Simpsonwood Park

February 26, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

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

Chapel, January 25, 2019

Ground cedar, January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

Chattahoochee River, January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

Featured

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Jones Bridge

Garrard Landing Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Medlock Bridge

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:

October 18, 2018

Osprey, October 18, 2018

Eastern Meadowlark, October 18, 2018

Palm Warbler, October 18, 2018

Usnea lichen, October 18, 2018

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

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Featured

Simpsonwood Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Jones Bridge

Big Creek Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

Big Creek Park

August 11, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

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

August 11, 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:

Featured

Jul 24, 2021

Big Creek Greenway

Jul 24, 2021

Dec 17, 2018

Roswell Riverwalk

Dec 17, 2018

Jul 19, 2017

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

Jul 19, 2017

Jan 27, 2017

Old Mill Park

Jan 27, 2017

Updated May 21, 2017 & August 11, 2018

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Island Ford

Island Ford

July 19, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

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

Links:
Map (North)
Map (South)

Good to combine with:

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

March 11, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 9770 Autrey Mill Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30022
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: Autrey Mill
Acres: 46
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: 8:00am to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 25
Trail surface: Natural

Amenities: