Find the top rated walking trails in Gainesville, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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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 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...
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 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....
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...
South River Trail offers a wooded route along its namesake river, about 15 miles southeast of Atlanta. On its west end is Martin Luther King Jr. High School. On its east end, it ties into the area’s...
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...
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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 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...
Rock Creek Greenway is a well-shaded, paved pathway connecting four parks on its way across Gainesville, from downtown to Lake Lanier. A pleasant place to begin is on the trail’s eastern end at...
The Arabia Mountain Trail winds its way through giant rock outcroppings, past rushing streams plunging in woodland waterfalls and among farmland and fields of wildflowers undulating in the breeze. In...
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 Akers Mill Trail is the brainchild of the Cumberland Community Improvement District. The trail is split into two different sections, the east and the western segments, which are tied together by...
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...
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...
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 Western Gwinnett Bikeway was designated one of the Gwinnett County's Signature Trails as part of the county's ambitious trails master plan, which hopes to link communities across the populous...
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...
In the late 1800s, when the Georgia Railroad trains rumbled through the rural darkness between Athens and Union Point, embers would flicker in the night sky from the wood-burning engines. Farmers...
Prioritizing function over beauty, the Powder Springs Road Multi-Use Trail offers cyclists and pedestrians a wide concrete sidepath along the busy suburban road in southwestern Marietta. Providing...
South River Trail offers a wooded route along its namesake river, about 15 miles southeast of Atlanta. On its west end is Martin Luther King Jr. High School. On its east end, it ties into the area’s...
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 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...
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 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...
The Arabia Mountain Trail winds its way through giant rock outcroppings, past rushing streams plunging in woodland waterfalls and among farmland and fields of wildflowers undulating in the breeze. In...
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 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...
Rock Creek Greenway is a well-shaded, paved pathway connecting four parks on its way across Gainesville, from downtown to Lake Lanier. A pleasant place to begin is on the trail’s eastern end at...
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 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....
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...
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 Concord Road Trail is a hardscape hike and bike path located alongside the road of the same name in Smyrna, Georgia. The trail begins at the intersection of Concord and Atlanta Roads, where it...
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 Nancy Creek Trail provides a route between Murphy Candler Park and Blackburn Park, two popular recreation sites in the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven. The concrete trail is a mixture of off-road...
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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 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...
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 Akers Mill Trail is the brainchild of the Cumberland Community Improvement District. The trail is split into two different sections, the east and the western segments, which are tied together by...
When Georgia's Department of Transportation undertook a major construction project to build new highway infrastructure in northwest Atlanta, local organizations pushed to make sure that the state...
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...
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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...
South River Trail offers a wooded route along its namesake river, about 15 miles southeast of Atlanta. On its west end is Martin Luther King Jr. High School. On its east end, it ties into the area’s...
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...
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The Midtown Greenway is the centerpiece of Gainesville's redevelopment efforts in a blighted area known as Midtown, which is a 300-acre area located south of the Downtown Square. The Midtown Greenway...
The Peachtree Parkway Trail may not be much to look at, but this flat asphalt pathway that runs along the side of Peachtree Parkway is one of the best ways to get around the suburban community of...
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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...
Camp Creek Greenway runs east-west through Lilburn in northeastern Atlanta. It's paved and scenic, traversing woodlands for much of its journey. Deer, rabbits, foxes, owls, and other birds are often...
The picturesque Oxford Trail winds along Turkey Creek through the heart of the charming southern town of Oxford. The wooded pathway runs behind the Oxford College campus and offers a kiosk with...
The West Cobb Trail is a 2-way dedicated pathway within the right-of-way of the Ernest Barrett Parkway (State Route 5 Connector). The trail follows the arterial through a residential part of the...
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...
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...
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...
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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 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....
In the late 1800s, when the Georgia Railroad trains rumbled through the rural darkness between Athens and Union Point, embers would flicker in the night sky from the wood-burning engines. Farmers...
