Intrenchment Creek Park

September 06, 2022 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Intrenchment Creek Park is the western end of the South River PATH trail. It is also home to an RC Airfield.

Address: West Side Pl, Atlanta, GA 30316
Cost of admission: None
Governance: DeKalb County
Acres: 125
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6
MARTA directions: From Inman Park-Reynoldstown Station, take the 32 to Bouldercrest Rd SE@Westside Pl. From there, walk northwest along Bouldercrest. Turn left on West Side Place. The entrance to the trail is clearly marked on the right. Walking distance from bus stop to trailhead approximately 0.2 miles.
Parking: Parking is available at the trailhead on West Side Place. Two handicap accessible spaces are available.
Trail surface: Approximately 0.5 miles of PATH trail (continues beyond the park for about 5 miles) and approximately 1.5 miles of unpaved trails
Geocaching: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes

Amenities:

Picnic pavilion

Links:

Note: The area of land highlighted in this blog post is all east of Intrenchment Creek. West of the creek is the land associated with the Old Atlanta Prison Farm. No trespassing is allowed in the prison farm buildings, and the area is frequently patrolled by the police. You may see that OpenStreetMap has marked land west of the creek as “City of Atlanta greenspace – keep out”. I haven’t heard of anyone getting in trouble for being on the trails west of the creek as long as they stay away from the buildings, but it might be best to stay east of the creek. There is no bridge across the creek between the two properties.

November 11, 2018

Cladonia peziziformis, November 11, 2018

November 11, 2018

Green Anole, November 11, 2018

November 11, 2018

Intrenchment Creek, June 7, 2015

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Southside Park

Constitution Lakes

Brownwood Park

Morgan Falls Overlook Park & Morgan Falls River Park

Morgan Falls Overlook Park

August 28, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

It seems the largest attraction to Morgan Falls Overlook Park is the huge playground. That said, the park has other attractions too, including great views of the river and a short nature trail. The nature trail has two trailheads, one from the west side of the parking lot, and the other at the north end of the pavilion.

Birders – or those with dogs – will want to walk or drive 1/3 of a mile to Morgan Falls River Park and Dog Park. There are no trails here, but you can walk a bit along the creek and check out the views of the dam and the river.

Fishing seems to be popular in both locations. In Morgan Falls Overlook Park, an unmarked, narrow, ungraded trail runs for about a third of a mile, beginning at the left side of the kayak rental building and continuing along the river's edge. I saw several folks fishing along this trail. I also saw folks fishing at Morgan Falls River Park from the metal observation deck and along the river bank.

Address: 200 Morgan Falls Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Sandy Springs
Acres: 28
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: Sun-up to sun-down
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 17
Transit directions: Take the MARTA 87 bus from Dunwoody Station to Roswell Rd & Morgan Falls Rd, then walk 1.3 miles west on Morgan Falls Rd
Parking: There are free parking lots at both the Overlook Park and the River Park
Trail surface: Natural
Restrooms: Restrooms are available at the Overlook Park
Dogs allowed: Yes, and there is an off-leash dog park at the River Park
Fishing allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Page 74 of Hiking the Hooch (1st edition)

Amenities:

Restrooms
Bike racks
Water fountain (dog & human)
Playground
Swinging benches
Large pavilion
Kayak rental (seasonal)
Dog park

Links:
Sandy Springs
High Country Paddle Shack

Overlook Park, January 15, 2017

Spotted Pink Ladybeetle, July 11, 2021

River Park, January 15, 2017

Powdered Dancer, July 11, 2021

Morgan Falls Dam, August 28, 2021

Overlook Park, January 15, 2017

Bald Eagle, River Park, March 4, 2017

Great Blue Heron at Morgan Falls Dam, River Park, March 4, 2017

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John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve

Lost Corner Preserve

Updated January 15, 2017, July 11, 2021, and August 28, 2021

Westside Park

westside reservoir park

August 22, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

The Westside Park grand opening was held in August 2021. The former Bellwood Quarry has been converted into a reservoir for City of Atlanta water.

Bellwood Quarry was established in the 1890s to provide granite to the city and surrounding areas. The site was originally a Fulton County convict labor camp. More recently, the quarry was run by corporations. The city purchased the land from the quarry operator, Vulcan Materials, in 2006. This column by Sundiata Rush for the Saporta Report includes some more information about the history of the site.

