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?

  • Home
  • Parks
  • Species
  • More
IMG_0084.jpg

Sycamores and Kudzu at the Atlanta Kudzu Festival, September 24, 2016

South Bend Park
September 25, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in hikes, experiences

Atlanta Kudzu Festival

This Saturday, I attended the Atlanta Kudzu Festival at South Bend Park in Atlanta.

View fullsize IMG_0086.jpg
View fullsize IMG_4616.jpg

Considering the invasive pest that kudzu is around here, it seems like an odd thing to have a festival celebrating. But the festival was actually a pretty neat idea, featuring demonstrations on how to remove kudzu, things you can make with kudzu (baskets, paper, food), and several guided hikes, including hikes for beginners and teens.

I was mostly attending to gain information on the hikes, so that will be the focus of this post.

I had been to this park two years earlier to check out the PATH trail, but I had not noticed any clear unpaved trails, so I was excited to learn where people hike in these woods.

Both of the hikes I attended were led by EcoAddendum, also known as Eco-A. Eco-A is an organization that puts on guided nature hikes and also some longer trips. I had gone to a couple of their hikes prior to the festival, and I have always been impressed by the level of knowledge provided and the clarity with which it is presented. I also really appreciate the attention they bring to intown parks, which aligns nicely with the focus of Proximity To Nature.


First Hike: "Native Trees and South River Walk"

This hike had two destinations. For each half of the hike, we branched off of the Southtown PATH trail.

Native Trees

In the first half of the hike, we began with a discussion of what a native understory looks like. We saw an understory with Solomon's seal, wild ginger, native peas, and young blackgum and pawpaw.

Next, we walked down towards the creek. On the steep bank of the creek, we saw a beech tree that must have been 150+ years old. The age of this beech and the types of trees around indicates that this is a remnant of old-growth forest. As our guide Kathryn pointed out, we had experienced two ecosystems in a walk of under two-tenths of a mile. On our way back to the PATH trail, she also pointed out a deer trail.

View fullsize IMG_4629.jpg
View fullsize IMG_4631.jpg
View fullsize IMG_4628.jpg

South River Walk

The second half of the first hike led us to a creek that just past here combines with the South River. Kathryn allowed as how these are the headwaters of the South River, which later passes by Panola Mountain and eventually join other waters to become the Ocmulgee, then the Altamaha, then drain into the Atlantic Ocean.

IMG_0096.jpg
IMG_0102.jpg
IMG_4641.jpg
IMG_4649.jpg
IMG_4675.jpg
IMG_0096.jpg IMG_0102.jpg IMG_4641.jpg IMG_4649.jpg IMG_4675.jpg

Second Hike: "Nature Hike to the Great Sycamore Tree"

The second hike began at a trailhead along Lakewood Avenue between the main park entrance and the park swimming pool entrance. The first portion of this trail was bordered on both sides with solid kudzu. The trail had been recently cleared of kudzu by Terry Sutton of Cascade Springs Forestry, who was also along for the hike. We also saw quite a bit of ragweed and goldenrod.

IMG_0124.jpg
IMG_0117.jpg
IMG_4716.jpg
IMG_0093.jpg
IMG_0124.jpg IMG_0117.jpg IMG_4716.jpg IMG_0093.jpg

The primary destination of this hike was a huge sycamore tree.

Before we arrived at the tree, we made a stop at the confluence of the creek we viewed earlier and another creek.

IMG_4683.jpg
IMG_4699.jpg
IMG_4683.jpg IMG_4699.jpg

At our destination, we were awed by the Sycamore. This incredible tree is probably over 150 years old. It's huge! The photos I took really don't do it justice. I highly recommend you go see it for yourself.

Thanks to Eco-A for leading these great hikes and to Sustainable Lakewood, EcoAddendum, and Councilwoman Carla Smith for putting on the festival!


Links

  • Atlanta Kudzu Festival page
  • EcoAddendum

Learn more about South Bend Park on my South Bend Park page.

September 25, 2016 /Shawn Taylor
south bend park
hikes, experiences
Comment

South Bend Park

September 25, 2016 by Shawn Taylor in parks

The Southtowne PATH trail goes through South Bend Park. Check out its page for more info. When viewed from the PATH trail, it seems like this park is thoroughly overgrown with kudzu, but the park does hold some remnants of old-growth forests.

The main trailhead for unpaved paths is located along Lakewood Avenue between the entrance marked "South Bend Park Swimming Pool" and the entrance marked "South Bend Center for Arts and Culture". The trailhead is on the west side of the creek. As of September 2016, it is marked with a "leave no trace" sign.

Address: 2000 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Admission: None
Acres: 77
Approximate miles of trails: 2
Hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm

Miles from downtown Atlanta: 4

Features:

  • Picnic pavilion

  • Water fountains

  • Multi-use PATH trail

  • Playground

September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016 September 24, 2016
View fullsize IMG_0117.jpg

Good to combine with:

  • Southtowne Trail

  • Southside Park

  • Perkerson Park


Featured
Sycamores and Kudzu at the Atlanta Kudzu Festival, September 24, 2016
Sep 25, 2016
Sycamores and Kudzu at the Atlanta Kudzu Festival, September 24, 2016
Sep 25, 2016
Sep 25, 2016

September 25, 2016 /Shawn Taylor
south bend park, atlanta page 1, near bus-5 min, multi-use path, free admission, itp, near downtown-5 miles
parks