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Big Creek Greenway spans 26 miles, connecting Cumming, Alpharetta, and Roswell. The paved trail is currently open in three disconnected sections with a gap of a couple miles in northeast Alpharetta and another short gap north of Cumming.
About the Route
Starting at the trail's northern endpoint in Cumming, the northernmost section begins on the northwest outskirts of Cumming at Canton Highway (GA 20) and the Spot Road Connector. From there, the pathway extends north for 2.5 miles, largely paralleling Spot Road, to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve (4075 Spot Road, Cumming), which offers hiking trails, a playground, picnic pavilions, climbing area and visitor center.
Further south, the Forsyth County section extends between McFarland Parkway and north towards Cumming. This section of the route is heavily forested. A highlight is passage through Fowler Park (4110 Carolene Way, Cumming), which has numerous recreational amenities, including tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields, playgrounds, and a skate park.
The southern portion (Roswell/Alpharetta section) runs parallel to, and on the east side of, North Point Parkway. With the opening of the new section north of Webb bridge, it now extends from the dead end on Marconi Drive (off Windward Parkway) south 8.6 miles to a parking lot at Big Creek Park off Old Alabama Road near Holcomb Bridge Road in Fulton County. There are restrooms at the YMCA and Kimball Bridge parking areas (Rockmill Park) and at the southern end of Big Creek Park. Kimball Bridge also has a nice gazebo with picnic tables. Trail users can find a few nature trails as side excursions and plenty of wildlife viewing. Look for wild turkeys, green herons and deer; also, be wary of copperhead snakes.
The northernmost section begins on the northwest outskirts of Cumming at Canton Highway (GA 20) and the Spot Road Connector. From there, the pathway extends north for 2.5 miles, largely paralleling Spot Road, to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve (4075 Spot Road, Cumming), which offers hiking trails, a playground, picnic pavilions, climbing area and visitor center.
Because the trail encompasses marshy areas, flooding can occur, making the trail inaccessible in places. Check the trail's website for condition updates.
The Big Creek Greenway runs between 4075 Spot Rd. (Cumming) and 1600 Old Alabama Rd. (Roswell), with parking available at both ends.
Parking is also available at:
There are numerous parking options along the trail, see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
We’re from Charlotte, we have a trail similar to Big Creek (Sugar Creek), not nearly as long…we really enjoyed our ride and look forward to coming back.
Great trail to walk
Had a great ride today. However the crosswalk at the Union Hill intersection is very dangerous. In spite of the fact there are numerous signs alerting cars of the crosswalk including flashing signals, we witnessed numerous cars flying through the intersection oblivious to the fact we were waiting to cross. Do not assume the drivers will stop.
Love this mostly flat trail not too much of a challenge for the casual rider. Weekends are super busy so be prepared. Otherwise this is my favorite trail.
Looking for a moderately challenging workout ride, THIS TRAIL IS FOR YOU!! No steep inclines or anything but fair amount of gentle elevation changes balanced by plenty of level ground if you looking for just a relaxing ride. BEAUTIFUL scenery, very well populated with individuals , couples and families both on foot and biking.
Peaceful and scenic ride along the river. The pavement in great condition. Will return again.
Usually do lower half of this ride, started at Bethview trailhead today. Lots of sun and very pretty. Going toward Fowler park there were extensive boardwalks in pretty poor condition, I wouldn’t ride it when wet. Trail closed shortly after Fowler park for Construction. The other direction has few boardwalks but several pretty steep hills. The trail continues past the TrailLink map a couple of miles. I believe most of The comments about slippery boardwalks come from this portion of the trail, as the other half doesn’t have nearly as many and they are in better condition.
Much need for repair and closed at key point in middle of trail with no suggestion for detour. Pretty, but needs substantial work.
Biked out of Bethelview Rd trail head; did both south and northbound sections on mostly sunny Sunday. Lots of people walking and biking but not overly crowded. Some challenging climbs and great views/stopping points to catch breath.
We rode the Big Creek Greenway today. Very well maintained and fun to ride. Lots of families getting some fresh air. It was good to be with my fellow Americans enjoying our freedom¿¿
I cycled the southern section (Roswell/Alpharetta). It is wonderful, peaceful and somewhat secluded (at least when raining).
There are bathrooms, bike aid stops, call boxes, a few trash cans and benches along the pathway. Some markings indicate direction, but it is helpful to print a map for longer journeys.
The boardwalk can be slippery, but they are short patches on this portion of the trail. The northern portion may be slicker since more of it is boardwalk.
I would recommend this trail. There are plenty of deer and quiet riding. Rain wasn't an issue, though some parts of the trail had overflow from the creek. Still, it is easily in my top five trails in the metro/outer Atlanta area.
This trail is marvelous for nature lovers and serious riders...just be sure to be respectful of each other. Having a nature preserve in an urban setting like this is rare. What a gem! Biking on weekends is not recommended, even for the most casual of bikers, but it’s great Monday thru Friday! Simply too many kids on weekends (and that’s a good thing!).
There is not a single thing I can find wrong with this trail. Well maintained Smooth grounds Good tree coverage from sun Minor hills Don’t hesitate!!!!
Four of us rode from Halcyon to end of this section of the trail (intersection of McFarland and 19 up to Kelly Mill Rd). This section is mostly comprised of boardwalk that was so slippery in sections that it was hard to even stand on. Two of us had pretty bad falls. I would not recommend this section of the trail for bike riding.