A number of movies & TV shows have been filmed at the quarry, including The Hunger Games and Stranger Things.

As of August 2021, with only Phase 1 complete, almost all of the trails are paved and wide. The master plan calls for 4.1 miles of natural-surface walking trails and 3.2 miles of natural-surface mountain biking trails in a future phase.

Also known as: Bellwood Quarry Park
Address: 1660 Johnson Road Northwest, Atlanta, GA
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Atlanta
Acres: 280
Approximate miles of trails: 2.5
Hours: 6am to 11pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 3.4
Transit directions: Take MARTA to Bankhead Station and use the Proctor Creek Greenway to connect to the park. Or take MARTA bus #26 from Bankhead Station to Perry Blvd NW & Johnson Rd NW. Walk about 0.2 miles southwest on Johnson Road to the park entrance.
Cycling directions: The park trails connect to the Proctor Creek Greenway
Parking: There are two large parking lots available, off of Johnson Road
Trailhead(s): The two main entrances on Johnson Road are clearly marked and visible from the road. Trailheads are clearly marked from these parking lots. There’s also neighborhood connectivity via Grove Park Place.
Trail surface: Many of the trails are paved and ADA accessible
Blazes/markings: Trails are paved and most intersections have maps
Restrooms: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash

Amenities:

Restrooms
Pavilions
Water fountains
Playground
Scenic overlooks

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

MARTA rail station

Links:

Westside Park

August 22, 2021

More photos on Flickr:

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Proctor Creek Greenway

Peachtree Creek Greenway

December 12, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

On December 12, 2019, the first mile of the planned 12-mile Peachtree Creek Greenway opened. Currently extending along the North Fork of Peachtree Creek from N Druid Hills Rd to Briarwood Rd, the greenway will one day connect to the Beltline and PATH 400 to the south and extend to Doraville MARTA station to the north.

Address: 2036 N Druid Hills Road
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Current trail is in the City of Brookhaven, future segments will be in other cities
Approximate miles of trails: 1.2
Hours: The trail is lit and is open 6:00am to 11:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6
Transit directions: MARTA busses #8, #39, and #47 all stop near the greenway. Of those, the #39 runs the most frequently. From Doraville or Lindbergh station, take the #39 to Buford Hwy & N Druid Hills. From there, walk southeast on N Druid Hills for about a block. The greenway is clearly marked on the left.
Parking: There are three parking lots for the greenway: One on the north side of N Druid Hills just east of the creek, one on the south side of Corporate Blvd just east of the creek, and one on the south side of Briarwood Rd just west of the creek.
Trailhead(s): As well as the parking lot trailheads mentioned above, there is also a trailhead at Corporate Square (note: this trailhead is not handicap accessible) and a couple private, locked trailheads for nearby residence.
Trail surface: Paved
Blazes/markings: The trail is well marked with mile markers and directions to points of interest
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Bike repair stations
Benches
Trash & recycling cans
Lighting

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

The trail is in a fairly urban area, and there are many gas stations, restaurants, and bus stops nearby

Links:

Peachtree Creek Greenway

Current Trail

Current + Planned Trails

December 7, 2019

North Fork Peachtree Creek, December 7, 2019

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Kittredge Park

Confluence Trail

KSU Sports & Recreation Park Lakeside Trail

November 11, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Also known as: Kennesaw State University--Sports and Recreation Park; The Walking Trail
Address: 393 Big Shanty Rd NW, Marietta, GA 30066
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: Kennesaw State University
Acres: 88
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: Daylight hours
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 22
Transit directions: Take the CobbLinc Rapid 10 from Arts Center Station to Busbee Park & Ride. Cross George Busbee Pkwy NW at Big Shanty Rd NW to access the trail
Parking: Parking is available at several areas around the park, although it might vary depending on what sporting events are happening
Trail surface: Paved
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Fishing allowed: No

Amenities:

Picnic tables
Ball fields & volleyball pits available for those with a KSU ID

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

A couple restaurants across Big Shanty Rd

Song Sparrow, November 11, 2019

Blue Jay, November 11, 2019

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, November 11, 2019

Nelson Lake, November 11, 2019

November 11, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

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Noonday Creek Trail

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Roswell Area Park

January 23, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Also known as: Roswell Park
Address: 10495 Woodstock Rd, Roswell, GA 30075
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Roswell
Friends of the Park Group: Friends of the Roswell Parks
Acres: 80
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Unknown; trails are lit
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 20
MARTA directions: From North Springs Station, take the 85 bus to the Alpharetta St@Woodstock St. stop. Walk northwest on Woodstock St for 0.8 miles. The park entrance will be on the right.
Parking: Parking is plentiful at the park
Trailhead(s): There are several trailheads along the parking lots and roads
Trail surface: Mostly wide gravel, some paved, some sidewalk
Blazes/markings: There are some mile markers for the various running routes
Geocaching: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: Yes - catch and release only
Photography policy: Permit policy
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Ball fields
Swimming pool
Restrooms
Outdoor fitness equipment
Picnic pavilions
Playground

Links:

City of Roswell

Chipping Sparrow, January 1, 2019

January 1, 2019

White-breasted Nuthatch, January 1, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Allenbrook

Old Mill Park

Heritage Park

Heritage Park Trail

January 22, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This Cobb County park has an out-and-back boardwalk and natural surface trail that follows Nickajack Creek. The trail’s northwest end connects to the Silver Comet Trail near Concord Road.

Near the west end of the trail stand the ruins of the Concord Woolen Mill. The mill originally opened in 1847, was burned by Sherman’s troops, after which it was rebuilt once and then again after a second fire in 1889. The mill was abandoned in 1916. [1] A “ghost frame” was added in 1996 to stabilize the ruins. Extensive in-depth information about the mill is available at the Concord Covered Bridge website.

Speaking of the Concord Covered Bridge, it is located nearby on Concord Road and is still in use for vehicular traffic.

Also known as: Heritage Park Trail
Address: 60 Fontaine Road, Mableton, GA 30126
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Cobb County
Acres: Approx. 110
Approximate miles of trails: 1.8 mile each way out-and-back
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 11
Cycling directions: There’s a trailhead along the Silver Comet Trail
Parking: Parking is available along the trailhead at Fontaine Rd. and Nickajack Rd. Alternatively, you can park at the Silver Comet Trail’s Concord Road trailhead and walk southeast on the Silver Comet for about 1/3 mile to the Heritage Park trailhead.
Trailhead(s): There is one trailhead near the intersection of Fontaine Rd. and Nickajack Rd., and a second trailhead along the Silver Comet Trail.
Trail surface: Natural and boardwalk
Blazes/markings: None, but the trail is wide enough to be clear
Dogs allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 25 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Amenities:

Pavilions
Restrooms (closed when below freezing)

Links:

January 21, 2019

Carolina Chickadee, January 21, 2019

Concord Woolen Mill Ruins, January 21, 2019

Carolina Wren, January 21, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Spink-Collins Park

Shorty Howell Park

December 21, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 2750 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA 30096
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
Acres: 67
Approximate miles of trails: 3
Hours: Park is open sunrise to 11:00pm, trails are open sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 21
Transit directions: From Doraville Station, take the Gwinnett County Transit Bus 10B to the N Berkeley Lake Road & Wal-Mart stop. From there, head east on N Berkeley Lake Road. Once you reach the intersection with Pleasant Hill Rd, you can either turn left and enter via the main park entrance on the right, or you can go straight on Hill Drive and walk into the park (unpaved).
Parking: Parking is plentiful in the park
Trail surface: 1.25 mile paved loop with mile markers every 1/4 mile plus about a mile of unpaved trails and some other short paved trail or sidewalk segments
Dogs allowed: Yes
Photography policy: Gwinnett County Parks
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Pavilion
Grills
Ball fields
Playgrounds

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

Restaurants
Gas station
Walmart

Links:

Gwinnett County Parks

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, December 15, 2018

December 15, 2018

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, December 15, 2018

December 15, 2018

Hooded Merganser, December 15, 2018

December 15, 2018

Great Blue Heron, December 15, 2018

December 15, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Rogers Bridge Trail

McDaniel Farm Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Medlock Bridge

McDaniel Farm Park

November 12, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

McDaniel Farm Park was sold in the 1820 land lottery. It was a subsistence farm and was farmed until 1999. The farm buildings represent a typical farm from the 1930s.

This park is a popular spot with photographers for engagement and family photos. Information about commercial photography is available here.