The South Peachtree Creek Trail is a short greenway linking four recreational amenities in DeKalb County. On the east end, Medlock Park features baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts, a...
Prioritizing function over beauty, the Powder Springs Road Multi-Use Trail offers cyclists and pedestrians a wide concrete sidepath along the busy suburban road in southwestern Marietta. Providing...
The review below regarding trail closure was correct when written (Summer 2018) due to water line replacements throughout Arabia Mountain Park in DeKalb County.
In addition, on the Rockdale County side, there were closures related to dam improvements between the upper and lower lakes of Panola State Park.
However, the good news is the entire trail system (Arabia Mountain, South River, and Rockdale River trails) is now (Fall 2019) back to normal (trails opened again!).
Easy to use paths and connects seamlessly with Roswell River trail!
The Rockdale River Trail is seamlessly connected with the Arabia Mountain Trail and a portion of the South River Trail, forming a network of ~25 miles of trails (I see various measures). This entire system is hard surface (mostly concrete with a few asphalt stretches). Even though significant portions of the trail are wooded/shaded, the trail itself is usually quite clear of debris (well maintained)... unless you are riding very soon after stormy or windy days).
When we ride near dawn or dusk, we often see wildlife along the trails (deer, rabbits, snakes, turkeys). The stretch of the Rockdale River trail between Union Church Road and S.R. 138 that runs above/along the South River and is probably my favorite portion of the entire connected system, as you listen for the water cascading over the rocks down below.
Rockdale County recently (~September 2019) constructed bathrooms at the trailheads located off Union Church Road (at Daniels Bridge Road intersection) and off S.R. 138 (at the East Fairview Road intersection)… the latter of which has full plumbing (running water + sewer).
As other comments on this site indicate, this trail system has lots of hills and curves (this is a roller coaster, not a "rails to trails" like the Silver Comet!). So, if you are a beginner, expect to cover a shorter distance than you normally would. And remember, along with uphills come downhills, so make sure your brakes are in working order!
The wooded trails are absolutely beautiful but be careful if walking along the Chattahoochee River. Copperhead Snakes and Raccoons have been spotted.
Good for walking and leisure riding, cruddy for any kind of actual workout.
Don't miss this trail. I use it often both on bicycle and walking with dogs. Beautiful and clean!
Yes sometimes there are slippery spots on the boardwalk sections but don't all nice trails have this at some point. My suggestion is to keep your eyes open.
We bought our house back in 2008, because of this trail. Well that’s partially true¿¿ It’s been great to see all the growth and extensions on this trail. Back in 2008 the trail only went as far as the stone bridge before the railroad tracks. Now it’s a full blown trail that is simply beautiful! They did an outstanding job on this trail. They’ll even left the ruins of a water treatment village there! It’s got hiking trails that veer off and take you into the woods. It’s a treasure for this neighborhood!
A very nice well maintained trail from Old Alabama Road to Marconi - approx 8 miles one way. The trail is nearly 100% in the woods along Big Creek. All concrete and nice width. We were riding on Sat 10 - 11:30 - there was fair amount of traffic, but not overly so. The trail crosses under all major roads / no at grade crossings.
The only negative is the signage is lacking / a little hard to tell what trail branches go to where. But, now that we have ridden the trail, we are more likely not to make the several wrong turns we made today.
I actually enjoyed this trail better than SC, only because it was less crowded.
Went for the first time today and was impressed. It was crowded with walkers. Bicycles, scooters, etc. but there was plenty of space for everyone.
Truly enjoyed a nice 3.75 mile jog through this trail not too far from my hotel while I was visiting from Charleston, SC
Google Maps directed me to this greenway when I was running (riding) an errand. I was using my rigid mountain bike with semi-slick tires (urban assault vehicle), which was perfect for this trail. It was 2 miles of peace and quiet on a 10 mile ride. Getting back on the road was a jolt. More please!
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