Find the top rated trails in Austell, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Although only a mile, the Northside Trail travels through scenic Tanyard Creek Park and connects Ardmore Park and Atlanta Memorial Park. Along the way, the tree-lined route offers numerous access...
The Lionel Hampton Trail, on Atlanta’s west side, runs through mature forest and parkland. It's named after a jazz musician who gave the PATH Foundation the land on which the trail was later built....
Whetstone Creek Trail, built on an old rail spur, winds through the Adams Crossing and Windsor Hills neighborhoods of northwest Atlanta. Much of the trail travels through woodlands and Whetstone...
East Cobb Trail is located in Marietta, a northern suburb of Atlanta, and parallels Roswell Road (SR 120). Although less than 2 miles, the trail is a valuable connector between neighborhoods, shopping...
The Silver Comet Trail follows the bed of the old Seaboard Air Line. From 1947 to 1969, the shiny Silver Comet passenger train provided luxury service between New York and Birmingham. Today, three...
Settles Bridge Park is a 268-acre nature complex with fitness and recreation amenities serving residents of Suwanee. The park features 4.5 miles of trails, including 1.6 miles of asphalt multiuse...
Rockdale River Trail offers a beautiful natural escape through Rockdale County, just southeast of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The trail is hilly and winding as it goes through heavily forested...
The first phase of the Proctor Creek Greenway opened in May 2018 and stretches nearly 3 miles in northwestern Atlanta, surrounded by the neighborhoods of Bankhead, Grove Park, Rockdale and West...
Cochran Shoals Trail, on the northwestern outskirts of Atlanta, follows the western bank of the Chattahoochee River for nearly two miles. The unpaved pathway travels through Chattahoochee River...
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Covington's Eastside Trail connects Eastside High School, Newton County Public Library, and Chimney Park. Much of the landscape is pleasantly wooded and there are four wooden boardwalks over...
The multi-use Suwanee Creek Greenway meanders 4 miles along Suwanee Creek (a tributary of the Chattahoochee River) through forest and wetlands on a mostly hard surface; some parts have a boardwalk....
This 10-foot wide off-road trail both draws trail users off the Silver Comet Trail into Mableton, and connects Mableton’s neighborhoods to the 61.5-mile rail-trail. It begins at the Floyd Road...
The Carrollton GreenBelt is the largest greenspace and greenway conservation project ever undertaken in the city of Carrollton's almost 200-year history. The 16-mile paved loop runs along public...
The Phoenix Trail runs from College Park’s former industrial area, now primarily containing airport hotels, to W. Point Avenue. The nearly 2-mile rail-trail, which was built on a railbanked CSX...
Big Creek Greenway spans nearly 20 miles, connecting Cumming, Alpharetta, and Roswell. The paved trail is currently open in two disconnected sections with a gap of a couple miles in northeast...
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The Westside Trail offers a tree-lined route in Atlanta, running from University Avenue to Lena Avenue along the former Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It connects the historical neighborhoods of...
In northeast Alabama, the nearly 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail is a regional playground that passes through welcoming towns and pastoral landscapes. Following a former CSX railroad corridor, the...
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Atlanta's Eastside Trail stretches just over 3 miles between Piedmont Park and and the neighborhoods of Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown. As its name implies, it runs along the east side of the city,...
The Noonday Creek Trail is open in two disconnected sections. The short, northernmost segment runs through the southwestern end of Woodstock, following its namesake tree-lined creek. At this section's...
The 10-feet-wide Wildhorse Trail begins at Wild Horse Creek Park at Macedonia Road in Powder Springs and continues south 1.5 miles along Wild Horse and Noses creeks, where it connects with the Silver...
Big Creek Greenway spans nearly 20 miles, connecting Cumming, Alpharetta, and Roswell. The paved trail is currently open in two disconnected sections with a gap of a couple miles in northeast...
The Lionel Hampton Trail, on Atlanta’s west side, runs through mature forest and parkland. It's named after a jazz musician who gave the PATH Foundation the land on which the trail was later built....
Covington's Eastside Trail connects Eastside High School, Newton County Public Library, and Chimney Park. Much of the landscape is pleasantly wooded and there are four wooden boardwalks over...
The Noonday Creek Trail is open in two disconnected sections. The short, northernmost segment runs through the southwestern end of Woodstock, following its namesake tree-lined creek. At this section's...
Castlewood Road Path offers a short, paved route through a residential area of Tyrone, about 25 miles southwest of Atlanta. The trail is part of a larger effort to create car-free connections between...
This 10-foot wide off-road trail both draws trail users off the Silver Comet Trail into Mableton, and connects Mableton’s neighborhoods to the 61.5-mile rail-trail. It begins at the Floyd Road...
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Atlanta's first trolleys were developed in 1870s and the many lines were consolidated to form the Georgia Power Company. The Path Foundation has been instrumental in developing this, and other,...
The South Peachtree Creek Trail is a short greenway linking two recreational amenities in DeKalb County. On the east end, Medlock Park features baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts, a...
The Keswick Park Extension Trail, also known as the Chamblee Rail Trail, is situated in Chamblee, a community northeast of Atlanta. It offers a short but useful paved pathway through downtown, passing...
The Cricket Frog Trail gets its name from the quarter-sized amphibian native to this part of Georgia. The trail occupies the former railbed of the Central of Georgia Railway. Totaling 14.9 miles,...
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The West End Trail was the first section to open of the greater 33-mile Atlanta BeltLine network of proposed trails. This 12-foot wide, multi-use path extends from Westview Drive south of I-20, across...
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The Atlanta BeltLine will link more than 40 neighborhoods, multiple public parks, and mass transit stations in a planned 33-mile trail network throughout the city. Rather than the straight line of a...
This 3-mile path around Chastain Park in Atlanta is one of PATH Foundation's most popular trails (the PATH Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a multi-use network of...
Rockdale River Trail offers a beautiful natural escape through Rockdale County, just southeast of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The trail is hilly and winding as it goes through heavily forested...
The PATH Parkway is the result of an innovative collaboration between the PATH Foundation, Georgia Institute Technology and the City of Atlanta. The creation of this multimodal corridor involved the...
Atlanta's Eastside Trail stretches just over 3 miles between Piedmont Park and and the neighborhoods of Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown. As its name implies, it runs along the east side of the city,...
The East Decatur Greenway offers a pleasant outdoor experience and community connector in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The paved pathway begins across the street from MARTA's Avondale Station and...
The Cumberland Connector begins at the eastern end of the popular Silver Comet Trail and continues east nearly 5 miles along the southern outskirts of Smyrna in the Atlanta metro region. The trail...
In northeast Alabama, the nearly 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail is a regional playground that passes through welcoming towns and pastoral landscapes. Following a former CSX railroad corridor, the...
Nearly 2 miles of the Mountain-to-River Trail are complete in northwestern Marietta. The paved trail begins at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, which stretches more than 2,000 acres over a...
The Atlanta Road Path skirts the western border of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in the northwestern suburbs of Atlanta. The paved path begins in the Belmont Hills subdivision of Smyrna and heads north 2.5...
Atlanta's first trolleys were developed in 1870s and the many lines were consolidated to form the Georgia Power Company. The Path Foundation has been instrumental in developing this, and other,...
Atlanta's Eastside Trail stretches just over 3 miles between Piedmont Park and and the neighborhoods of Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown. As its name implies, it runs along the east side of the city,...
Nearly 2 miles of the Mountain-to-River Trail are complete in northwestern Marietta. The paved trail begins at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, which stretches more than 2,000 acres over a...
The Keswick Park Extension Trail, also known as the Chamblee Rail Trail, is situated in Chamblee, a community northeast of Atlanta. It offers a short but useful paved pathway through downtown, passing...
Although only a mile, the Northside Trail travels through scenic Tanyard Creek Park and connects Ardmore Park and Atlanta Memorial Park. Along the way, the tree-lined route offers numerous access...
While the mile-long Allatoona Pass is today a serene, pine-shaded trail, in April 1862 it played a role in the Great Locomotive Chase, when disguised Union soldiers seeking to destroy critical bridges...
Ivy Creek Greenway follows its namesake waterway in Buford, which lies in the northeastern Atlanta region. Highlights of the trip include the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, Woodward Mill...
The PATH Parkway is the result of an innovative collaboration between the PATH Foundation, Georgia Institute Technology and the City of Atlanta. The creation of this multimodal corridor involved the...
Settles Bridge Park is a 268-acre nature complex with fitness and recreation amenities serving residents of Suwanee. The park features 4.5 miles of trails, including 1.6 miles of asphalt multiuse...
The Town to Creek Trail is situated right in the heart of Woodstock, a northwestern suburb of Atlanta. Shortly after its beginning at Market Street (one block from Main Street), the paved trail dives...
The Cumberland Connector begins at the eastern end of the popular Silver Comet Trail and continues east nearly 5 miles along the southern outskirts of Smyrna in the Atlanta metro region. The trail...
The paved North Park Path is located in Alpharetta, a northern suburb of Atlanta. Although it's short (less than a mile), the trail offers terrific access to the amenities of Alpharetta North Park,...
Spring Road Trail offers a short, paved pathway through Smyrna, a suburb north of Atlanta. The paved trail is lined with trees on one side and parallels Spring Road on the other. Only a mile from...
The developing PATH400 Greenway Trail will one day run 5.2 miles from the Atlanta BeltLine north through Buckhead up to I-285 and the trail system in Sandy Springs. Currently, the paved trail is open...
Castlewood Road Path offers a short, paved route through a residential area of Tyrone, about 25 miles southwest of Atlanta. The trail is part of a larger effort to create car-free connections between...
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The Southwest Connector Trail is part of the Atlanta BeltLine, a 33-mile network of paved trails throughout the city. Although currently disconnected from other segments of the BeltLine, this one-mile...
The first phase of the Proctor Creek Greenway opened in May 2018 and stretches nearly 3 miles in northwestern Atlanta, surrounded by the neighborhoods of Bankhead, Grove Park, Rockdale and West...
Whetstone Creek Trail, built on an old rail spur, winds through the Adams Crossing and Windsor Hills neighborhoods of northwest Atlanta. Much of the trail travels through woodlands and Whetstone...
The Heritage Park Trail links two paths at the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers, where these two waterways meet to form the Coosa River. Paved promenades line both sides of the...
Chief Ladiga Trail, Nov 2018, *Excellent*
I recently bicycled from Dallas, Ga, to Anniston, Ala. An excellent ride which I highly recommend, that could easily be broken into sections for a family outing or weekend 'de-stressor'. Thank you to those responsible for the development and maintenance of this path. Great job!
Comments;
Trail surface conditions; excellent. The path is cement in Georgia and asphalt in Alabama for the entire length. It is well drained, smooth, wide, and in generally excellent repair. A few areas tree roots have encroached and damaged the asphalt path, but this is not currently an issue.
Signage & markers; very good over all. Markers are located every mile, however a recommended improvement would be to add distance values to cities, towns, trailheads, etc. As for signage there is very little. Interpretive plaques, historical markers, place names, availability and direction of restroom\food\lodging\police\medical signs, etc. could be added at appropriate sites.
Trail maintenance; very good to excellent. The trail right of way is clear and wide, free of encroaching brush and bordered by well kept grass. Some vistas could be improved by clearing underbrush which would allow viewing of surrounding area. Especially when approaching some road crossings is this true. I noticed virtually no litter. Trestles and bridges, while currently usable and safe, are showing typical wear and age. Hopefully a schedule of maintenance exists for these.
Amenities; average. While benches and rest stops are conveniently located and not too far apart, I think toilets or port-a-potties are needed trailside at appropriate locations.
Great job to those who created this trail!
I recently bicycled from Dallas, Ga, to Anniston, Ala. An excellent ride which I highly recommend, that could easily be broken into sections for a family outing or weekend 'de-stressor'. Thank you to those responsible for the development and maintenance of this path. Great job!
Comments;
Trail surface conditions; excellent. The path is cement in Georgia and asphalt in Alabama for the entire length. It is well drained, smooth, wide, and in excellent repair.
Signage & markers; very good over all. Markers are located every mile, however a recommended improvement would be to add distance values to\from cities, towns, trailheads as the existing markers only provide overall distance in miles, kilometers, and elevation. As for signage there is very little. Interpretive plaques, historical markers, place names, availability and direction of restroom\food\lodging\police\medical signs, etc. could be added at appropriate sites.
Trail maintenance; very good to excellent. The trail right of way is clear and wide, free of encroaching brush and bordered by well kept grass. Some vistas could be improved by clearing underbrush which would allow viewing of surrounding area. Especially when approaching some road crossings is this true. I noticed virtually no litter. Trestles and bridges, while currently usable and safe, are showing typical wear and age. Hopefully a schedule of maintenance exists for these.
Amenities; average. While benches and rest stops are conveniently located and not too far apart, I think toilets or port-a-potties are needed trailside at appropriate locations.
Great job to those who created this trail!
A friend and I began our walk/hike at sunrise at the AL/GA state line. With 33 miles ahead of us an early start was necessary to allow enough time (10-11 hrs) to finish the trail before sunset that evening. The first several hours of the walk gave way to a landscape of beautiful autumn colors, bridges, and streams. Duggar Mtn also provided a beautiful backdrop for surrounding pastures, forests, and farmlands. As we continued on the path through the countryside the scenery began to change as the trail lead us through the small town of Piedmont where we were able to rest for a short while at the Eubanks Welcome Center. For the next several miles we continued to enjoy the beauty of the trail. Entering Jacksonville the trail lead us through the campus of Jacksonville State University and near a old train depot. With the sun beginning to set we finally made our way to the trail end in Weaver where friends and family greeted us with a celebratory bottle of champagne to commemorate a successful adventure.
Wide, concrete trail very well maintained. But somewhat hilly. Has a seamless connection to the Arabia Mountain Trail. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit at the south end is a good place to start -- convenient parking. Also you can get a sandwich lunch (and tour if you like) at the Monastery.
I live in Downtown Decatur and I've been searching for a way to walk my dog in the mornings without running into small children too frequently. My dog can be a reactive to strangers and I want to find a safe way to exercise her. I found this trail randomly thinking it was the Beltline.
As far as quality goes, in between the East Lake and Avondale MARTA stations, this trail is an absolute dream! Nice wide walking path. Easy for walkers, joggers and bikers alike to enjoy the trail without obstructing each other's path. Nice tree coverage from the hot sun.
However, if you actually try to take this trail to Stone Mountain Park. Do so at your own risk, especially by walking. You definitely run into very dicey areas. Areas that aren't well maintained. There are quite a few spots where the trail doesn't have signs and it runs into busy streets and roads. Also, there are areas that aren't maintained at all which really sucks. I'd love to walk from home safely all the way to Stone Mountain Park.
It's a nice stretch--20 miles from end to end. However safety is a huge factor. This trail has so much potential if the state or city put a lot effor to make it safe for pedestrians and bike riders alike.
However, it's better than nothing I suppose. Decatur sidewalks can be too crowded during weekday mornings. They're so narrow and lots of families are dropping their kids off at school and heading to work.
So, I have to make due with the trail as it is which is still WAY better than the Beltline East Side trail that's crowded at all hours of the day every day of the week.
This is the main trail I go to. I wish there were signs for the Buddy System for safety along with wearing a bicycle helmet. I wrote a book about this trail after walking the whole trail in 2004 with friends. The first day I went alone and that convinced me to find friends. I love this trail.
I hope this trail system continues to grow as it provides easy access for metro Atlanta residents to get off the roads and get some exercise. I primarily use the Woodstock trials and really look forward to being able to visit my friends in Cobb county. We are waiting for that connector where the Woodstock section ends at 92. I hope the funds are there for a nice pedestrian/cycling bridge over 92. I miss my friends in Cobb. We haven't seen each other in so long. Please complete the trail. :-)
I live .25 miles from this trail, and I LOVE it! I see maintenance workers maintaining the trail regularly, and they just finished an overlook bridge over I-285 that’s made specially for the trail. Yes, there are a few parts of this trail where you will need to be on the road, but as long as you ride responsibility you will not have a problem. Drivers in the area are aware there is a large bike trail nearby, so I’ve never had an issue with uncooperative drivers. Not recommended for street biking, but it is great for a workout if you enjoy casually cycling.
The Proctor Creek Trail is a hidden gem. The bridgework is impressive, and the surrounding foliage adds to the trail's serenity. The southern end point adjoins the Bankhead Marta Station, and immediately the path winds you through a number of oldtimey industrial buildings, vacant but clean and safely away from the path. Then the rest of the trail is as if you are in the country - quiet, peaceful and beautiful. There are a few gentle slopes and a number of park benches.
Warning: there are parts of this trail that are remote which means that if there were to be an incident on the trail, you would have to wait awhile before city services could respond to your call.
Parking: On the southern end point, you can park at Maddox Park and follow the sidewalk out of the park and over to the southern endpoint. (Or of course, take Marta to the Bankhead Station on the East/West Line.)
Started at the Chief Ladiga trailhead at Michael Tucker Park in Weaver / Anniston. As someone else mentioned, plenty of parking and clean, open bathroom facilities. Every bit of this trail is well marked and very well maintained. The buckles or bumps in the trail were marked with white paint.
Took the recumbent trike since this was a paved trail. And, while I wasn't planning to ride all the way to the AL/GA border and the link with the Silver Comet, the trail, weather conditions, mix of shade and sun, I found myself just going... and going... One of the other bikers at the start told me it was a flat ride (relatively), he wasn't kidding. All the elevation changes are gradual, long sight lines, no blind curves, so made for as easy or fast as you like.
Trail was never crowded, bikes, a few hikers/walkers and a single skateboarder (near the college in Jacksonville). Saw flock of wild turkeys, some squirrels and one rabbit. Plenty of birds, dragonflies and butterflies
I hadn't planned on the full out and back, but with Piedmont right in the middle of the out and the back, was able to restock water as needed. Lunch along the trail was as peaceful as could be.
Anyone of any ability could ride as much or as little of this trail as they like. Multiple places along the trail to park, all the road crossings are clearly marked and only one listed as "caution". Plenty of shade, especially in morning or late afternoon. All the bridges are in excellent shape.
Quite a gem.
Boardwalks are simply too dangerous at any speed when cycling - I've seen walkers slip and fall as well - Cannot recommend this trail.
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