Address: 3251 McDaniel Rd, Duluth, GA 30096
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Gwinnett County
Acres: 134
Approximate miles of trails: 3 miles paved, 1 mile unpaved
Hours: The park is open dawn to dusk daily; the farm area is open 10-4 daily
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 21
Transit directions: From Doraville Station, take the Gwinnett County Transit bus 10A or 10B to the Gwinnett Transit Center. From there, it is a 12-minute walk to the park. From the transit center, head right on Satellite Blvd. Head left on Old Norcross Road. Then take a right on McDaniel Road and continue to the end of the road. There are sidewalks the whole way.
If you have a Breeze card, you can add cash to it for your trips there and back, or use GCT (but not MARTA) “trips” on the card. Fare information is available here. The 10A and 10B are considered “local” rides.
Trailhead(s): There are multiple trailheads at each of the two parking lots. On both ends of the parks, McDaniel Rd dead-ends at the park. The south parking lot is at 3251 McDaniel Rd (coming from Old Norcross Rd), and the north parking lot is at 3020 McDaniel Rd (coming from Duluth Hwy).
Parking is available at both parking lots, including accessible parking and bike racks at both. Bus parking is also available at the south parking lot.
Trail surface: Approximately 3 miles paved, approximately 1 mile natural, and approximately 0.5 miles gravel
Geocaching: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 49 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition) and chapter 42 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles (3rd edition)

Amenities:

Two rentable picnic pavilions and assorted other picnic tables
Restrooms and water fountains at both the north and south end of the park
Small and large dog parks
Playground

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

Gwinnett Place Mall is nearby

Links:

Gwinnett County

November 10, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Shorty Howell Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Medlock Bridge

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Jones Bridge

Jones Bridge Unit

October 20, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Jones Bridge (formerly Jones Ferry) was constructed in 1904. It fell into disrepair in the 1930s and was partially dismantled sometime between then and 1960. The remains of the bridge were a highlight of both this park and Jones Bridge Park on the other side of the river until the remains of the bridge collapsed and were disassembled in January 2018. Today, nothing remains of the historic bridge.

The Jones Bridge Unit is home to the Chattahoochee River Environmental Education Center (CREEC) at 9101 Barnwell Road, Johns Creek. Parking is available at CREEC, but only when it is open for events.

Also known as: Jones Bridge Unit
Address: 8615 Barnwell Road, Johns Creek, GA 30022
Cost of admission: Free, $5/day parking fee per car; annual pass available
Governance: NPS
Acres: Approximately 150
Approximate miles of trails: 4
Hours: Dawn to dusk; exact park hours are posted at the trailheads
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 19
MARTA directions: Take the 140 or 141 from North Springs Station to Mansell Park & Ride (the first stop). From there, walk across the parking lot to the other bus station, near the on-ramp for GA-400. Transfer to the 142 (only runs on weekdays). Take the bus to Holcomb Bridge Rd @ Nesbit Ferry Rd. From there, walk southeast on Holcomb Bridge to Barnwell Road. Turn left on Barnwell Road and continue until you see the National Park Service sign for CREEC on the right. The total walking distance from bus stop to trailhead is 1.0 miles. Note: most of this distance lacks sidewalks, so you’ll have to walk in the grass, including navigating a short bridge with no shoulder.
On the return trip, you can wait for the bus at Barnwell and Holcomb Bridge. In this direction, the walking distance from trailhead to bus stop is 0.8 miles.
Parking: Parking is available at the main trailhead.
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Each intersection is marked with a full park map of the unit
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 60 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), chapter 40 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles (3rd edition), page 36 in Hiking the Hooch (1st edition)

Amenities:

Picnic area
Restrooms
Boat ramp

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

The intersection of Holcomb Bridge and Barnwell has restaurants and a grocery store

Links:

NPS map

October 18, 2018

Chattahoochee River, October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

Trametes versicolor, October 18, 2018

Macrolepiota sp., October 18. 2018

October 18, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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REI Hiking Project

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Simpsonwood Park

Garrard Landing Park

Big Creek Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

Garrard Landing Park

October 20, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Robert McAfee operated a ferry across the river here. In 1834, he received permission to build a toll bridge at the same site. That bridge was burned during the civil war, and rebuilt in 1906. In 1960, the bridge was replaced with the current Holcomb Bridge Road.

T.H. Ellard bought the Garrard Landing Park land along the Chattahoochee River in the early 1920s. The Garrards and Ellards refused to sell their land, and thanks to Larry Garrard it became a park.

