John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve

August 14, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

In 1989, there were plans for this land to become a car dealership, but it was saved by John Ripley Forbes and the Southeast Land Preservation Trust. Powers Branch creek runs through the preserve.

Also known as: Big Trees Nature Preserve
Address: 7645 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Sandy Springs
Acres: 30
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 15
MARTA directions: Take the #87 bus from Dunwoody Station to the stop at 7741 Roswell Rd. (North Fulton County Government Center). There is no crosswalk near this stop, so it might be best to return by using the same bus stop (instead of crossing the street) and taking the #87 north to North Springs Station.
Trailheads: The trailhead is clearly marked in the parking lot just south of the government center. There are restrooms at the trailhead that are also visible.
Parking: There is free parking available at the main trailhead
Trail surface: About the first 100 yards of the Big Trees Loop trail (starting at the main trailhead) is paved; the rest of the trails are natural surface
Blazes/markings: Most of the intersections are marked with trail names
Geocaching: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 51 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Amenities:

Dog poop station
Restrooms
Water fountains
Numerous benches
Interpretive trail numbers (info here)

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

There is a grocery store, drug store, and a couple restaurants half a mile south of the park, at Roswell Rd & Trowbridge Rd.

Links:

October 22, 2016

Jelly fungus, October 28, 2018

October 22, 2016

Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar, October 28, 2018

October 22, 2016

October 28, 2018

Coprinellus mushrooms, October 28, 2018

Red-footed Cannibal Fly, August 14, 2021

Ebony Jewelwing, August 14, 2021

More photos on Flickr:

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Morgan Falls Overlook Park & Morgan Falls River Park

Dunwoody Nature Center

Lost Corner Preserve

Updated October 25, 2016, October 28, 2018, & August 14, 2021

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Cochran Shoals (Columns Drive & Interstate North)

Cochran Shoals

June 26, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This unit connects to Sope Creek via trails. Mountain bikes are allowed on some segments of both Sope Creek and Cochran Shoals. Note: some of the mountain bike trails are one-way only. They change direction based on the day. Hikers hike in the opposite direction of bikes.

Address: 150 Columns Dr SE, Marietta, GA 30067
Cost of admission: $5/day parking fee per car
Governance: NPS
Acres: 968, including Sope Creek, Interstate North, and Powers Island sections
Approximate miles of trails: 4 (more if combined with Sope Creek)
Hours: Dawn to dusk, exact park hours are posted at the trailheads
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 12
Transit directions: Take the CobbLinc 10 bus from Arts Center Station to the Cumberland Transfer Center. At the Cumberland Transfer Center, transfer to the CobbLinc 50 to Powers Ferry Rd + Rivers Apartments. Walk southeast on Powers Ferry. Take a left on the multi-use path along Interstate N Pkwy. The multi-use pathway ends at the entrance to Cochran Shoals.
Transfers between CobbLinc (formerly Cobb Community Transit — CCT) and MARTA are free, so taking the train to and from Arts Center will not cost extra. But be aware you will need a Cobb pass or cash to board a Cobb bus when not making a transfer. Cobb trips can be added to your Breeze Card at any Breeze station.
Cycling directions: Cochran Shoals is adjacent to the Akers Mill trail, which is a multi-use path
Parking: Parking is available at both trailheads for $5/day. Annual passes are available.
Trailhead(s): There are two Cochran Shoals trailheads. One is "Interstate North" on Eugene Gunby Rd, just off of Interstate N Pkwy. The other is at the end of Columns Drive. Sope Creek is connected to Cochran Shoals and has its own trailhead.
Trail surface: Mostly natural, some gravel and boardwalk
Blazes/markings: Each trail intersection has signage
Restrooms: There are restrooms at each of the trailheads
Geocaching: No
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 53 of Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), page 90 in Hiking the Hooch (1st edition), trip 80 in Afoot & Afield Atlanta (2nd edition), chapter J (page 317) in Hiking Georgia (4th edition)

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

Gas and food are available along Powers Ferry about 0.4 mi from Interstate North trailhead

Links:

NPS trail map (PDF)
SORBA (mountain bike trails)

May 16, 2015

Cottonwood fluff, May 16, 2015

April 15, 2017

Gunby Creek, April 12, 2018

April 12, 2018

Chattahoochee River, April 12, 2018

Spangled Skimmer, June 26, 2021

More photos on Flickr:

