Hampton-Beecher Nature Preserve
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
Grey trails are paved, green trails are unpaved
From around the web
Recent iNaturalist observations
Good to combine with:
Updated August 3, 2016, November 19, 2016 & August 19, 2018