The Johns Creek Environmental Campus borders the park. It is a wastewater treatment plant and educational facility that utilizes state-of-the-art technology. The Environmental Campus has a native plant garden adjacent to it.

One section of trail in this park is a remnant of Alabama Road.

Also known as: Johns Creek Environmental Campus
Address: 8000 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30075
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Roswell
Acres: Approximately 40
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Unknown
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 17
MARTA directions: Take the 140 or 141 from North Springs Station to Mansell Park & Ride (the first stop). From there, walk across the parking lot to the other bus station, near the on-ramp for GA-400. Transfer to the 142 (only runs on weekdays). Take the bus to Holcomb Bridge Rd @ Spalding Dr. From there, walk northwest on Holcomb Bridge (back the way you came) for 0.6 miles. After you cross the Chattahoochee River, the park is the first entrance on the left. Note: most of the 0.6 miles lacks sidewalks, so you’ll have to walk in the grass.
Parking: Free parking is available at the park
Trail surface: Mostly wide gravel trails, with a few sections along the pond being paved, and a couple of natural-surface spur paths. On the included map, paved trails are wide and grey; gravel trails are less wide and green.
Dogs allowed: Yes, with many poop stations along the trails
Fishing allowed: Unknown
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Picnic pavilion (reservable)
Playground
Restrooms & water fountains
Dog poop stations
Canoe & kayak launch
Native plant garden (at Johns Creek Environmental Campus)

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

The intersection of Holcomb Bridge and Spalding (0.6 miles southeast of the park) has gas stations, restaurants, and a grocery store
The intersection of Holcomb Bridge and Barnwell (0.8 miles northwest of the park) has restaurants and a grocery store

Links:

October 18, 2018

Osprey, October 18, 2018

Eastern Meadowlark, October 18, 2018

Palm Warbler, October 18, 2018

Usnea lichen, October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

Remnant of original Holcomb Bridge, October 18, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Simpsonwood Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Jones Bridge

Big Creek Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

Atlanta Memorial Park

June 28, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 384 Woodward Way NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Atlanta
Acres: Approximately 200
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 5
MARTA directions: From Midtown Station, take the #12 bus to Howell Mill Rd@Peachtree Battle. Walk South on Howell Mill across the creek. The trailhead will be on your left, before any intersection.
Cycling directions: From the Northside Beltline Trail at Tanyard Creek Park, follow the trail north. Follow a sign to turn left towards the tennis center. From the tennis center, take the connector trail north along Northside Drive. As of June 2018, the trail ends right at Atlanta Memorial Park. Note: as of June 2018, the trail is not quite complete. There are a couple sections where you need to go through some gravel and rocks and might need to walk your bike.
Parking: Free street parking is available adjacent to the park
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: None
Dogs allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 19 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Amenities:

Playground
Water fountain

Links:

Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy

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Big Haynes Creek Nature Center

Big Haynes Creek Nature Trail

May 28, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Not to be confused with Big Haynes Creek Recreation Area, Big Haynes Creek Nature Center is part of the Georgia International Horse Park, home to the equestrian events at the 1996 Olympics. These 173 acres were designated as a nature preserve and opened in 2007. The nature center features hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, as well as a boat launch for canoes and kayaks. Some trails have bikes and horses separated, others are combined. Some of the trails are very wide and flat, while some are very narrow and moderately steep. Note: some of the biking and hiking trails are along granite outcrops and may be very slippery when wet.

Address: 855 Costley Mill Rd NE, Conyers, GA 30013
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Georgia International Horse Park
Acres: 173
Approximate miles of trails: Around 5 miles of trails in the nature center; around 20 miles total trails in the horse park
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 27
Parking and trailhead: Signs direct you to the nature center parking lot, which is across Costley Mill Rd from Gate D of the Georgia International Horse Park
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Trails are blazed with paint on trees
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: No
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Four tent pads, grills, and a fire pit are available for approved groups
Boat ramp for canoes and kayaks
Interpretive signage
Equestrian and mountain bike trails (hiking appears to be permitted on both)
Wetlands overlook with viewfinder and bench

Links:

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Proctor Creek Greenway

May 07, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address (approximate): 1259 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Atlanta
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 3
MARTA directions: Take the train to Bankhead station. The trail begins immediately west of the station.
Trailhead(s): There are trailheads at Hollowell, Johnson, and Kerry Circle. The trail is paved, so the trailheads are easy to find.
Trail surface: Paved

The segment from Hollowell to Johnson was built as part of the Renew Atlanta bond of 2015. The trail segment was opened on May 7, 2018. The segment from Johnson to Kerry Cir (the "River Park Trail") is a PATH trail that was built many years earlier. The new segment makes the trail easily accessible by MARTA. The trail begins immediately west of the Bankhead MARTA station (east of the creek).

The greenway will eventually extend all the way to the Chattahoochee River, for seven miles total.

Links:

April 1, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

March 25, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (formerly South Peachtree Creek Nature Preserve) opened in 1995. All of the trails are clearly blazed with plastic diamonds in colors corresponding to the maps shown at the trailhead. (Although the brown and orange blazes are the same color or very close.)
Right at the trailhead, there is a short (∼0.1 mile) interpretive trail with an outdoor classroom. The interpretive trail is mulched.

The other trails are a combination of dirt and boardwalk. The dirt sections can be very boggy if it has rained recently.

The Beaver Pond Trail and Outer Loop Trail have clear views of the central wetland meadow and beaver pond. There is a thick bamboo grove along the Outer Loop Trail. There are various points of access to South Fork Peachtree Creek along the Outer Loop Trail.

There is a second classroom area along the Pine Forest Trail.

The Beaver Pond Trail features a photo blind and an observation deck. The observation deck has a high chair that allows a clear view of the beaver pond and wetland meadow.
All of the trails have signage explaining various ecological features of the area.

Finding the primary trailhead: From I-285: take exit 39A onto US-78 W. After 2.2 miles, turn right on Harrington Dr. Take the 1st right onto Wood Trail Ln. The trailhead is at the intersection with Pine Bluff Dr and is clearly marked.

From downtown: Take Scott Blvd to its intersection with Medlock Rd and N Decatur Rd. Turn left on Medlock Rd. When the road ends, turn right on Wood Trail Ln. The trailhead is at the intersection with Pine Bluff Dr and is clearly marked.

Parking: Free on-street parking is available at the trailhead.

Address: Intersection of Wood Trail Ln & Pine Bluff Dr, Decatur GA 30033
Cost of admission: None
Acres: 28
Approximate miles of trails: 1.5
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 8
MARTA directions: From Midtown or Decatur station, take the 36 to N Decatur Rd @ Sunstede Dr. Walk north on Medlock Rd. until it ends at the International Community School. Turn right on Wood Trail Ln and walk to the end of the street. (About a 20 minute walk total, from the bus stop.)
Cycling directions: From Decatur MARTA station, head east on Ponce. Take a left on Glendale Ave and continue to the end of the road. Take a left on Forkner Dr. Cross Church St. and continue straight-ish on Medlock Rd. Continue until Medlock ends at the International Community School. Turn right on Wood Trail Ln and continue to the end of the street. A bike rack is available at the trailhead. [Directions]
Trail surface: Natural and boardwalk
Geocaching: There are caches in the preserve
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 3 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Links:
Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve: Web Facebook
Trail map

April 26, 2015

January 10, 2017

Inside the beaver pond during the drought, November 12, 2016

November 12, 2016

Common Whitetail, April 16, 2017

Nashville Warbler, April 16, 2017

April 16, 2017

March 25, 2018

Beaver pond during the drought, November 12, 2016

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Updated August 2, 2016, November 12, 2016, January 10, 2017, April 9, 2017, April 16, 2017, April 29, 2017, and March 25, 2018

Piedmont Park

October 21, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Piedmont Park is a large, heavily-used neighborhood park in Midtown Atlanta. Piedmont Park was home to the Piedmont Exposition in 1887 and the Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895. In the early 20th century, the park was redesigned by the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted.

As well as the many paved trails and greenspace areas, there are also some wooded, natural (or boardwalk)-surface trails in the park. Those trails can be found in the areas of this map marked "The Northwoods" and "Six Springs Wetlands". Also, part of the path around Lake Clara Meer is not paved.

Another place to check out is the demonstration orchard and apiary. Those can be found just south of the dog parks.

Address (approximate): 1084 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Admission: Free. Paid parking is available at the Botanical Garden located within the park.
Acres: 185
Approximate miles of trails: 1 mile of natural-surface or boardwalk trails + 3 miles of paved trails
Hours: Park hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm // Northwoods and Six Springs Wetlands hours: 6:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 2

Features: