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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Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

arabia mountain
November 04, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Mountaintop trail address: trailhead at AWARE Wildlife Center, 4158 Klondike Road, Lithonia, GA 30038
Visitors center address: 3787 Klondike Road, Lithonia, GA 30038
Cost of admission: Free
Acres: 2550
Approximate miles of trails: 11
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 20
MARTA directions: Take the 86 from Kensington Station or the 116 from Indian Creek Station to the Mall Pkwy @ Klondike Rd stop. From there, walk west and then south along the PATH trail for about 2.5 miles to the visitors center, or exit the PATH trail earlier along one of the unpaved nature trails.
Parking: There is parking available at the mountaintop trailhead and visitors center (both addresses above) and at Vaughters' Farm (approximate address: 3366 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038)
Trail surface: PATH trails are paved and boardwalk, other trails are unpaved
Blazes/markings: The trail blazes are documented on this map
Geocaching: There are many geocaches at Arabia Mountain
Best time to visit: The diamorpha bloom in March-April, and yellow daisies bloom in September
Guidebook mentions: Chapters 32-36 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), chapter 47 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles (3rd edition), chapter 60 in Hiking Georgia (4th edition)

Amenities:

  • Restrooms at mountaintop trailhead, visitors center, and Vaughters Farm (no running water)

  • Bike racks at Vaughters' Farm and the nature center

  • Picnic tables at nature center and other locations

  • Water fountain at Vaughters Farm

Links:
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area website
Visitor guide
Trail map
NPS

Photos

July 23, 2016

July 23, 2016

July 23, 2016

July 23, 2016

July 23, 2016

July 23, 2016

Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

Palm Warbler and Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

Palm Warbler and Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

PATH trail, October 1, 2017

PATH trail, October 1, 2017

Arabia Lake, October 1, 2017

Arabia Lake, October 1, 2017

Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

Yellow Daisies, October 1, 2017

Vaughters Farm, March 24, 2018

Vaughters Farm, March 24, 2018

Diamorpha, March 24, 2018

Diamorpha, March 24, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.


From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist.org
View more observations near Arabia Mountain - Panola Mountain National Heritage Area on iNaturalist.org »

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days


Good to combine with:

Featured
Big Haynes Creek Nature Center
Big Haynes Creek Nature Center
Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park
Panola Mountain State Park
Panola Mountain State Park

Updated July 31, 2016, October 2, 2017, March 24, 2018, and November 4, 2018

November 04, 2018 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 2, multi-use path, free admission, east metro, 10+ miles of trails, near: panola mountain, near: stone mountain, near: big haynes creek nature center
parks
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Big Haynes Creek Nature Center

Big Haynes Creek Nature Trail
May 28, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Not to be confused with Big Haynes Creek Recreation Area, Big Haynes Creek Nature Center is part of the Georgia International Horse Park, home to the equestrian events at the 1996 Olympics. These 173 acres were designated as a nature preserve and opened in 2007. The nature center features hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, as well as a boat launch for canoes and kayaks. Some trails have bikes and horses separated, others are combined. Some of the trails are very wide and flat, while some are very narrow and moderately steep. Note: some of the biking and hiking trails are along granite outcrops and may be very slippery when wet.

Address: 855 Costley Mill Rd NE, Conyers, GA 30013
Cost of admission: None
Governance: Georgia International Horse Park
Acres: 173
Approximate miles of trails: Around 5 miles of trails in the nature center; around 20 miles total trails in the horse park
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 27
Parking and trailhead: Signs direct you to the nature center parking lot, which is across Costley Mill Rd from Gate D of the Georgia International Horse Park
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Trails are blazed with paint on trees
Dogs allowed: Yes
Fishing allowed: No
Guidebook mentions: None

Amenities:

  • Four tent pads, grills, and a fire pit are available for approved groups

  • Boat ramp for canoes and kayaks

  • Interpretive signage

  • Equestrian and mountain bike trails (hiking appears to be permitted on both)

  • Wetlands overlook with viewfinder and bench

Links:

  • Georgia International Horse Park

  • Map (note: some trails have changed)

  • Paddling.com trip overview

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For more photos, see my flickr album.


From around the web
 

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days


Good to combine with:

  • Arabia Mountain

  • Panola Mountain

May 28, 2018 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 4, free admission, east metro, mountain biking, boat ramp, 5+ miles of trails, nature center, wetlands, allows dogs, near: arabia mountain, near: panola mountain
parks
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Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain
December 03, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Admission: $15 parking fee per car. Free if you don't arrive by car.*
Acres: 3,200
Approximate miles of trails: 15
Hours: Hours vary. You can check the hours here.
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 15
MARTA directions: You can take the 121 bus from Kensington station to downtown Stone Mountain (corner of W Mountain St and Main St). From there, walk South on Main St. In a few blocks, you will see the PATH trail on your left. The trail will take you directly into the park. It's about a 10 minute walk from the bus stop into the park, although the walk might be much farther to your destination within the park.
Cycling directions: The Stone Mountain PATH trail connects Stone Mountain Park to downtown Decatur, downtown Atlanta, and the BeltLine

* There is some free parking available downtown in the town of Stone Mountain, GA. From there, you can bike or walk the Stone Mountain Trail into the park without needing to pay an entrance fee. There is another pedestrian entrance on E Mountain St. Where the road turns left before entering the park, you can walk straight into the park instead of going left. However, this gate is only open from sunrise to sunset.

Links:
Stone Mountain Park
Maps

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

December 3, 2017

December 3, 2017

White-breasted Nuthatch, December 3, 2017

White-breasted Nuthatch, December 3, 2017

Walk Up Trail, December 3, 2017

Walk Up Trail, December 3, 2017

Walk Up Trail, December 3, 2017

Walk Up Trail, December 3, 2017

Walk Up Trail, December 3, 2017

Walk Up Trail, December 3, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

May 10, 2015

May 10, 2015

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Songbird Habitat Trail, January 5, 2017

Good to combine with:

  • Arabia Mountain

  • Panola Mountain

  • Pine Lake


Updated August 4, 2016, January 5, 2017 & December 3, 2017

December 03, 2017 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 2, near bus-10 min, multi-use path, east metro, boat ramp, 10+ miles of trails, wetlands, birding, near: arabia mountain, near: panola mountain, near: pine lake
parks
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