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Sope Creek

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: West Palisades

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry South

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Powers Island

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry North

Updated November 7, 2016, April 15, 2017, April 12, 2018, & June 26, 2021

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry South

Johnson Ferry South

November 24, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 4630 Columns Dr SE, Marietta GA 30067
Cost of admission: Parking at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area lots costs $5 per vehicle
Governance: NPS
Acres: 77
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 13
Cycling directions: There are bike lanes on Johnson Ferry and Abernathy, but they don’t yet fully connect to the Sandy Springs MARTA station
Parking: Parking is available at the trailhead
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Each formal intersection is marked with a map
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 55 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition); Hiking the Hooch (1st edition) page 81

Amenities:

Picnic pavilion

Links:

May 16, 2015

January 3, 2017

November 24, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

Featured

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Sope Creek

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Cochran Shoals (Columns Drive & Interstate North)

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry North

Good to combine with:

Updated on August 4, 2016 and November 24, 2019

Mason Mill/Melton/Medlock Parks

Mason Mill Park

November 02, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

These parks are all linked together by both a paved multi-use trail and by unpaved hiking trails. This is a very popular park, especially on weekends.

The PATH trail connects Mason Mill Park to Medlock Park. The PATH trail is partly paved and partly boardwalk. It is intended for high volumes of pedestrians and cyclists. A map is available online.
The hills along the PATH route are minimal. The PATH trail has several nice views of South Fork Peachtree Creek from an elevated boardwalk.

On the other hand, the off-road trails have many very steep hills with some tricky footing, often with exposed roots. There are some blazes on the off-road trails: red, blue, and white rectangles painted on trees.

[Edit, November 2019:] The PATH has recently been extended from Mason Mill Park north all the way to N Druid Hills Rd and also west from Melton Park all the way to Emory University. It’s now quite convenient to combine a trip to these parks with Lullwater Preserve.

Finding the primary trailhead: Make a right from N Druid Hills Rd onto Clairmont Rd. Take the second left onto McConnell Dr. A large, free parking lot is available at Mason Mill Park.

Address (approximate): 1340 McConnell Dr., Decatur, GA 30033
Cost of admission: None
Governance: DeKalb County
Acres: 140+
Approximate miles of trails: 4
Hours: PATH: dawn to dusk; parks: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 5
MARTA directions: Take the 19 bus from Chamblee or Decatur station to Clairmont Rd@McConnell Dr. From there, walk East on McConnell Dr. The PATH trails begin at the end of McConnell Dr., heading north and east.
Cycling directions: My preferred route is to take MARTA or the PATH to Decatur Station. From there, go east on Sycamore St. then left on Sycamore Pl. Take the first right on E Ponce and then the first left on Glendale. Take a slight left to stay on Glendale. At the end of Glendale, take a left on Forkner. Cross Church St. and continue straight(ish) on Medlock. Take Medlock all the way to the end, then turn left on Gaylemont Cir. Once you see Medlock Park, turn left into it.
Parking: Parking is available at Medlock and Mason Mill Parks.
Trail surface: The PATH trail is paved and boardwalk. Other trails are natural surface.
Geocaching: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 4 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests

Features:

Mason Mill Park
- Bike racks
- Playground
- Multi-use field
- Recreation center
- Tennis courts
- Picnic area
- Garden
- Bathroom
- Dog park (separate from the main park)
Medlock Park
- Baseball and softball fields
- Playground
- Swimming pool
- Picnic area

Links:

DeKalb County (includes information about programming available at the parks)
PATH Foundation
DeKalb County master plan

August 13, 2016

October 26, 2014

August 13, 2016

January 17, 2017

Medlock Park Community Garden, January 17, 2017

April 29, 2017

February 18, 2018

November 2, 2019

Good to combine with:

Featured

Lullwater Preserve and Hahn Woods

Kittredge Park

W.D. Thomson Park

Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

Updated August 2, 2016, January 17, 2017, April 29, 2017, February 18, 2018, & November 2, 2019

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

July 05, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30152
Cost of admission: $5 per vehicle
Governance: NPS
Acres: 2,888
Approximate miles of trails: 17
Hours: The park is open dawn to dusk, but the parking lots have more specific hours
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 21
Transit directions: The Cobblinc 15, 40, and 45 are all options. The 15 stops somewhat near the Kolb’s Farm trails, and 40 and 45 stop near the trails in the visitors center area.
Cycling directions: Noonday Creek Trail and the Mountain to River Trail are multi-use paths that meet near the visitors center. These paths are pretty extensive, allowing for cycling to the mountain from a number of locations in the area.
Parking: There are several parking lots available
Trailhead(s): There are many trailheads. Check out the park maps for more info.
Trail surface: There is a road to the top of the mountain that is paved. The road is closed to car traffic (other than a shuttle bus) every weekend and on holidays. Most other trails are natural-surface.
Guidebook mentions: Chapters 43-45 of Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), chapters 19-20 of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles (3rd edition), trip 69 in Afoot & Afield Atlanta (2nd edition), chapter 58 in Hiking Georgia (4th edition)

Links:
NPS
Section maps
Park map

July 17, 2016

White-tailed Deer, July 5, 2019

Eastern Phoebe, July 5, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with

Featured

KSU Sports & Recreation Park Lakeside Trail

Noonday Creek Trail

Updated July 17, 2016 & July 5, 2019

Mary Scott Nature Park

February 02, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Much of the trail is gravel. The rest of the trail segments are natural.

Address (approximate): 4168 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30345
Admission: None
Acres: 11
Approximate miles of trails: 0.6
Hours: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 11

Features:

Parking
Playground
Picnic tables
Trash cans
Park journal
Bike rack

Finding the primary trailhead: Take I-85 North to exit 93. Make a right on Shallowford Rd. Drive 0.8 miles and then turn left onto Briarcliff Rd NE. Drive 0.2 miles, and the entrance to the park will be on your left.

Parking: There is a small, free parking lot available at the main trailhead. The trailheads at both roads named Overlook Dr NE each have some on-street parking available.

Links:
Friends of Mary Scott Nature Park: Web Facebook

January 26, 2013

Playground, February 2, 2019

February 2, 2019

Good to combine with:

Updated August 3, 2016 & February 2, 2019

Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

arabia mountain

November 04, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Mountaintop trail address: trailhead at AWARE Wildlife Center, 4158 Klondike Road, Lithonia, GA 30038
Visitors center address: 3787 Klondike Road, Lithonia, GA 30038
Cost of admission: Free
Acres: 2550
Approximate miles of trails: 11
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 20
MARTA directions: Take the 86 from Kensington Station or the 116 from Indian Creek Station to the Mall Pkwy @ Klondike Rd stop. From there, walk west and then south along the PATH trail for about 2.5 miles to the visitors center, or exit the PATH trail earlier along one of the unpaved nature trails.
Parking: There is parking available at the mountaintop trailhead and visitors center (both addresses above) and at Vaughters' Farm (approximate address: 3366 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038)
Trail surface: PATH trails are paved and boardwalk, other trails are unpaved
Blazes/markings: The trail blazes are documented on this map
Geocaching: There are many geocaches at Arabia Mountain
Best time to visit: The diamorpha bloom in March-April, and yellow daisies bloom in September
Guidebook mentions: Chapters 32-36 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), chapter 47 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles (3rd edition), chapter 60 in Hiking Georgia (4th edition)

Amenities:

Restrooms at mountaintop trailhead, visitors center, and Vaughters Farm (no running water)
Bike racks at Vaughters' Farm and the nature center
Picnic tables at nature center and other locations
Water fountain at Vaughters Farm

Links:
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area website
Visitor guide
Trail map
NPS

Photos

July 23, 2016

Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

Palm Warbler and Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

PATH trail, October 1, 2017

Arabia Lake, October 1, 2017

Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

Vaughters Farm, March 24, 2018

Diamorpha, March 24, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Big Haynes Creek Nature Center

Stone Mountain Park

Panola Mountain State Park

Updated July 31, 2016, October 2, 2017, March 24, 2018, and November 4, 2018

WildWoods & Fernbank Forest

Fernbank Forest

September 16, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Once you've entered the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, walk down the stairs (or take the elevator) and exit through the doors to get to the woods.

Address: 767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30307
Admission: $20/adult, see site for other prices (includes museum admission)
Acres: 75
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Open 10-5 daily. Fernbank Forest closes at 4:30pm; WildWoods and the museum close at 5.
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 4
MARTA directions: Take the #2 bus from East Lake or North Avenue Station to Ponce De Leon Ave NE @ Clifton Rd. From there, walk north on Clifton Rd. The entrance to Fernbank Museum of Natural History is on the right. The woods are accessed through the museum. The walk from the bus stop is approximately 0.2 miles.
Cycling directions: Follow the Stone Mountain PATH trail to its intersection with S Ponce. Turn right on S Ponce. At the first intersection, turn left onto Clifton Rd. Cross Ponce and continue on Clifton. Turn right into the Museum area. Continue straight to the end where the museum is. Go around the dinosaurs to the right to the bike rack. (The rack is to the right of the main entrance, next to the parking lot.)
Parking: There are two parking lots at the museum.
Trailhead: Once you have paid and entered the museum, go downstairs and out the doors. The trails begin just outside the doors.
Trail surface: Mostly paved, with some natural and boardwalk sections

Amenities:

Playgrounds
Cafe
Museum
Restrooms and water fountains in the museum and at the Kendeda Pavilion in WildWoods
Vending machines in the museum
Movie theater

Links:
Wildwoods
Fernbank Forest

WildWoods

WildWoods is a new, outdoor exhibit of Fernbank Museum of Natural History. It features several hands-on elements, an elevated boardwalk, interpretive signage, and a couple of playground areas. In the 1930s, there was a landscaped garden here. A stone wall remains from those days.

October 20, 2016

March 17, 2018

Features:

Two playgrounds
Restroom
Seasonal exhibit
ADA accessible

Just past the WildWoods area lies Fernbank Forest.

Fernbank Forest

Until July 2012, Fernbank Forest was publicly-accessible. At that time, a lease ended, and the property was transferred from the Fernbank Science Center and the DeKalb County School District to Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

In September 2016, it reopened for self-guided tours as part of Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Museum admission or membership is required for forest access.

Fernbank Forest is an old-growth Piedmont forest, with large beech trees, tulip poplars, and 7 trees on Trees Atlanta's champion trees map. Some segments of the forest are very similar to Deepdene Park in Olmsted Linear Park, which is located nearby. In the years while the forest was closed to the public, the museum restored the forest, removing invasive species. Restoration work continues.

Links:
http://www.fernbank.edu/forest.htm
http://www.clatl.com/news/article/13081005/fernbank-forest-reopening-in-2016

Atlanta's champion Eastern Hemlock, October 20, 2016

October 20, 2016

Cooper's Hawk, December 30, 2017

Barred Owl, March 17, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Lullwater Preserve and Hahn Woods

Olmsted Linear Park

Lullwater Conservation Garden

Frazer Forest

Woodlands Garden

Updated October 24, 2016, December 30, 2017, March 17, 2018, & September 16, 2018

Boat Rock Preserve

boat rock bouldering area

April 21, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Boat Rock Preserve is an area that has been preserved by the Southeast Climbers Coalition. The surrounding area was being developed, and the climbers rushed to preserve some of the area for bouldering.

The boulders here remain – similar to Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain – after the surrounding different kinds of stones have eroded away.

Address: 1221 Boat Rock Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA 30331
Cost of admission: None
Acres: 13
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 6am to 9pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 10
MARTA directions: The 73 bus is the closest. Check the website for info because the 73 has varying routes.
Parking: There is a small parking lot at 1221 Boat Rock Rd. [Update 2018] the parking lot is now gated. Check out the Southeastern Climbers Coalition website to get information about how to park in the lot. The parking lot is kind of tricky to notice. It's on the south side of Boat Rock Road, between Cascade Hills Dr SW and Binford Pl SW.
Trailhead(s): The main trailhead is at 1221 Boat Rock Rd. There are a few other trailheads available on neighborhood streets.
Trail surface: Mostly natural, some asphalt from a former road
Blazes/markings: There is some directional signage, but no blazes
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Toilet (no running water)

Links:

October 15, 2016

April 21, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

Featured

Nov 13, 2016

Exploring Boat Rock with EcoAddendum, October 15, 2016

Nov 13, 2016

I attended the EcoAddendum walk at Boat Rock Preserve, led by Kathryn Kolb.

Nov 13, 2016

Updated October 18, 2016 & April 21, 2018

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

Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain

December 03, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Admission: $15 parking fee per car. Free if you don't arrive by car.*
Acres: 3,200
Approximate miles of trails: 15
Hours: Hours vary. You can check the hours here.
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 15
MARTA directions: You can take the 121 bus from Kensington station to downtown Stone Mountain (corner of W Mountain St and Main St). From there, walk South on Main St. In a few blocks, you will see the PATH trail on your left. The trail will take you directly into the park. It's about a 10 minute walk from the bus stop into the park, although the walk might be much farther to your destination within the park.
Cycling directions: The Stone Mountain PATH trail connects Stone Mountain Park to downtown Decatur, downtown Atlanta, and the BeltLine

* There is some free parking available downtown in the town of Stone Mountain, GA. From there, you can bike or walk the Stone Mountain Trail into the park without needing to pay an entrance fee. There is another pedestrian entrance on E Mountain St. Where the road turns left before entering the park, you can walk straight into the park instead of going left. However, this gate is only open from sunrise to sunset.

