Blue Heron Nature Preserve

May 31, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Blue Heron Nature Preserve is along Nancy Creek in North Buckhead.

The Blueway Trail of Eidson Mill, Emma Lane Wetlands, and Land O’ Lakes was completed in 2020, and now all the trails at the preserve are combined (other than some brief sidewalk connections)

Address: 4055 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
Admission: Free
Governance: City of Atlanta, Blue Heron Nature Preserve
Acres: 30
Approximate miles of trails: 3
Hours: 6am to 11pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 8
MARTA directions: The number 5 bus runs between Dunwoody and Lindbergh stations and stops right outside Blue Heron (Lakemoore Drive or 4090 Roswell Road stop)
Parking: There is parking available at 4055 Roswell Rd (the office/school) and just north of there at the community garden. There is also street parking available in the neighborhood.
Trailhead(s): There are many trailheads. There is a trailhead from the parking area off Roswell Rd. as well as other trailheads on Roswell Road, Lakemoore Drive, Rickenbacker Drive, Emma Lane, and Land O Lakes Drive.
Trail surface: Natural
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 1 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Features:

Community garden
USGS creek monitoring station
Picnic areas
Apiaries
Photo blind
Bike racks (at the office)

November 16, 2016

Great Blue Skimmer, May 31, 2021

Eidson Mill Trail, November 16, 2016

Carolina Wren, January 13, 2017

Beaver Tail Trail, November 16, 2016

November 16, 2016

Eastern Chipmunk

More photos on Flickr

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Mountain Way Common

Featured

May 21, 2017

Park Pride Community Garden Tour, May 20, 2017

May 21, 2017

Updated August 2, 2016, November 16, 2016, January 13, 2017, March 11, 2018, & May 31, 2021

Decatur Legacy Park (Former United Methodist Children's Home)

E Decatur Greenway

May 15, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This land was purchased by the City of Decatur from the United Methodist Children's Home in 2017 when they moved to Tucker. The park is partly developed with buildings, a playground, and playing fields, and also has nature trails around the lake and a community garden. The East Decatur Greenway is adjacent to the park.

Address: 500 S Columbia Drive, Decatur GA 30030
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Decatur
Acres: 77
Approximate miles of trails: 3
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 7
MARTA directions: Leave Avondale Station via the pedestrian bridge to E College Ave. Once the bridge ends, turn left. Walk through the parking lot to the trailhead for the PATH.
Cycling directions: Coming from Avondale Station, follow the same directions as above. Alternatively, bike the Stone Mountain PATH to Avondale Station and then use the MARTA pedestrian bridge or Sams Crossing road to connect to E College Ave.
Parking: Parking is available along the dirt road on the southeast side of the ball fields.
Trailheads: The unpaved trails begin at the parking area and also at two spots along the PATH
Trail surface: PATH is paved, other trails are natural surface
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Global Growers' Decatur's Kitchen Garden

Links:

“Decatur completes purchase of United Methodist Children's Home," Decaturish, August 16, 2017
“Sale of United Methodist Children's Home Complete," Decatur Metro, August 17, 2017
East Decatur Greenway
Master Plan

Eastern Pondhawk, May 9, 2021

April 8, 2018

May 9, 2021

April 8, 2018

Canvasback, February 13, 2019

October 26, 2019

More photos on Flickr

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Glenn Creek Nature Preserve

Decatur Cemetery

Updated February 26, 2019, October 26, 2019 and May 15, 2021

Zonolite Park

August 09, 2020 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This former brownfield was cleaned up beginning in 2011. The pollutants were removed – as well as kudzu, privet, and other invasives – and there is now a nice meadow/seasonal wetland area and a creekside trail. Zonolite Park is home to Nickel Bottom Community Garden and a pollinator garden.

As of 2020, Zonolite Park & Herbert Taylor Park almost connect along Johnson Rd. Zonolite’s trails connect to a parking lot on Johnson Rd. on the north/east side of Peachtree Creek, and Herbert Taylor has a new trailhead on Johnson Rd. on the other side of the creek.

Address (approximate): 1101 Zonolite Place NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Cost of Admission: None
Acres: 13
Approximate miles of trails: 1.5
Hours: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 5
MARTA directions: From Five Points, take the 16 to Briarcliff Rd NE @ Johnson Rd NE, then walk west on Zonolite Rd. Take the 2nd left on Zonolite Pl and continue to the end of the road.
Alternatively take the #6 from Inman Park/Reynoldstown or Lindbergh to Clifton Rd@Briarcliff Rd. Walk southwest on Briarcliff, take the first right on Zonolite Rd, and follow the directions above.
Parking: There is a lot at the trailhead on Zonolite Pl.
Trail surface: Some natural, some large gravel
Dogs allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Community garden
Pollinator garden

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

Strip mall at the corner of Briarcliff and Clifton includes a Kroger and several restaurants
QuikTrip gas station on Briarcliff, 0.5 miles from the park entrance
Floataway Cafe is adjacent to the park, but only open for dinner

Links:

November 9, 2014

November 20, 2016

September 24, 2017

Red-shouldered Hawk, September 24, 2017

September 24, 2017

Gray Catbird, September 24, 2017

December 9, 2017

May 27, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

From around the web

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Updated August 1, 2016, November 20, 2016, September 24, 2017, May 27, 2018, and August 9, 2020

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

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

Murphey Candler Park

January 06, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 1551 W Nancy Creek Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30319
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Brookhaven
Friends of the Park Group: Murphey Candler Park Conservancy
Acres: 135
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 11
MARTA directions: Not very transit accessible. There are buses you can take to cut the distance slightly, but probably the most time-efficient route is to take the train to Dunwoody Station, walk east on Hammond Drive, turn right on Ashford Dunwoody, turn left on Oak Forest Dr, take a slight right onto Ashwoody Trail, turn right on Ashwoody Ct, turn left on Long Branch Ct, and then enter at the northeast trailhead. This is about a 1.4 mile walk from train station to trailhead.
Driving directions: From downtown, take GA-400 N to I-285. Take exit 4A to I-285 E. Take exit 29. Follow the signs for Ashford-Dunwoody S and merge onto Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE. Turn left onto W Nancy Creek Dr NE. Parking is available on both the left and right sides.
Parking: There are several parking lots available at the park
Trail surface: Some paved, most natural
Blazes/markings: None
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: Yes
Best time to visit: Murphey Candler has great fall foliage
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 15 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Amenities:

Many picnic pavilions, most are reservable, many have grills
Playground
Tennis courts
Ball fields
Swimming pool
Restrooms

Links:

Features:

Pavilions with picnic tables
Multi-use fields
Bike racks near fields
Tennis courts
Swimming pool

February 18, 2013

November 5, 2017

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

Ashford Forest Preserve

Brook Run

Dunwoody Nature Center

Updated August 3, 2016, January 18, 2017, November 5, 2017, and January 6, 2019

Kittredge Park

October 03, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

The primary trail sections near the main trailhead are bordered with logs and filled with mulch and pine straw. There are numerous benches along the trail, and there is also a picnic area. The park has ball fields, a pool, a community garden, and a playground. The community garden and playground are at the Holly Lane entrance to the park.

Also known as: Elwyn John Wildlife Sanctuary
Address (approximate): 1500 Kittredge Park Rd NE, Atlanta GA 30329
Cost of admission: None
Acres: 29
Approximate miles of trails: 1.5
Hours: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 8
MARTA directions: Take the 30 bus from Lindbergh Station to Briarcliff Rd NE @ Woodlake Dr NE. Walk southeast on N Druid Hills. Turn right on Kittredge Park Rd and walk to the end.
Parking: Free parking is available at the end of Kittredge Park Rd. Street parking is also available off of Holly Ln near the playground.
Trail surface: Natural/mulch
Blazes/markings: There are some signs to mark the loop trail
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 10 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Amenities:

Playground
Ballfields and pool
Trash cans
Picnic tables

Nearby amenities/conveniences:
There are several restaurants, a Target, a drug store, and two gas stations at or near the intersection of N Druid Hills and Briarcliff, about a 10-minute walk from the Kittredge Park Dr. trailhead.

November 5, 2016

Nantahalla Crossing, Eagle Scout service project of Levi Siegelman, October 2012, photo from November 5, 2016

November 5, 2016

May 2, 2018

June 6, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

Featured

Peachtree Creek Greenway

Mason Mill/Melton/Medlock Parks

W.D. Thomson Park

Updated August 2, 2016, November 5, 2016 & October 3, 2018

Connally Nature Park

September 29, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Check out the rare pink lady's slipper orchids in late April or early May.

Connally Nature Park is also home to Atlanta’s champion white oak. As well as the champion, several other large, old white oaks are present along the trail.

The land was deeded by the Connally family to the City of East Point in 1991. East Point planned to use the land for a softball field or an elementary school but Trees Atlanta fought to preserve the land and the oaks and eventually won.

Address: Mulberry Ct, East Point, GA 30344
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of East Point
Acres: 27
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 7:00am to 10:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 7
MARTA directions: From West End station, take the #81 bus to Delowe Dr@Elinwood Dr. Walk east on Elinwood Drive for one block. Head left on Mulberry St. The park will be on your right.
Cycling directions: From East Point station, exit to the west (towards Main St.) Turn right on Main St. After 0.3 mile, turn left on Ware Ave. After 0.6 miles, turn left on Headland Dr. After 0.6 miles, turn right on Delowe. After 0.4 miles, turn right on Connally. Take the first right on Mulberry St. and then the first left into the park. There is no bike rack available. Total cycling distance is 2.2 miles. Note: Main St. is one way, so you will need to return via East Point St.
Parking: Parking is available at the trailhead.
Trailheads: Both trailheads connect to the grassy area near the parking area.
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: None
Dogs allowed: Yes
Best time to visit: Late April or early May
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Parking
Dog poop bags and trash can

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

Gas station, grocery stores, and restaurants at the intersection of Headland & Delowe

April 18, 2015

August 24, 2014

April 18, 2015

August 24, 2014

April 18, 2015

September 29, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

Featured

Hampton-Beecher Nature Preserve

Sykes Park

Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Updated August 3, 2016 & September 29, 2018

Hampton-Beecher Nature Preserve

August 19, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This nature preserve is composed of two parks, one named after its former owner, jazz musician Lionel Hampton, and the other sharing its name with nearby Beecher Hills School. The nature preserve is largely mature forest. The trails are a combination of paved, multi-use trails and natural-surface nature trails. There are plans to connect the paved trails to the Beltline.

History: The park contains trenches and fortifications used by Union troops in the Battles of Ezra Church and Utoy Creek. Near this site were the locations of the Peyton Road wall, barriers meant to prevent African Americans from easily entering the Cascade Heights neighborhood.

Also known as: Lionel Hampton Park, Lionel Hampton-Beecher Hills Park
Address: 366 Willis Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30310
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Atlanta
Acres: 54
Approximate miles of trails: 4
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 5
MARTA directions: The park is 0.7 miles from H.E. Holmes train station
Cycling directions: Take MARTA to H.E. Holmes Station and exit towards M.L. King Jr Dr. Head left on MLK. After 0.2 miles, turn right on Willis Mill Rd. Continue to the end of the road, where the PATH trail begins.
Parking: Street parking is available at several trailheads, including the one at the end of Willis Mill Rd.
Trailhead(s):
Trail surface: PATH trail is paved, other paths are natural surface
Blazes/markings: PATH trails are marked, others are not
Dogs allowed: Yes
Best time to visit: Fall foliage is excellent
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

Playground
Fitness trail

Links:
PATH Foundation
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance

Grey trails are paved, green trails are unpaved

July 26, 2014

June 7, 2014

October 18, 2014

November 19, 2016

August 19, 2018

November 19, 2016

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

Good to combine with:

Featured

Aug 3, 2016

Outdoor Activity Center

Aug 3, 2016

Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Aug 3, 2016

Updated August 3, 2016, November 19, 2016 & August 19, 2018

Constitution Lakes

April 14, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Formerly the site of South River Brick Works, many bricks can still be found here. This park is also home to the Doll's Head Trail – brainchild of Joel Slaton – a creepy art project communally created using objects found in the park.

Address: Intersection of Moreland Ave and S River Industrial Blvd SE
Cost of admission: None
Governance: DeKalb County
Acres: 267
Approximate miles of trails: 3
Hours: 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6
MARTA directions: From Five Points Station, take the #49 bus to Bailey St SE @ Fayetteville Rd SE. From there, walk Southwest on Fayetteville Rd. Continue south on Moreland. Turn left onto S River Industrial Blvd SE. The sign for the park is immediately ahead. It's about a nine minute walk from the bus stop to the park entrance.
Parking: There is parking at the trailhead
Trail surface: Paved and boardwalk from the parking lot to the lake. Other sections are natural surface or boardwalk
Geocaching: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 2 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Links:

May 24, 2015

November 22, 2016

Great Blue Heron, April 16, 2017

April 16, 2017

November 22, 2016

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

Southside Park
Old Atlanta Prison Farm (post forthcoming)
South River Trail (post forthcoming; PATH Foundation link)

Updated August 2, 2016, November 22, 2016, April 1 & 16, 2017, and April 14, 2018

Olmsted Linear Park

March 31, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

In 1890, Atlanta businessman Joel Hurt was planning Druid Hills to be Atlanta’s “ideal residential suburb”. He approached Frederick Law Olmsted — a co-designer of New York City’s Central Park — to design the Olmsted Linear Parks. Originally, a streetcar ran along the edge of the park. A trolley shelter still stands in the Deepdene segment, at the intersection of East Lake and Ponce.

The park consists of six segments. From west to east, they are: Springdale, Virgilee, Oak Grove, Shadyside, Dellwood, and Deepdene. With the exception of Virgilee, the segments are names after a feature of the segment. Virgilee Park is named after Druid Hills developer Joel Hurt’s daughter who died at a young age. Virgilee Park was originally going to be called “Oaklawn.”

The five western segments are pastoral, large grassy areas punctuated by old trees. The easternmost segment — Deepdene — is very different. Deepdene is a natural woodland with a stream flowing through it. While all the paths in the five western segments are paved, most of the trails in Deepdene have a natural surface. Deepdene is the largest of the park segments, at 22 acres.

Address: 1000 South Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Cost of admission: None
Acres: 45
Approximate miles of trails: 4
Hours: The City of Atlanta part of the park (Springdale, Virgilee, Oak Grove, and Shadyside) is open 6:00am to 11:00pm; the Dekalb County portion (Dellwood and Deepdene) is open 7:00am to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 4
MARTA directions: Take the #2 bus from North Avenue or East Lake station. There are several stops along Ponce that are adjacent to the park
Cycling directions: The Freedom Park PATH is near the park
Parking: On-street parking is available on S Ponce and N Ponce alongside the park segments
Geocaching: There are geocaches in the park
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 8 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Links:
Olmsted Linear Park Alliance: Web Facebook
Olmsted Plein Air Invitational

November 8, 2014

October 8, 2016

Springdale Segment, December 10, 2017

March 31, 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:

Updated August 1, 2016, October 9, 2016, December 10, 2017, and March 31, 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

Morningside Nature Preserve

January 26, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

“The Wildwood Urban Forest Committee, a dedicated group of neighborhood residents, worked for three years to stop the destruction of 30 acres of mature forest located in northeast Atlanta. The funding to purchase the property included donations by neighbors, a private foundation and both city and state greenspace funds. The Nature Conservancy negotiated with the developer and finalized the sale of the land. The parcel known as the Wildwood Urban Forest was transferred to the City of Atlanta after the City Council unanimously passed a resolution to purchase the parcel in 2001. It was renamed The Morningside Nature Preserve in February 2006.” —The Morningside Nature Preserve Master Plan

Address (approximate): 2020 Lenox Road NE, Atlanta GA 30306
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Atlanta
Acres: 34
Approximate miles of trails: 2.5
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 5
MARTA directions: Take the 27 from Midtown Station to Cheshire Bridge Rd NE@Liddell Dr. From there, walk east on Cheshire Bridge. Take the next right onto Wellbourne Drive. The entrance to the park is on the left. It's about a 0.2 mile walk from the bus stop to the trailhead.
Trail surface: Dirt

Features:

Suspension bridge
Water fountain and bike rack at Lenox Rd trailhead

Finding the primary trailhead:
From Cheshire Bridge Rd, turn East on Woodland Ave NE. Take the first right onto Lenox Rd NE. Drive 0.3 miles. The parking lot for Morningside is on the right, just past the railroad tracks.

There are two other trailheads available. One is on Wellbourne Dr. Some street parking is available. The third trailhead, on Wildwood Rd NE, is unmarked. You’ll walk down a gravel road for a while, and then the trail will split from the road on your left. There is street parking available at this trailhead.

Parking: The primary trailhead has a parking lot with bike racks and a water fountain.

August 10, 2014

February 4, 2017

May 9, 2017

Swallow-tailed Kite, May 9, 2017

January 24, 2018

Good to combine with:

Daniel Johnson Nature Preserve and Herbert Taylor Park
Confluence Trail (post forthcoming)

Updated August 1, 2016, February 4, 2017, May 9, 2017, and January 26, 2018

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

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

Tanyard Creek Park

November 30, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought here during the Civil War. Historical markers at the trailhead provide details about the battle.

The trail is part of the BeltLine, so it will eventually connect to other trail segments.

Address (approximate): 484 Collier Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Admission: None
Acres: 21
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm

Miles from downtown Atlanta: 5

Links:
PATH Foundation
Beltline

June 17, 2014

November 30, 2016

June 17, 2014

July 22, 2014

November 30, 2016

July 22, 2014

May 30, 2015

Photo by Marc Turnley, October 16, 2016

October 16, 2016

November 30, 2016

Good to combine with:

Updated August 1, 2016, October 23, 2016 & November 30, 2016

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

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 20, 2016

Good to combine with:

Updated August 3, 2016 & November 20, 2016

South Bend Park

September 25, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

The Southtowne PATH trail goes through South Bend Park. Check out its page for more info. When viewed from the PATH trail, it seems like this park is thoroughly overgrown with kudzu, but the park does hold some remnants of old-growth forests.

The main trailhead for unpaved paths is located along Lakewood Avenue between the entrance marked "South Bend Park Swimming Pool" and the entrance marked "South Bend Center for Arts and Culture". The trailhead is on the west side of the creek. As of September 2016, it is marked with a "leave no trace" sign.

Address: 2000 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Admission: None
Acres: 77
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm

Miles from downtown Atlanta: 4

Features:

Picnic pavilion
Water fountains
Multi-use PATH trail
Playground

Good to combine with:

Featured

Sep 25, 2016

Sycamores and Kudzu at the Atlanta Kudzu Festival, September 24, 2016

Sep 25, 2016

Southtowne Trail

September 25, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This is a PATH foundation multi-use trail. It connects two parks, South Bend Park and Swann Preserve.

Address: 226 Bromack Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30315 OR 2000 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA, 30315 OR other trailheads
Admission: None
Approximate miles of trails: 3 miles round-trip out-and-back
Hours: PATH trails are open dawn to dusk

Miles from downtown Atlanta: 4

Links:
PATH Foundation

September 10, 2014

September 24, 2016