ATLnature

ATLnature is your guide to Atlanta's trails and other rad nature stuff in the city. Live in the city but miss hiking on the weekends? Don’t have time (or a car!) for a trip to north Georgia? Did you know there are over 30 nature trails inside the perimeter of 285 alone?

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Garrard Landing Park

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:

  • City of Roswell

  • Friends of the Roswell Parks

  • Johns Creek Environmental Campus

October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

Osprey, October 18, 2018

Osprey, October 18, 2018

Eastern Meadowlark, October 18, 2018

Eastern Meadowlark, October 18, 2018

Palm Warbler, October 18, 2018

Palm Warbler, October 18, 2018

Usnea lichen, October 18, 2018

Usnea lichen, October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

Remnant of original Holcomb Bridge, October 18, 2018

Remnant of original Holcomb Bridge, October 18, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.


From around the web

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Recent iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist.org
View more observations near Garrard Landing Park on iNaturalist.org »

Good to combine with

Featured
Simpsonwood Park
Simpsonwood Park
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Jones Bridge
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Jones Bridge
Big Creek Park
Big Creek Park
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford
October 20, 2018 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 4, free admission, north metro, boat ramp, allows dogs, garden, near: jones bridge, near: island ford, near: big creek park, near: simpsonwood park
parks
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Lullwater Conservation Garden

Lullwater Conservation Garden
December 10, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This tiny 6.5 acre park is home to a number of truly large trees, including a state co-champion beech.

The Lullwater Garden Club was founded in 1928, and they purchased Lullwater Conservation Garden from Emory University in 1964.

Address (approximate): 834 Lullwater Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Admission: Free
Acres: 6.5
Approximate miles of trails: <1
Hours: Uncertain
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 4
Trail surface: Natural

Links:
Lullwater Garden Club

November 8, 2014

November 8, 2014

November 8, 2014

November 8, 2014

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

Georgia state champion beech, November 3, 2016

Georgia state champion beech, November 3, 2016

Georgia state champion beech, November 3, 2016

Georgia state champion beech, November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

Under several large tulip poplars, November 3, 2016

Under several large tulip poplars, November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2013

November 3, 2013

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017

November 3, 2016

Good to combine with:

  • Lullwater Park & Hahn Woods

  • Olmsted Linear Park

  • Frazer Center


Updated November 4, 2016 & December 10, 2017

December 10, 2017 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 1, near: fernbank forest, near bus-10 min, free admission, near downtown-5 miles, garden, near: lullwater preserve, itp page 2
parks
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Woodlands Garden

Woodlands Garden
November 20, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 932 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA 30030
Admission: Free
Acres: 7
Approximate miles of trails: 0.5
Hours: Daylight hours
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6

Features:

  • Visitors center

  • Outdoor classroom

Links:
Woodlands Garden

Mockernut Hickory, November 20, 2016
Mockernut Hickory, November 20, 2016
November 20, 2016
November 20, 2016
Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, November 20, 2016
Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, November 20, 2016
November 20, 2016
November 20, 2016
November 11, 2013
November 11, 2013
Devil's Walkingstick, November 20, 2016
Devil's Walkingstick, November 20, 2016
November 11, 2013
November 11, 2013
November 11, 2013
November 11, 2013
November 11, 2013
November 11, 2013
November 20, 2016
November 20, 2016
Mockernut Hickory, November 20, 2016 November 20, 2016 Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, November 20, 2016 November 20, 2016 November 11, 2013 Devil's Walkingstick, November 20, 2016 November 11, 2013 November 11, 2013 November 11, 2013 November 20, 2016

Good to combine with:

  • Decatur Cemetery

  • Mason Mill Park

  • Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

  • Lullwater Preserve


Updated August 3, 2016 & November 20, 2016

November 20, 2016 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 1, near: fernbank forest, near bus-5 min, free admission, itp, garden, near downtown-10 miles
parks
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