Links:
Stone Mountain Park
Maps

May 10, 2015

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

December 3, 2017

White-breasted Nuthatch, December 3, 2017

Walk Up Trail, December 3, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

May 10, 2015

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Good to combine with:

Updated August 4, 2016, January 5, 2017 & December 3, 2017

Bob Callan/Rottenwood Creek Trail

Bob Callan Trail

November 04, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address (approximate): 200 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339
Admission: None
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Unknown

Miles from downtown Atlanta: 12

Finding the primary trailhead: Take I-75 North to exit 258. Turn right on Cumberland Blvd. Cross under I-285. Pass Interstate N Pkwy SE, then take the next right at a sign for Bob Callan Trail.

Parking: Limited free parking at North trailhead (about 10 spaces). Larger paid lot ($3 per day) at South trailhead. Restrooms available at South trailhead.

November 4, 2017

Redbreast Sunfish, November 4, 2017

November 4, 2017

Good to combine with:

West Palisades

Updated August 3, 2016 & November 4, 2017

Chattahoochee Nature Center

Chattahoochee Nature Preserve

October 23, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 9135 Willeo Road - Roswell, GA 30075
Admission: $10 Adults, $7 Seniors (Ages 65+) & Students (Ages 13 -18), $6 Children (Ages 3 -12)
Acres: 127
Approximate miles of trails: 2.9
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday: Noon – 5 pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 20
MARTA directions: Take the 85 bus from North Springs Station to the Riverside Rd stop. Take the Roswell Riverwalk west 2.0 miles to the nature center.

Links:
Trail map
http://chattnaturecenter.org/
https://www.facebook.com/ChattahoocheeNatureCenter

June 9, 2016

July 9, 2016

Mourning Dove, March 4, 2017

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, March 4, 2017

Cooper's Hawk, March 4, 2017

White-throated Sparrow, February 26, 2017

Wilson's Snipe, February 26, 2017

October 22, 2017

Good to combine with:

Featured

Jul 17, 2016

Hiking Chattahoochee Nature Center, July 9, 2016

Jul 17, 2016

Updated July 16, 2016 & October 23, 2017

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:

Restrooms
Water fountains
Apiary
Demonstration orchard

Links:
Piedmont Park Conservancy
Park map

October 1, 2016

December 1, 2016

Eastern Screech-Owl, January 14, 2017

October 1, 2016

January 7, 2017

Orchard Oriole, April 22, 2017

October 19, 2017

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

Featured

Oct 3, 2016

Bike-N-Bird: Piedmont Park, October 1, 2016

Oct 3, 2016

Updated August 4, October 3, December 1, and December 30, 2016; January 7, January 28, April 22, May 1, October 19, & October 21, 2017

Mercer University Cecil B. Day Campus Nature Trail

September 24, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

There are two unconnected trails at Mercer. The east trail has seen more use and better upkeep than the west trail. The east trail has two segments on opposite sides of the road just south of the east parking lot.

The east trail trailheads are marked with a sign saying “Mercer University Cecil B. Day Campus Nature Trail” and listing the rules of the trail. Some of these signs are obscured by trees and set far off the road where they may not be easily visible. The west trail trailheads are marked by wooden signs saying “Nature Trail”.

Address: University Cir, Atlanta, GA 30341
Admission: None
Acres: 97
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 13

Finding the primary trailhead: Take I-85 North to exit 94. Turn right onto Chamblee Tucker Rd. Follow the signs to Mercer University. Once you are on campus, the east trails are accessible from East Parking, and the west trails are accessible from West or East AACC Parking.

East trail trailhead coordinates: 33.871915, -84.260159
West trail trailhead coordinates: 33.874295, -84.265083 and 33.873723, -84.266796

Parking: Parking appears to be free; no permit needed. Parking may be limited during peak class times.

September 23, 2017

Brown-headed Nuthatch, September 23, 2017

September 23, 2017

Chestnut-sided Warbler, September 23, 2017

September 23, 2017

Eastern Bluebird, September 23, 2017

February 21, 2013

Good to combine with:

Mary Scott Nature Park

Updated August 3, 2016 & September 24, 2017

Lost Corner Preserve

lost corner preserve

November 07, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

A complete history of Lost Corner is available on the Friends of Lost Corner website. The trails here opened in 2014, and the preserve officially opened in 2015. This park seems to be fairly popular. The park is home to an apiary, because the mayor of Sandy Springs is a beekeeper. The cottage on the property is available for event rentals.

