Friendship Forest Wildlife Sanctuary

September 26, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 4380 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Clarkston, GA 30021
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Clarkston
Friends of the Park Group: Friends of Friendship Forest
Acres: 18.5
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 10
Transit directions: The MARTA #120 from Avondale Station stops right in front of the wildlife sanctuary
Cycling directions: The Stone Mountain PATH runs directly across the street from the wildlife sanctuary. The PATH goes through downtown Decatur and downtown Atlanta, and connects to the BeltLine.
Parking: There is a parking lot at the Ponce trailhead. There are a couple accessible parking spaces available.
Trailhead(s): The main trailhead is at the parking lot on Ponce. There is also a trailhead at the end of Clark St.
Trail surface: Some paved & boardwalk; some natural
Blazes/markings: Unpaved trails are unmarked
Restrooms: There are restrooms next to the parking lot and also some next to the amphitheater
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Restrooms
Picnic tables
Covered amphitheater/outdoor classroom
Bottle fill stations & water fountains by restrooms

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

Refuge Coffee Co. is 0.5 miles southwest of the wildlife sanctuary

Links:

December 21, 2016

September 26, 2021

Little Blue Dragonlet, September 26, 2021

September 26, 2021

More photos on Flickr:

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

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Featured

Johns Homestead

Pine Lake

Updated December 21, 2016 and September 26, 2021

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Sope Creek

Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins

September 02, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

The paper mill ruins are what this park segment is most known for. The ruins are located near marker SC27 on the map. This segment connects to Cochran Shoals 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: 3726 Paper Mill Rd SE, Marietta, GA 30067
Cost of admission: $5/day per car
Governance: NPS
Friends of the Park Group: Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy
Acres: 303
Approximate miles of trails: 5.5
Hours: Dawn to dusk, exact park hours are posted at the trailheads
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 13
Transit directions: The Cochran Shoals is fairly transit-accessible, and this unit connects to that one. Sope Creek itself is not very transit accessible.
Parking: Parking is available at the trailhead
Trailhead(s): There are two trailheads at the parking lot on Paper Mill Rd
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Each trailhead is marked with a map of the unit
Restrooms: There are no restrooms in the Sope Creek unit, but there are restrooms at the Columns Drive and Interstate North trailheads of the Cochran Shoals unit, which connects to Sope Creek
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Fishing allowed: Yes
Accessibility notes: Lots of rocks in the trail and uneven surfaces. There are also some fairly steep sections. Some muddy sections as well, depending on recent weather.
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 54 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), page 84 in Hiking the Hooch (1st edition), trip 81 in Afoot & Afield Atlanta (2nd edition)

Links:

NPS (PDF)
SORBA (mountain bike trails)

Map notes:

The yellow trail is one-way. The direction alternates by day. As of September 2021, hikers go clockwise on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and counter-clockwise on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Mountain bikers ride in the opposite direction.
As of September 2021, some of the trails shown on OpenStreetMap (and therefore on this map’s basemap) are not present. To my knowledge, only the trails I’ve marked on the overlay are usable.

November 20, 2005

April 15, 2017

Sibley Pond, September 2, 2021

Halloween Pennant, September 2, 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: Cochran Shoals (Columns Drive & Interstate North)

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry South

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Powers Island

Updated January 6, 2017, April 15, 2017, and September 2, 2021

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

More photos on Flickr:

Good to combine with:

Featured

John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve

Lost Corner Preserve

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

Reynolds Nature Preserve

July 31, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 5665 Reynolds Road, Morrow, Ga 30260
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Clayton County Parks and Recreation
Acres: 146
Approximate miles of trails: 3
Hours: 8:00am to dusk daily (Interpretive Center is open 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday)
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 12
MARTA directions: Take the 193 from East Point station to Jonesboro Rd @ Westwood Way. From there, walk west on Westwood Way. The road deadends into the Morrow Pathway. Take the path to its end at Reynolds Road. One entrance to the preserve is directly across Reynolds Road from where the path intersects it.
Parking: There are multiple preserve parking areas along Reynolds Road. There are bike racks located at the interpretive center and at the third trailhead listed below.
Trailhead(s): There are multiple trailheads:

The main entrance is at the interpretive center, at 33.6011169,-84.3470463.
A second parking lot is at 33.5974665,-84.3436243, and you can access the trail here.
A third trailhead is located at the south end of the park along Reynolds Road, at 33.5955272,-84.343485.

Trail surface: Natural

Amenities:

Interpretive Center (8-5 Monday-Friday)
Bike racks (at first and third trailheads mentioned above)
Restrooms (in the interpretive center; were open on a weekend when I visited, even though the center was not)
Demonstration garden
One of a series of Clayton County geocaches

Links:

Great Blue Heron, December 16, 2017

December 16, 2017

Eastern Bluebird, December 16, 2017

Carolina Wren, December 16, 2017

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, July 31, 2021

December 16, 2017

Transverse-banded Flower Fly, July 31, 2021

Belted Kingfisher, December 16, 2017

December 16, 2017

More photos on Flickr:

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Southside Park

Constitution Lakes

Updated December 16, 2017 and July 31, 2021

Big Creek Greenway

July 24, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: There are many access points for the trail. The southernmost one is at Big Creek Park, at the intersection of Old Alabama and Belcourt Pkwy
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Roswell, City of Alpharetta, and Forsyth County
Acres: N/A
Approximate miles of trails: About 24 miles of greenway, plus several adjacent hiking and mountain biking trails. The Alpharetta/Roswell section has 8 miles and the Forsyth County section has 16 miles
Hours: March thru October – 6:00 am to 9:30 pm, November thru February – 6:00 am to 7:00 pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 21 (southern end), 38 (northern end)
Transit directions: There are a few convenient access points. All buses depart from North Springs Station.

You can take the 140 or 141 to North Point Pkwy @Mansell Rd and walk east until you reach the greenway.
You can take the 140 or 141 to North Point Pkwy @ North Point Ct and walk south on Haynes Bridge Road to the Haynes Bridge trail spur.
You can take the 140 to North Point Pkwy @ Old Milton Pkwy or take the 185 to Old Milton Pkwy @ North Point pkwy (same intersection) and go southeast on Old Milton Pkwy. On the north side of the road, you'll see stairs leading down to the trail.

Trail surface: Mostly paved with some boardwalk, also with some natural-surface alternate routes or spurs

Amenities:

Restrooms
Water fountains
Bike rentals

Links:
Big Creek Greenway
Maps
Forsyth County map

March 19, 2017

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, April 8, 2017

March 19, 2017

Common Whitetail, July 24, 2021

Sweetheart moth, July 24, 2021

Good to combine with:

Featured

Roswell Riverwalk

Big Creek Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek

Updated April 30, 2017 and July 24, 2021

Johns Homestead

June 18, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

The house at Johns Homestead was built in approximately 1832, and is one of the oldest remaining houses in DeKalb County. More information about the buildinds and land are available from Friends of Johns Homestead Park and The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The park was created in 2004 when DeKalb County purchased the homestead land. The lake section was added via a separate purchase in 2006. The City of Tucker was incorporated in 2015, and the park now belongs to the city.

Address: 3071 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker, GA 30084
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Tucker
Friends of the Park Group: Friends of Johns Homestead
Acres: 50
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 11
MARTA directions: Take the 75 bus from Avondale Station to the Lawrenceville Hwy @ Lovely Ln stop. This stop is right in front of the homestead.
Parking: There is a parking lot for the park on Lawrenceville Highway, just NE of the homestead buildings.
Trailhead(s): There are two trailheads along Lawrenceville Highway, one at the parking lot and one at the homestead buildings. The trails are also accessible from Edinburgh Drive and Stapp Drive.
Trail surface: Mostly natural, some gravel
Blazes/markings: None
Restrooms: None
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Fishing allowed: Yes
Accessibility notes: As of June 2021, on the trail connecting the homestead to the lakes, there are two footbridges across small streams that are narrow (~12” wide) and bouncy. There are plans to replace these with full pedestrian bridges.
Links:

Friends of Tucker Parks
Concept Plan (note, this includes several trails and other amenities that are not yet build)
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

July 4, 2017

Pileated Woodpecker, January 6, 2018

January 6, 2018

Frozen Twin Brothers Lake, January 6, 2018

Slaty Skimmer, June 18, 2021

More photos on Flickr

From around the web

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Recent iNaturalist observations

Good to combine with:

Featured

Friendship Forest Wildlife Sanctuary

Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

Shamrock Forest

Updated July 15, 2017, January 6, 2018, and June 18, 2021

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Gold Branch

Gold Branch Trail

November 09, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 5690 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068
Cost of admission: $5/vehicle
Governance: NPS
Acres: 363 acres
Approximate miles of trails: 5
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 16
Transit directions: The nearest bus stop (at Roswell Rd & Azalea Dr) is about 3.5 miles away. However, most of this distance can be covered via the Roswell Riverwalk, making it more enjoyable to cover on bike or on foot.
Parking: Parking is available at the trailhead. It costs $5/day, or you can purchase an annual pass for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
Trailhead(s): The trailhead is at 33.9843,-84.3854. On Lower Roswell Rd, you'll see a sign for Gold Branch. That's where parking and the trailhead are located.
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Each intersection is marked with a full map of the Gold Branch unit.
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Fishing allowed: Yes

Guidebook mentions:

Chapter 57 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)
Page 66 of Hiking the Hooch (1st edition)
Trip 83 in Afoot & Afield Atlanta (2nd edition)

Some of the segments along the river are quite narrow, and some hills are fairly steep and long.

This seems to be one of the less popular CRNRA units that have substantial trails.

Amenities:

There is a single picnic table at the trailhead

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

None

Links:
NPS
Map

February 12, 2017

November 9, 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

Roswell Riverwalk

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek

Chattahoochee Nature Center

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Allenbrook

Updated June 30, 2017 & November 9, 2019

Roswell Riverwalk

Roswell Riverwalk Trail

December 17, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Unlike most of the posts on this blog, this one features a multi-use path instead of a nature trail. Most of the trails here are paved or boardwalk, and bicycles are welcome.

The Roswell Riverwalk provides connections to several trails: the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Vickery Creek (which in turn connects to Old Mill Park), and Allenbrook.

In November 2018, the fifth and final phase opened, running along Willeo Road from the Chattahoochee Nature Center to Willeo Park.

Location: Along Riverside Rd, Azalea Dr, and Willeo Rd
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Roswell
Acres: Linear
Approximate miles of trails: 3.5 miles one way
Hours: Unknown
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 17
MARTA directions: Take the 85 bus from North Springs Station to the Riverside Rd stop. Walk west on Azalea Dr. On the south side of Azalea Dr, you can access the Riverwalk.
Parking: Parking is available at several parks along Azalea Dr and Riverside Rd.
Trail surface: Mostly paved and boardwalk, with one gravel section and some dirt side-trails
Geocaching: Yes

Amenities:

Parks along the riverwalk have restrooms, water fountains, pavilions, and playgrounds

January 26, 2017

Wilson's Snipe, March 4, 2017

October 22, 2017

January 21, 2018

January 26, 2017

Riverwalk bridge over Big Creek, January 26, 2017

Confluence of Big Creek and the Chattahoochee River, January 26, 2017

For more photos, see my flickr album.

From around the web

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Big Creek Greenway

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Gold Branch

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek

Chattahoochee Nature Center

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Allenbrook

Old Mill Park

Updated January 27, 2017, October 23, 2017, January 26, 2018, & December 17, 2018

Big Creek Park

August 11, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 1600 Old Alabama Rd, Roswell, GA 30076
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Roswell
Acres: 160
Approximate miles of trails: 1.4 miles of unpaved hiking trails + 7 miles of mountain bike trails; connects to 7 miles of Big Creek Greenway
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 22
MARTA directions: From North Springs Station, take the 140 or 141 to North Point Pkwy @ Mansell Rd (the first stop after the Mansell Rd Park & Ride). From there, walk East on Mansell Rd. The path will be on the right. Once on the path, take the first left. Take the first right to walk over the creek and then take another right. Continue straight to enter the park. The walking distance from the bus stop to the Big Creek Greenway paved path is about a block, but the walking distance from the bus stop to the unpaved portion is about 1.5 miles.
Parking: From the Old Alabama Road entrance, there are two parking lots
Trailhead(s): This map shows the trailheads from the greenway and parking lots
Trail surface: Park trails are natural surface; greenway trails are paved and boardwalk

Amenities:

Bike rentals (at North parking lot)
Trash cans
Restroom
Mountain bike trails
Pump tracks

Links:
City of Roswell
RAMBO

March 19, 2017

August 11, 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

Jul 24, 2021

Big Creek Greenway

Jul 24, 2021

Dec 17, 2018

Roswell Riverwalk

Dec 17, 2018

Jul 19, 2017

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

Jul 19, 2017

Jan 27, 2017

Old Mill Park

Jan 27, 2017

Updated May 21, 2017 & August 11, 2018

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek

Vickery Creek Trailhead

January 26, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

If you'd like to check out some scenic views, you can combine this walk with Old Mill Park by walking through the covered bridge located at VC 15 on the map.

Address: 259 Riverside Rd, Roswell, GA 30075
Cost of admission: Free + $5/vehicle for parking
Governance: National Park Service
Acres: 2,888
Approximate miles of trails: 5
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 19
MARTA directions: Take the 85 bus from North Springs Station to the Riverside Rd stop. Walk 0.1 miles east on Riverside Rd. The entrance to the Vickery Creek parking lot is on the left.
Trail surface: Natural

Links:
NPS
Park map

January 26, 2017

January 21, 2018

Eastern Phoebe, January 21, 2018

Golden-crowned Kinglet, January 21, 2018

January 21, 2018

Good to combine with:

Edited January 27, 2017 & January 26, 2018

Brook Run

Brook Run Park

January 07, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: Dunwoody
Acres: 102
Approximate miles of trails: 2 miles multi-use path, 2 miles nature trails
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 15
MARTA directions: Take a gold line train to Chamblee. From there, take the 103 bus to Peeler Rd@Cherring Ln or take the 132 bus to N Peachtree Rd @ Barclay Dr
Parking: Plenty of parking is available at the park
Trail surface: Some concrete multi-use path, some paved nature trail, some natural surface

Amenities:

Dog park
Community garden
Skate park
Zip line "Treetop Quest"
Playground
Veterans Memorial
Bike rack & fix-it station
Restrooms & water fountains

Links:
Brook Run Park
Brook Run Dog Park

History

Before Brook Run became a park, this land was home to the Georgia Retardation Center for 30 years. A description of the facility's history can be found on Burnaway. The main buildings have been torn down.

Here are some photos I took in 2007 when the site was vacant, but before the buildings were torn down.

June 10, 2007

Today

April 2, 2017

Eastern Phoebe, January 7, 2018

January 7, 2018

Frozen creek, January 7, 2018

January 7, 2018

Good to combine with:

Updated April 9, 2017 & January 7, 2018

Herbert Greene Park

Herbert Greene

November 11, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 4300 Dollar Mill Way SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Atlanta
Acres: 56
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 9
MARTA directions: Take the train to H.E. Holmes station, then take the 865 bus to Utoy Cir SW@Dollar Mill Way SW. Walk west on Dollar Mill Way SW to the end of the street. Continue straight ahead into the woods (the trailhead is not clearly marked).
Parking: On-street parking is available
Trail surface: Natural

Utoy Creek, November 11, 2017

November 11, 2017

Utoy Creek, November 11, 2017

November 11, 2017

Beech tree, November 11, 2017

November 11, 2017

Beech tree, November 11, 2017

Utoy Creek, November 11, 2017

November 11, 2017

Utoy Creek, November 11, 2017

Good to Combine with:

Boat Rock Preserve

Henderson Park

September 24, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 2723 Henderson Rd, Tucker, GA 30084
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: Tucker
Acres: 120
Approximate miles of trails: 6
Hours: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 16
MARTA directions: Take the 124 from Doraville Station to the Smithsonia Ct stop. From there, walk south on Chamblee-Tucker Rd one block to Livsey Rd. Walk 0.4 miles west to Henderson Park Rd. Turn left onto that road and follow it into the park. There are several trailheads along the road.
Trail surface: Part natural, part paved

Amenities:

Community garden
Ball fields
Playground
Pavilion

Links:
Friends of Henderson Park
Map

February 11, 2017

American Redstart, September 23, 2017

September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

Jewelweed, September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

Green Heron, September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

Ovenbird, September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

Hooded Warbler, September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

Carolina Wren, September 23, 2017

February 11, 2017

September 23, 2017

Good to combine with:

Kelley Cofer Park

Updated March 5, 2017 & September 24, 2017

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

Island Ford

July 19, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Cost of admission: Free, $5/day parking fee per car
Governance: NPS
Acres: Unknown
Approximate miles of trails: 6
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 19
MARTA directions: From North Springs station, take the 87 bus to Dunwoody Pl @ Roberts Dr. Walk east on Roberts Dr about 0.6 miles. The park entrance will be on your right, marked with an NPS sign.
Parking: Parking is available at the beginning and the end of Island Ford Pkwy and costs $3/day
Trailhead(s): There are several trailheads that can be seen on the maps
Trail surface: Natural

Amenities:

Visitors center
Restrooms
Drink machine
Water fountain
Boat ramp

July 9, 2017

Links:
Map (North)
Map (South)

Good to combine with:

Confluence Trail

June 28, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: End of Armand Rd NE, Atlanta GA 30324
Cost of admission: None
Governance: South Fork Conservancy
Acres: Unknown
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: Unknown
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6
MARTA directions: Take the 6, 27, 30, or 33 east from Lindbergh Station to the Lindridge Dr NE stop. From there, walk south on Armand Rd to the end of the road.
Parking: There's neighborhood street parking available along Armand Rd.
Trailhead(s): Note: the trailhead is near a private property sign. You're allowed to hike on the trail, but please park in the cul-de-sac or elsewhere outside the Cedar Chase community.
Trail surface: Natural

July 24, 2014

June 10, 2017

June 10, 2017

Links:
South Fork Conservancy

Good to combine with:

Atlanta History Center

May 21, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

As well as the indoor exhibits and research center, Atlanta History Center also features nature trails, gardens, and a demonstration farm.

The trails are scattered throughout the property. Here's a map to guide you to find them.

Address: 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Cost of admission: $16.50 per adult (at time of writing)
Governance: Atlanta History Center
Acres: 33
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 10:00am-5:30pm Monday-Saturday; noon-5:30pm Sunday
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6
MARTA directions: Take the 110 bus North from Arts Center station or south from Buckhead or Lenox station to the Peachtree Rd @ E Paces Ferry Rd NE stop. From there, walk west on West Paces Ferry. The history center will be on your left after 0.4 miles.
Parking: The history center has a parking deck
Trail surface: Mostly dirt

Links:
Atlanta History Center [Web] [Facebook]

May 20, 2017

Good to combine with:

Featured

May 21, 2017

Park Pride Community Garden Tour, May 20, 2017

May 21, 2017

Glenn Creek Nature Preserve

April 29, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

In 2004, the Glenn Creek Nature Preserve Alliance raised over $65,000 to facilitate the purchase of this property from the owner, who wanted it to become a nature preserve. $90,000 was added from the Georgia Community Greenspace Funds, and the property was purchased by the City of Decatur in December 2004. The Georgia Land Trust assisted. According to the deed, the land is to be used as a nature preserve in perpetuity.

Address: Fairview St, Decatur, GA 30030
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Decatur
Acres: 2
Approximate miles of trails: Less than 1
Hours: The park is open dawn to dusk, but the parking lots have more specific hours
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 8
MARTA directions: Walk from Avondale Station (total distance: 0.6 miles), following the below cycling directions.
Bike directions: From Avondale station/PATH trail, go north on Sycamore. Make a slight left on Ridgeland and then a left on Fairview. The park is at the end of Fairview. From downtown Decatur, go east on Sycamore and then continue north on Sycamore. Then follow the directions above.
Parking: On-street parking should be available
Trailhead(s): There is a single public trailhead at the west end of Fairview St.
Trail surface: Natural

Amenities:

Bike rack
Trash can
Interpretive signage
Viewing platform
Benches

Links:
Glenn Creek Nature Preserve [Web] [Facebook]
Map

April 29, 2017

Wood Thrush, April 29, 2017

March 8, 2013

Good to combine with:

Decatur Cemetery
Glenlake Park (post forthcoming)

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Medlock Bridge

Medlock Bridge Chattahoochee

March 11, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 4690 Medlock Bridge Road Duluth, GA 30097
Cost of admission: Free + $5/vehicle for parking
Governance: NPS
Acres: Unknown
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 21
Trail surface: Natural
Amenities:

Boat ramp

Links:
NPS
Park map

March 11, 2017

Good to combine with:

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

March 11, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 9770 Autrey Mill Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30022
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: Autrey Mill
Acres: 46
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: 8:00am to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 25
Trail surface: Natural

Amenities:

Visitor's center and animal exhibits
Restrooms & water fountain
Garden
Audio tour of heritage village

Links:
Autrey Mill
Trail map

March 11, 2017

Great Horned Owl, March 11, 2017

Brown Creeper, March 11, 2017

Cooper's Hawk, March 11, 2017

Great Horned Owl, March 11, 2017

Good to combine with:

Briarlake Forest Park

March 05, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This old-growth forest was preserved by a grassroots neighborhood alliance that protested the development of the acreage.

Address: 3330 Briarlake Rd, Decatur, GA 30033
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: DeKalb County
Acres: 21
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 11
MARTA directions: Take the 30 from Lindbergh Station to the Briarlake Rd stop. From there, walk 0.4 miles north on Briarlake Rd to the house at 3330 Briarlake Rd. The house is part of the park.
Trail surface: Natural

Links:
Briarlake Forest Park
Park map

February 11, 2017