Simpsonwood Park

Simpsonwood Park is named after Ludie Simpson who donated the land to the Methodist Church. This Gwinnett County park borders the Chattahoochee River, directly across the river from the Jones Bridge unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. It has about 5 miles of unpaved trails, including an approximately 3-mile-long loop trail. Although the park land no longer belongs to the Methodist Church, its chapel remains and can be rented for events.

Also known as: Simpsonwood Conference & Retreat Center
Address: 4511 Jones Bridge Circle, Peachtree Corners 30092
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Gwinnett County
Acres: 223
Approximate miles of trails: 5.3
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 18
MARTA directions: Not very transit accessible. The park is about two miles from the nearest Xpress bus stop (route 408) or nearest Gwinnett County Transit bus stop (route 35)
Parking: There are two parking lots available at the park
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Most trails are blazed
Geocaching: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Photography policy: Gwinnett County Parks photography & film rules
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 48 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition)

Amenities:

• Restrooms

• Group camping (by reservation)

• Picnic areas

• Rentable picnic pavilion

• Rentable chapel

Links:

Gwinnett County

Note: The creeks on Google Maps and Openstreetmap seem to be slightly off. In the map below, I’ve attempted to include more accurate placements of the creeks. I think there may be some trail segments south of the creek, but all the trail segments shown on this map are north of the creek.

January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

Chapel, January 25, 2019

Ground cedar, January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

Chattahoochee River, January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Jones Bridge

Jones Bridge (formerly Jones Ferry) was constructed in 1904. It fell into disrepair in the 1930s and was partially dismantled sometime between then and 1960. The remains of the bridge were a highlight of both this park and Jones Bridge Park on the other side of the river until the remains of the bridge collapsed and were disassembled in January 2018. Today, nothing remains of the historic bridge.

The Jones Bridge Unit is home to the Chattahoochee River Environmental Education Center (CREEC) at 9101 Barnwell Road, Johns Creek. Parking is available at CREEC, but only when it is open for events.

Also known as: Jones Bridge Unit
Address: 8615 Barnwell Road, Johns Creek, GA 30022
Cost of admission: Free, $5/day parking fee per car; annual pass available
Governance: NPS
Acres: Approximately 150
Approximate miles of trails: 4
Hours: Dawn to dusk; exact park hours are posted at the trailheads
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 19
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 @ Nesbit Ferry Rd. From there, walk southeast on Holcomb Bridge to Barnwell Road. Turn left on Barnwell Road and continue until you see the National Park Service sign for CREEC on the right. The total walking distance from bus stop to trailhead is 1.0 miles. Note: most of this distance lacks sidewalks, so you’ll have to walk in the grass, including navigating a short bridge with no shoulder.
On the return trip, you can wait for the bus at Barnwell and Holcomb Bridge. In this direction, the walking distance from trailhead to bus stop is 0.8 miles.
Parking: Parking is available at the main trailhead.
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Each intersection is marked with a full park map of the unit
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 60 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), chapter 40 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles (3rd edition), page 36 in Hiking the Hooch (1st edition)

Amenities:

• Picnic area

• Restrooms

• Boat ramp

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

• The intersection of Holcomb Bridge and Barnwell has restaurants and a grocery store

Links:

• NPS map

October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

Chattahoochee River, October 18, 2018

October 18, 2018

Trametes versicolor, October 18, 2018

Macrolepiota sp., October 18. 2018

October 18, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

View more observations near Jones Bridge Unit - Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area on iNaturalist.org »

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

REI Hiking Project

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Good to combine with

Big Creek Park

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

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

August 11, 2018

August 11, 2018

August 11, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

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From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

View more observations near Big Creek Park on iNaturalist.org »

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

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Updated May 21, 2017 & August 11, 2018

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

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

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017

Links:
Map (North)
Map (South)

Good to combine with:

• Vickery Creek

• Allenbrook

• Roswell Mill