Marietta, Georgia

From the visitor center, start on the Kenneshaw Mountain Trail, which takes you up a series of switchbacks to the summit of Kennesaw Mountain (600' elevation gain). Take in the views of Atlanta from the top, then continue on the trail as it descends, then starts up Little Kennesaw Mountain. At 2...

Starting at the Burnt Hickory Parking lot on Kennesaw National Battlefield, you head south on a pretty flat trail. After a mile and a half you will come across a bridge that goes over Noses Creek. If you're looking to cover more ground, the trails around the creek expand for miles in any directio...

Sope Creek is a little slice of wild heaven squeezed into the hustle and bustle of Atlanta's metro madness. Bordering the Chattahoochee River, Interstate 285, and Suburbia sprawl, Sope Creek offers the city dweller an environmental escape that seems too good to be true. From the parking lot off...

The East Palisades trail is one of the only real hiking trails within Atlanta's perimeter.  Although it boasts surprising beauty and great trails, relatively few people in the city are aware this trail even exists.  As part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, this section of forest is ...

Big Trees is truly a backyard beauty. The entrance connector brings you through to the beginning of the trails. If you are low on time, try out the Big Trees Loop (1/2 mile) which appears slightly before the major Backcountry trail system. Without going too deep into the preserve, you can still e...

Blue Heron Nature Preserve is located directly off of the heavily trafficked Roswell Road in Buckhead.  The preserve boasts seven acres of greenery, wetlands, meadows, wildlife, and wildflowers.  There is even an educational facility located on the grounds for those extra curious explorers.  This...

You’re going to be really surprised you’re still in Roswell, or in the Atlanta area at all. When you get out of your car and start walking down the wooden stairs at the start of the trail, the busy sounds of the rushing cars on Atlanta Street fade away into the wind flowing through the Tulip Popl...

From Riverside Road, the Vickery Creek Trail takes you alongside the creek, then to an intersection where you will turn right. Switch onto Outer Loop Trail at the next intersection, and keep an eye out for marked junctions going forward. The trail will take you to the Roswell Mill waterfall, the...

Kayak from the Olde Rope Mill Park to the Lake Allatoona Waterfall (1.5 mile paddle from park to waterfall). This easy lake paddle is great for beginners.  Waterfall Coordinates: 34.1436403,-84.5330342  If it is warm, bring a bathing suit and play in the water! There are also numerous spots to ha...

Rope Mill Loop is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Woodstock, Georgia.

The Big Creek Freeride area is part of the Big Creek recreation area which provides a paved greenway, singletrack mountain biking trails, and two pump tracks.The Freeride area contains a number of downhill mountain biking lines that bottom out at the Greenway toward the back end of the trail syst...

Park your car on the residential road and look across the street into the woods for the trail. The trail winds around through a bamboo forest with streams winding in and out. The trail splits and you can either take the high road or low road closer to the river. Both trails meet back up near the...

Sweetwater Creek State Park has a lot to offer in terms of adventure. One of the best things about this park is its proximity to the city of Atlanta. It is incredible how easy it is to feel like you are hours away from the city, even though Sweetwater is only several miles west of the city. It mi...

Sweetwater Creek State Park offers a breath of fresh air and beautiful sights only 15 miles from Atlanta. The park has 9 miles of trails to choose from. The shortest of the three trails is the Red Trail (1 mile, one-way). After a half mile you will arrive at the impressive 5 story New Manchester ...

Sweetwater Creek State Park lies just about 20 minutes West of Downtown Atlanta.  An easy drive along I-20 from the large city makes this park a very popular destination, especially on the weekends.  Out of the parks three main trails, the Red Trail is by far my favorite.  Scenic river views and ...

To visit the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta Beltline, park in the paid public parking (different pricing Monday-Thursday & Friday-Sunday) at the far southeast corner of Piedmont Park, behind the Park Tavern restaurant and brewery. From there, walk to the intersection of Monroe Dr. and 10th St....