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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Lullwater Preserve and Hahn Woods

Lullwater Preserve
October 14, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks
Note: As of August 2022, the trail between Lullwater Preserve and Hahn Woods is closed for sewer line repairs. The suspension bridge is also closed.

According to a sign in Lullwater Preserve, "The place called Lullwater passed through four stages in its history: Piedmont forest; hunting grounds for the Cherokee and Creek nations; site of farms, mills, and residences for European American settlers; and finally as a resource for Emory University, which has used it alternately to house the president, to sell for profit, to build on, and to preserve for recreation and education."

Today, the park has a neat pedestrian suspension bridge over the south fork of Peachtree Creek. 

Signs at some of the trailheads state that the trail is for use by Emory staff, faculty, and students. I have never heard of this being enforced, with many groups and individuals visiting regularly.

The PATH trail in Medlock, Melton, and Mason Mill parks is planned to connect to Lullwater Preserve, and construction began in 2017. As of October 2018, there is a fence blocking where I would expect the trail to connect, so I am unsure what is planned.

Also known as: Lullwater Park; Emory President’s Estate
Address: 1463 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Emory University
Acres: 154
Approximate miles of trails: 4
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 6
MARTA directions: Take the #6 MARTA bus from Lindbergh or Inman Park to the Clifton Rd NE @ Haygood Dr NE stop. From there, walk north along Clifton Road for a little over a block. The entrance to the preserve is on the right.
Parking: Parking is available at the Hahn Woods trailhead at 866 Houston Mill Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. From what I understand, parking at the Clifton School at 1900 Starvine Way is free on the weekends.
Trail surface: Some paved, some natural, some gravel
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: Yes, catch and release only
Best time to visit: Early-November fall foliage is excellent
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 5 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

May 2, 2015

May 2, 2015

May 2, 2015

May 2, 2015

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

Hahn Woods beech, November 3, 2016

Hahn Woods beech, November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

Great Blue Heron, January 12, 2017

Great Blue Heron, January 12, 2017

December 9, 2017

December 9, 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
Mason Mill/Melton/Medlock Parks
Mason Mill/Melton/Medlock Parks
WildWoods & Fernbank Forest
WildWoods & Fernbank Forest
Lullwater Conservation Garden
Lullwater Conservation Garden

Updated November 4, 2016, January 12, 2017, April 9, 2017, and October 14, 2018

October 14, 2018 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 1, near: fernbank forest, near bus-10 min, multi-use path, free admission, near downtown-10 miles, birding, 3+ miles of trails, near: mason mill, near: lullwater conservation garden, itp page 2
parks
1 Comment

Olmsted Linear Park

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)

October 8, 2016
October 8, 2016

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

November 8, 2014

November 8, 2014

November 8, 2014

November 8, 2014

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

October 8, 2016

Springdale Segment, December 10, 2017

Springdale Segment, December 10, 2017

Springdale Segment, December 10, 2017

Springdale Segment, December 10, 2017

March 31, 2018

March 31, 2018

  • For more photos, see my flickr album.


From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist.org
View more observations near Olmsted Linear Park on iNaturalist.org »

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days


Good to combine with:

  • WildWoods & Fernbank Forest

  • Freedom Park (post forthcoming)

  • Frazer Forest

  • Lullwater Conservation Garden


Updated August 1, 2016, October 9, 2016, December 10, 2017, and March 31, 2018

March 31, 2018 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 1, near: fernbank forest, multi-use path, free admission, itp, near downtown-5 miles, 3+ miles of trails, near bus-5 min page 2
parks
Comment

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
Comment

Frazer Forest

Frazer Center
February 05, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 1815 S Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: Frazer Center
Acres: 39
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 5
MARTA directions: Take the #2 bus from Five Points station past Clifton Rd to the S Ponce De Leon Ave stop. From there, go southwest on S Ponce less than a block to the center.
Trail surface: Natural, paved, mulched

Amenities:

  • Gardens

  • Bike rack

Links:
Frazer Center
Friends of the Frazer Forest

February 5, 2017
February 5, 2017
February 5, 2017
February 5, 2017
February 5, 2017
February 5, 2017
IMG_0434.jpg
IMG_0427.jpg
IMG_0419.jpg
IMG_0420.jpg
February 5, 2017 February 5, 2017 February 5, 2017 IMG_0434.jpg IMG_0427.jpg IMG_0419.jpg IMG_0420.jpg

Good to combine with:

  • Olmsted Linear Park

  • Fernbank Forest

  • Lullwater Conservation Garden

February 05, 2017 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 3, near: fernbank forest, near downtown-5 miles, near bus-5 min, free admission, itp page 2
parks
1 Comment

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
Comment