Atlanta Trails

East Palisades Indian Trail; East Palisades- Whitewater Creek Trail. Score=8.4. In-town. Atlanta’s best hiking trail inside the perimeter. Five minutes into the hike you’ll forget that you are in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. The trail system offers 4.9 miles of hiking trails with a variety of options – an easy walk along the Chattahoochee River, a visit to a small bamboo forest, a hike through rolling hills, and beautiful views of the river from the bluffs above. The trail is great for hiking, running, and walking dogs. Access to the river from the Whitewater Creek parking lot also allows for water sports. The trails are well maintained and there are maps at almost every intersection. The trails are heavily trafficked and it’s often difficult to find parking on weekends at either of the two parking lots accessing the park (Indian Trail and Whitewater Creek). East Palisades is a short drive from anywhere intown.

Chastain Park Trail. Score=8.0. Chastain Park Trail is a paved pathway that circles Chastain Park, in the heart of one of Atlanta’s most beautiful neighborhoods. This is not a hike in the wilderness, but rather a pathway along the borders of a scenic urban park. The trails follow the rolling terrain along Chastain Park’s extensive recreational facilities – a golf course, horse park, outdoor concert amphitheater, tennis center, pool, large playground, and the softball fields of the Northside Youth Organization (NYO). There are also benches along the trails and a picnic area in the wooded grounds by Nancy Creek. The trails are well marked and are used primarily for walking and running. The short loop is 1.6 miles and the long loop is 3.1 miles (and other distance combinations are possible). There is ample parking in the parking lots on the north side of the park and along the city streets. The trails are heavily trafficked.

Hemlock Falls Trail. **This trail is outside the 70 miles radius of Atlanta, but it’s a beautiful trail and if you find yourself by Lake Burton I highly recommend it. The trail will not be included on the master list in the primary post.** Score=8.5. North of Atlanta. A scenic 2 mile out-and-back trail near Moccasin Creek State Park. The trail follows Moccasin Creek upstream from Lake Burton. The path rises subtly through a lush hardwood forest with the creek rushing nearby. The trail’s highlight is Hemlock Falls, a stunning 15 foot cascading waterfall that tumbles into a clear, tranquil pool below. There’s plenty of room to stop and take a break and the pool, although cold, is great for swimming. The trail is easy, family friendly, and dog friendly. The trail is moderately trafficked. The trail is approximately 100 miles from Atlanta, a 2 hour drive.

South Peachtree Creek Trail. Score=7.4. In-town. Think of the Atlanta Beltline, but winding through the woods behind suburban homes. This Decatur trail is a multi-use boardwalk and paved route that connects North Druid Hills Road to Mason Mill Park and Medlock Park. The trail winds along the scenic valley created by the South Fork Peachtree Creek and the Burnt Fork Creek. The trail is beautiful, hilly and shaded. There is also a separate trail connecting Mason Mill Park to Emory University and Lullwater Park. The trail passes by the old Decatur Waterworks, which is on the National Historic Registry. There are several hiking trails that veer off the main path and into Mason Mill Park and Ira B. Melton Park. The trail network is approximately 3 miles long, and is great for running, cycling and walking dogs. Because of its central location the trail is heavily trafficked. There is ample parking at Mason Mill Park and Medlock Park. It is an out-and-back trail. Mason Mill Park is located mid-trail, so if you park at Mason Mill Park you’ll have to choose a direction – I recommend heading in the direction of Medlock Park rather than North Druid Hills. The recreational amenities in the area are extensive and worth visiting. Mason Mill Park offers a tennis center, a recreation center and picnic area. Medlock Park features baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts, a playground and a pool.

Johnson Ferry Chattahoochee Park - Johnson Ferry North Trail. Score =7.0. North of Atlanta. A scenic, short and accessible trail. A great destination for a quick walk or run in nature without a lot of hassle. It is a good destination for families with little kids or first time hikers. The trail follows a scenic stretch of the Chattahoochee River, departs the river bank following Mulberry Creek upstream, and then returns through a hardwood forest passing patches of marshy wetland. The trail is flat and easy. A full loop of the park is 2 miles long. The main thoroughfare in the park is a straight gravel road. The river bank trails veer off the thoroughfare and loop back at the intersections with Arrowhead Creek, Owl Creek and Mulberry Creek. The water in Mulberry Creek flows over a beautiful rocky bed, and the marshy wetland are home to a wide range of birds, wildlife and wildflowers. The trail is heavily trafficked and is popular with dog walkers and trail runners. The entrance to the park is located at the corner of Johnson Ferry Road and Columns Drive in Marietta, 10 minutes northwest of the Perimeter. The park is easily accessible and offers plenty of parking. The park also has a boat launch and a covered pavilion.

Gold Branch Trail. Score=8.2. North of Atlanta. My favorite hike within the 20 parks that make up the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Other parks may offer more famous landmarks or broader panoramas of the Chattahoochee River, but the rugged terrain, challenging trails and serene river views make the Gold Branch trail system my number one choice for an in-town hike. The trails traverse the beautiful forest along the banks of the Chattahoochee River and Bull Sluice Lake. The park is home to an abundance of wildlife and is an excellent location for birdwatching, fishing or a family picnic by the river. On a single afternoon, we saw geese, ducks, heron, turtles, fish and deer. The traffic on the trails is moderate, a nice reprieve from the crowded in-town trails. The small parking lot off of Lower Roswell road acts as natural limiter to the number of hikers. A full loop is 3.8 miles, but the trail system allows for a variety of options on distance and terrain. Gold Branch Trail is approximately 14 miles from the north end of the Perimeter, about a 20 minute drive.

Chattahoochee River Rec Area - Island Ford Park. Score=7.6. A beautiful network of trails that meander through a hardwood forest and along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The scenic views of the river are the highlight of the hike. There are multiple access points to the river that make for excellent resting places or prime fishing spots. There are also several large cave-like rock formations along the river that the kids enjoyed exploring. The distinctive rocky creeks that cut through the hills and flow down to the river are striking and should not be overlooked. The park is home to a large variety of wildlife. The park has plenty of parking, a variety of picnic options (both constructed and improvised along the river or the creeks) and a small boat launch for water sports. The trails are heavily trafficked, although they attract less crowds than other parks that make up the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. The trails are easy to moderate in difficulty. A full loop is 2.9 mile long. Island Ford Trail is about 9 miles north of the Perimeter, about a 15 minute drive (exit 6 on GA 400).

Bull Sluice Lake

Vickery Creek trail. Score=8.5. North of Atlanta. The Vickery Creek trail system, part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, is a beautiful park that offers a variety of hiking and sightseeing options. The trail system is excellent and diverse – easy meandering trails through a hardwood forest, rolling terrain in the hills overlooking the gorge formed by the creek, and scenic paths along the creek. The trails also explore the remains of two historic mills, a covered bridge and a towering waterfall that rushes down a spillway dam. There are many scenic locations along the creek. We took a break at the foot of the dam, with the sounds of the roaring water in the background, and on the south end of the creek, where large boulders by the water make for a comfortable sitting area way from the crowd. The trail’s acclaimed reputation and its location in suburban Atlanta (near historic downtown Roswell) make it uncomfortably crowded, especially by the dam, mills and covered bridge. The trail system is well marked, with maps at every intersection. We hiked 4.5 miles, but the trail system allows for various distances. It’s the type of park you can return to many times without getting bored. I recommend accessing the trailhead from the Oxbo Road parking lot. The Roswell Mill parking lot, although adjacent to the primary sightseeing spots, is congested. Vickery Creek Trail is approximately 15 miles from the north end of the Perimeter, about a 20 minute drive.

Big Trees Forest Preserve Trail. Score = 6.9. North of Atlanta. A great destination for a quick outing to an accessible and close by trail. The beautiful 30-acre preserve is a perfect setting for a relaxing hike by a creek in a shaded forest. The trail head starts at the North Fulton Government Service Center off of Roswell Road, which offers plenty of parking. The trails are well maintained and well-marked. The traffic on the trails is moderate. We combined the Big Trees Loop and the Backcountry Trail for a total of 1.2 miles. The trail is 4 miles north of Sandy Springs, about a 10 minute drive.

Vickery Creek, Roswell, Georgia