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

Rogers Bridge Trail

January 30, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This site consists of a multi-use path (former road) that’s about a mile long, plus an unpaved trail around a retention pond. The fields on either side of the paved trail are open but with no formal paths through them. This is an excellent site for birding.

While the park borders the Chattahoochee River, there is barely any river view from the park.

There are plans to create a 195-acre city park – to be called Cauley Creek Park – to be located on this site, with construction beginning early in 2021.

Please note the potential confusion with Rogers Bridge Park in Duluth, across the river from this trail. The bridge is no longer operational, so the sites are quite far apart by road. Part of the construction project beginning in 2021 will be to reconnect the sites via a pedestrian bridge.

Also known as: Cauley Creek Park
Address: Intersection of Rogers Bridge Rd and Bell Rd, Johns Creek, GA
Cost of admission: None
Governance: City of Johns Creek
Acres: Unknown
Approximate miles of trails: 1.3
Hours: Unknown
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 25
Transit directions: This location is not accessible by transit
Parking: There is a small parking lot at the trailhead
Trail surface: Part paved, part natural
Blazes/markings: None

American Wigeon, December 29, 2018

Field Sparrow, December 29, 2018

Remnants of Rogers Bridge, December 29, 2018

December 29, 2018

White-tailed Deer, December 29, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

From around the web

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days

Good to combine with:

Featured

Shorty Howell Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Medlock Bridge

McDaniel Farm Park

November 12, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

McDaniel Farm Park was sold in the 1820 land lottery. It was a subsistence farm and was farmed until 1999. The farm buildings represent a typical farm from the 1930s.

This park is a popular spot with photographers for engagement and family photos. Information about commercial photography is available here.

Address: 3251 McDaniel Rd, Duluth, GA 30096
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Gwinnett County
Acres: 134
Approximate miles of trails: 3 miles paved, 1 mile unpaved
Hours: The park is open dawn to dusk daily; the farm area is open 10-4 daily
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 21
Transit directions: From Doraville Station, take the Gwinnett County Transit bus 10A or 10B to the Gwinnett Transit Center. From there, it is a 12-minute walk to the park. From the transit center, head right on Satellite Blvd. Head left on Old Norcross Road. Then take a right on McDaniel Road and continue to the end of the road. There are sidewalks the whole way.
If you have a Breeze card, you can add cash to it for your trips there and back, or use GCT (but not MARTA) “trips” on the card. Fare information is available here. The 10A and 10B are considered “local” rides.
Trailhead(s): There are multiple trailheads at each of the two parking lots. On both ends of the parks, McDaniel Rd dead-ends at the park. The south parking lot is at 3251 McDaniel Rd (coming from Old Norcross Rd), and the north parking lot is at 3020 McDaniel Rd (coming from Duluth Hwy).
Parking is available at both parking lots, including accessible parking and bike racks at both. Bus parking is also available at the south parking lot.
Trail surface: Approximately 3 miles paved, approximately 1 mile natural, and approximately 0.5 miles gravel
Geocaching: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: Yes
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 49 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition) and chapter 42 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles (3rd edition)

Amenities:

Two rentable picnic pavilions and assorted other picnic tables
Restrooms and water fountains at both the north and south end of the park
Small and large dog parks
Playground

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

Gwinnett Place Mall is nearby

Links:

Gwinnett County

November 10, 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

Shorty Howell Park

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Medlock Bridge

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

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: