLand at OurTravelCafe.com.