Address: 7300 Brandon Mill Rd NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Admission: None
Acres: 24
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 15
Trail surface: Mostly natural

Features:

Apiary
Community garden
Greenhouse
Picnic/class area
Cottage rental
Restrooms

Links:
Friends of Lost Corner
Trail map
Curbed article

October 22, 2016

Groundcedar, October 22, 2016

Good to combine with:

Sweetwater Creek State Park

October 09, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 1750 Mount Vernon Road, Lithia Springs, GA 30122
Admission: Free, $5 day parking
Acres: 2,549
Approximate miles of trails: 12
Hours: 7:00am to dark
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 17
Trail surface: Mostly natural and quite worn

Features:

Mill ruins
Reservable picnic shelters, campsites, and yurts
Visitor's Center
Restrooms
Reservoir
Kayak and canoe rental (seasonal)

Links:
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Friends of Sweetwater Creek State Park Web Facebook

October 9, 2016

Good to combine with:

Boat Rock Bouldering Area

Springvale Park

October 03, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Most parks I post here because of their nature trails. This is one of the ones that has only a very short trail, but still has much to offer as far as enjoying nature right in the middle of the city.

Address (approximate): 175 Waverly Way Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30307
Admission: None
Acres: 4.6
Approximate miles of trails: Less than one
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 2
Trail surface: Natural

Features:

Playground

August 2, 2014

December 2, 2013

August 27, 2016

January 5, 2014

Cheshire Farm Trail

September 26, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This trail has two trailheads, one on the north side of Lindbergh Dr and the other on the west side of Cheshire Bridge Rd NE. The trail links the two roads and follows along the north fork of Peachtree Creek, and under I-85.

This gravel- and paved-surface path was named after Captain Hezekiah Cheshire whose farmhouse was once located near where the trail now sits. More history about Captain Cheshire and the area is available from the South Fork Conservancy, who played a role in the creation of the trail.

When the new exit connecting I-85 and GA-400 was being built, the Georgia Department of Transportation agreed to the creation of the Cheshire Farm trail as a compromise to the neighborhood. The trail was completed in 2014.

Address (approximate): 850 Lindbergh Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Admission: None
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: The park is open dawn to dusk, but the parking lots have more specific hours

Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6

Features:

Bilingual interpretive signage

Links:

August 10, 2016

July 24, 2014

August 10, 2016

Good to combine with:

Meadow Loop
Confluence Trail (post forthcoming)
Morningside Nature Preserve

Kirkwood Urban Forest

September 26, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

As well as the nature trails and community garden, this park is also home to a natural meadow area.

Address: 1800 Dixie St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30317
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Atlanta
Acres: 5
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 6:00am - 11:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 4
MARTA directions: From Edgewood/Candler Park Station, take the 24 bus to Hosea L Williams Dr @ Rogers St SE. Walk east on Hosea L. Williams for half a block. Turn right into the DeKalb-Atlanta Human Services Complex. There is a trailhead at the back of the back parking lot.
Or... From King Memorial Station, take the 21 bus to Memorial Dr SE@Warren St SE. Walk west on Memorial. Take the first right onto Dearborn St. The trailhead will be on the left.
Bike directions: From the Freedom Park trail, take Oakdale south (it becomes Whitefoord). Turn left on Hosea L. Williams. Turn into the DeKalb-Atlanta Human Services Complex. There is a trailhead at the back of the back parking lot.
Parking: There is some parking available at the Dearborn St. trailhead.
Trail surface: Natural/mulch
Blazes/markings: None
Geocaching: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: None
Trailhead(s):

Behind DeKalb Community Service Board

End of Dearborn St.

End of Rogers St.

Clay St.

Dearborn St. near Bixby St.

Trailhead #1: In parking lot behind Dekalb Community Service Board, 33.751993, -84.327267
Trailhead #2: End of Dearborn St., 33.751032, -84.327267
Trailhead #3: End of Rogers St., 33.750412, -84.329231
Trailhead #4: Clay St., 33.750066, -84.330411 note: you basically have to walk through someone's yard to access the trail here, but the trailhead is marked next to the street with an official City of Atlanta sign
Trailhead #5: Dearborn St. near Bixby St., 33.749103, -84.327731

Features:

Picnic table
Sandbox
Community garden

Links: