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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Big Creek Greenway

Big Creek Greenway
July 24, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: There are many access points for the trail. The southernmost one is at Big Creek Park, at the intersection of Old Alabama and Belcourt Pkwy
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Roswell, City of Alpharetta, and Forsyth County
Acres: N/A
Approximate miles of trails: About 24 miles of greenway, plus several adjacent hiking and mountain biking trails. The Alpharetta/Roswell section has 8 miles and the Forsyth County section has 16 miles
Hours: March thru October – 6:00 am to 9:30 pm, November thru February – 6:00 am to 7:00 pm
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 21 (southern end), 38 (northern end)
Transit directions: There are a few convenient access points. All buses depart from North Springs Station.

  1. You can take the 140 or 141 to North Point Pkwy @Mansell Rd and walk east until you reach the greenway.

  2. You can take the 140 or 141 to North Point Pkwy @ North Point Ct and walk south on Haynes Bridge Road to the Haynes Bridge trail spur.

  3. You can take the 140 to North Point Pkwy @ Old Milton Pkwy or take the 185 to Old Milton Pkwy @ North Point pkwy (same intersection) and go southeast on Old Milton Pkwy. On the north side of the road, you'll see stairs leading down to the trail.

Trail surface: Mostly paved with some boardwalk, also with some natural-surface alternate routes or spurs

Amenities:

  • Restrooms

  • Water fountains

  • Bike rentals

Links:
Big Creek Greenway
Maps
Forsyth County map

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, April 8, 2017

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, April 8, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

March 19, 2017

Common Whitetail, July 24, 2021

Common Whitetail, July 24, 2021

Sweetheart moth, July 24, 2021

Sweetheart moth, July 24, 2021

Good to combine with:

Featured
Roswell Riverwalk
Roswell Riverwalk
Big Creek Park
Big Creek Park
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek

Updated April 30, 2017 and July 24, 2021

July 24, 2021 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 3, near:big creek park, near bus-5 min, multi-use path, free admission, north metro, mountain biking, 5+ miles of trails, near: vickery creek, near: roswell riverwalk
parks
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riverwalk.png

Roswell Riverwalk

Roswell Riverwalk Trail
December 17, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Unlike most of the posts on this blog, this one features a multi-use path instead of a nature trail. Most of the trails here are paved or boardwalk, and bicycles are welcome.

The Roswell Riverwalk provides connections to several trails: the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Vickery Creek (which in turn connects to Old Mill Park), and Allenbrook.

In November 2018, the fifth and final phase opened, running along Willeo Road from the Chattahoochee Nature Center to Willeo Park.

Location: Along Riverside Rd, Azalea Dr, and Willeo Rd
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Roswell
Acres: Linear
Approximate miles of trails: 3.5 miles one way
Hours: Unknown
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 17
MARTA directions: Take the 85 bus from North Springs Station to the Riverside Rd stop. Walk west on Azalea Dr. On the south side of Azalea Dr, you can access the Riverwalk.
Parking: Parking is available at several parks along Azalea Dr and Riverside Rd.
Trail surface: Mostly paved and boardwalk, with one gravel section and some dirt side-trails
Geocaching: Yes

Amenities:

  • Parks along the riverwalk have restrooms, water fountains, pavilions, and playgrounds

January 26, 2017

January 26, 2017

January 26, 2017

January 26, 2017

Wilson's Snipe, March 4, 2017

Wilson's Snipe, March 4, 2017

October 22, 2017

October 22, 2017

October 22, 2017

October 22, 2017

January 21, 2018

January 21, 2018

January 21, 2018

January 21, 2018

January 26, 2017

January 26, 2017

Riverwalk bridge over Big Creek, January 26, 2017

Riverwalk bridge over Big Creek, January 26, 2017

Confluence of Big Creek and the Chattahoochee River, January 26, 2017

Confluence of Big Creek and the Chattahoochee River, January 26, 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
Big Creek Greenway
Big Creek Greenway
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Gold Branch
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Gold Branch
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Vickery Creek
Chattahoochee Nature Center
Chattahoochee Nature Center
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Allenbrook
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Allenbrook
Old Mill Park
Old Mill Park

Updated January 27, 2017, October 23, 2017, January 26, 2018, & December 17, 2018

December 17, 2018 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 3, near:big creek park, near bus-5 min, multi-use path, free admission, north metro, boat ramp, birding, 3+ miles of trails, wetlands, near: gold branch, near: big creek greenway
parks
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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

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Links:
Map (North)
Map (South)


Good to combine with:

  • Vickery Creek

  • Allenbrook

  • Roswell Mill

July 19, 2017 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 3, near:big creek park, north metro, boat ramp, 5+ miles of trails, near: garrard landing, near: jones bridge
parks
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Old Mill Park

Old Mill Park
January 27, 2017 by Shawn Taylor in parks

If you'd like to do more than a mile of walking, you can walk through the covered bridge to reach Vickery Creek.

Address: 95 Mill View Avenue, Roswell, GA 30075
Cost of admission: Free
Governance: City of Roswell
Acres: Unknown
Approximate miles of trails: 1 (~0.5 miles each way)
Hours: Unknown
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 20
MARTA directions: Take the 85 bus from North Springs Station to the Mill St stop. Walk 0.3 miles east on Mill St, following the signs to the historic trail, mill ruins, and covered bridge.
Trail surface: Mostly packed dirt

Amenities:

  • Interpretive signage

  • Restrooms

  • Water fountain

  • Some handicapped-accessible areas

  • Covered bridge

  • Dam

  • Historic machine shop

Links:
City of Roswell

January 26, 2017
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Good to combine with:

  • Vickery Creek

  • Roswell Riverwalk

  • Chattahoochee Nature Center

  • Allenbrook

January 27, 2017 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 3, near:big creek park, near bus-5 min, free admission, north metro, near: roswell riverwalk, near: roswell area park
parks
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