Need help locating paths and trails in and around Atlanta to help you get your steps in? Knowing where you can go to use public walking paths and hiking trails will help keep you in shape, avoid being sedentary, and meet your exercise goals in a fun way.
livinginatlantaga.wordpress.com gathered information on some of the hiking trails and walking paths in and around Atlanta to help fulfill your exercise needs or escape the city’s constant hustle and bustle.
1. Northside Trail
This one-mile path through Tanyard Creek Park offers visitors a picturesque and peaceful stretch of the Atlanta BeltLine. The Northside Trail serves as a connector for two previously existing trails. The Northside Trail connects Ardmore Park with Atlanta Memorial Park and links to the Northwest BeltLine Connector Trail.
Location – Northside Beltline Trail, Atlanta, GA 30318, in Tanyard Creek Park
Website – beltline.org/places-to-go/northside-trail
Phone – (404) 477-3687
2. Doll’s Head Trail
Constitution Lakes Park is a nature preserve situated at the site of an abandoned 19th-century brick factory with thriving wetlands and a wildlife refuge. Cutting a path through the park is a short hike known as Doll’s Head Trail.
Location – 1305 S. River Industrial Blvd, SE, Atlanta, Georgia
Website – atlasobscura.com/places/dolls-head-trail-2
Phone – (404) 285-3756 (Constitution Lakes Park)
Tip: The entrance to Constitution Lakes Park is near the intersection of Moreland Ave and South River Industrial Blvd SE. Follow wayfinding signs from the parking lot to access the Doll’s Head Trail.
3. Cascade Springs Nature Preserve
Once you leave the fenced parking area, the trail will lead you into 120 acres of history and green space. This extensive trail network features picnic tables, a waterfall, a wildlife-filled forest, and trickling springs supplying the park’s multiple streams. The forest setting is a retreat from the surrounding city and home to native wildlife, including deer, birds, and turtles.
Location – 2852 Cascade Rd, Atlanta, GA 30311
Website – atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/cascade-springs-nature-preserve
Phone – (404) 546-6744 or (706) 521-4453
4. Morningside Nature Preserve
The Morningside Nature Preserve is a secluded and well-loved combination of hiking, walking, and running trails that cover 30+ acres of rolling forest. The preserve offers a relaxing woodland retreat from the surrounding Atlanta cityscape, offering an opportunity for Midtown residents to take in nature without a long drive.
Location – 2020 Lenox Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Website – atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/morningside-nature-preserve-atlanta-walking-and-running-trails
Phone – (404) 546-6788
5. Peachtree Park Nature Trail
The Peachtree Park Nature Trail is a one-acre walking/nature trail between the end of Burke Road and Darlington Circle (Darlington Commons Court). The trail is bordered by split rails and covered with natural wood mulch. Informational signs along the trail identify the plant life, trees, and birdwatching spots. Workout stations allow visitors to exercise within nature.
Location – 751 Burke Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
Website – peachtreeparkatl.org/darlington-nature-trail
Email – communications@peachtreeparkatl.org
Note: There’s a picnic area to rest and enjoy a snack or picnic. This trail is exceptional for walking your dog, getting the family outdoors, jogging, or just enjoying nature.
6. Deepdene Park
Deepdene is the largest segment (forming the eastern end) of Linear Park. This park is a wooded tract with a stream winding through 22 acres with a topography ranging from steep slopes to a flat meadow. Deepdene is the property of Fernbank, which leases it to the DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Department. dekalbcountyga.gov/parks/mission-statement
Location – 1788 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307
Website – atlantaolmstedpark.org/park-tour
Phone – (404) 377-5361
7. Peachtree Creek Greenway N. Druid Hills Trailhead
The Peachtree Creek Greenway runs 1.3 miles from North Druid Hills Road to Briarwood Road, between I-85 and Buford Highway. There are multiple trailheads with parking lots. The trail is entirely ADA-compliant, lighted at night, and includes benches, bike repair stations, and dog waste stations for users’ convenience.
Location – 2036 N Druid Hills Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329
Website – peachtreecreek.org
Email – info@peachtreecreek.org
BONUS – Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge stretches two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to multiple stunning overlooks or obtain a permit to hike to the gorge floor (100 per day, not available during water releases). A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular river and waterfall views. A paved path follows an old railroad bed, perfect for strollers and bicycles, while mountain bikers can challenge themselves on a 10-mile trail.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Location – 2610 Highway 155 SW, Stockbridge, GA 30281
Phone – (770) 389-7286
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Location – 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Rd, Tallulah Falls, GA 30573
Website – gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge
Phone – (706) 754-7981
Note: For animals’ safety, pets are prohibited on the gorge floor, sliding rock trail, and Hurricane Falls staircase to the suspension bridge. Leashed pets are welcome on rim trails and overlooks.
Hiking Trails and Walking Paths in Atlanta
In this article, you discovered peaceful walking paths and hiking trails in and around the exceedingly busy city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Your ability to unplug from a hectic lifestyle and reconnect with nature by walking and hiking will help you reduce stress, keep you healthy, and strengthen your physical fitness.
Choosing a more sedentary existence may lead to severe health problems and psychological issues from isolating yourself from a more natural, outdoor lifestyle.
Sources:
gastateparks.org
crc.gatech.edu/node/372
atlanta.alumni.columbia.edu/hiking_at_the
Living in Atlanta 