We love this trail
It is a beautiful trail with tree coverage on most part of the trail
Running water along side the trail
Good amount of resting benches
Very well maintained
Zero complaints
Really enjoy leisurely biking the trail. It can be very busy on the weekend, and the avid cyclist take some great risks in passing walkers and other slower cyclists. Most do not announce they are approaching, and many “thread the needle” in trying to pass.
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.
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.
Boardwalks are simply too dangerous at any speed when cycling - I've seen walkers slip and fall as well - Cannot recommend this trail.
I do not recommend this trail at all for bike riding. Very slippery and they dont mark those areas even after the do a morning check..slipped 3 times with injury. Warning do not bike at this trail !! Plus they have holes in some Planck areas
Lower segment is good for cycling. Upper segment I would not recommend for anything other than running. It is almost all wooden boardwalk and it is almost always slimy and slick. It is so unbelievably slick even the most seasoned cyclist will fall. And if you don’t go extremely early on the weekend, it gets pretty crowded. Trail route needs to be better marked as I found myself riding off the trail and ending up at a trailhead having to turn around a couple times. Overall it’s a solid option given the area is so densely populated.
Awesome trail!!! Please , please be VERY careful on boardwalk in Roswell. I’m new to the area & today was the 1st time I rode from Alpharetta to Roswell. I was so enjoying the ride & scenery until I wiped out Really bad on boardwalk.It is VERY slick. Please be extra careful.
I have lived near the Big Creek/Greenway trail for over 10 yrs. I am there everyday either walking my dogs or bike riding.
It is quiet, peaceful and has wild life.
In addition to road biking there. There are off-road trails as well as hiking trails too.
Love it.
I really had a terrible time getting any sort of bearings on this paved trail. It's mostly cyclers on it (I run or walk) and without having maps and signs it's challenging to find your way around, to restrooms and back to your parking location. There are bridges and a very few inclines but none overly strenuous. More shade than sun which is nice in the neverending Georgia summers.
Normally wouldn't go on a holiday, but in this case, it was the best time for all of the participants. We had our son-in-law, two grand-daughters (14 and 11), my wife and myself. All experienced riders. We expected the trail to be crowded and it was with walking families, very young bike and skateboard riders, folks with dogs, runners and joggers. A great mix and a fun time, most of the time. Then there were a few bikers that thought they owned the trail. One fool just couldn't slow down when coming to a crowded curve and went right off the trail full bore almost into the creek. So, one has to be careful on this trail of the fools on bikes. Overall, we had a great time and will be back again. The Big Creek Trail we rode was the southern part and we trail headed behind the Ethan Allen store on Northpointe Parkway. Good facilities and parking area.
I live right off of trail, so on it constantly. Can get crowded with walkers, joggers, cyclists.
Section linking Alpharetta to Roswell are basically boardwalks, and they get extremely slick after rain or from dew. I took 2 spills in same area on last ride, while noticing pools of blood left on the wood from another cyclist.
Great trail but the wood is very treacherous. I might walk over that section next ride.
My wife and I rode the lower 8 mile section. Loved it! Beautiful scenery, shaded almost completely, no road crossings, no sounds from traffic. Just a very beautiful ride! Only downside are the beautiful wooden boardwalks... When wet, they are very slippery. Saw several bad wrecks.
Two things I forgot in my review below. I forgot to give a 5 star to this review. Also, it is much longer than the 2 miles out and back I noted. The 2 miles is just from one parking area off Old Alabama to the one off North Point Pkwy. The trail actually goes for many miles
As a recent transplant from Michigan I found the terrain around the Alpharetta area to be extremely hilly. Very hard running after being used to running on flat ground. I found this trail after a few weeks here and this is my go to spot now. It is a flat track that is very scenic. I have seen deer on several occasions. If you tell your GPS to go to: 1600 Old Alabama Rd, Roswell, GA it will take you to the first parking area. I would suggest taking that paved road down about 1/4 - 1/2 mile to another parking area that is right next to the trail. It is about a 2 mile trek out and back.
The northern section is a long, fun ride on concrete for about a 14 mile round trip. Very scenic and an enjoyable bike ride. The southern section is a much shorter paved bike/walk path. This section is great for its mountain biking trails. Will definitely be back to both sections.
My wife and I ride our bikes on the Greenway 3 or 4 days a week and consider it way above the norm. The trail is wide, flat and paved for a very easy ride. The only elevation is a slight incline when crossing a few bridges. For safety there is a yellow strip down the middle of the path which helps everyone understand what side they belong on. Though on occasion I have seen a few people being unsafe and basically acting like idiots, the trail is popular so a few bad apples is expected. 99.9% of the people are well behaved and a fun to be around. During the weekend you will see lots of families w/ training wheels, etc. and on weekdays many riders are the fifty and sixty year old crowd doing a leisure ride enjoying the out doors. The views are amazing w/ plenty of hard wood trees, deer, hawks and other wild life. The 15 mph speed limit is reasonable and does not hurt the ride. This is a multi-use trail so besides bike riders there are also walkers (some w/ dogs), joggers and an occasional roller blade. A very friendly family place with many entrance points and easy parking. This trail is a 5-star trail.
Love this trail and can't wait for the extensions to continue north thru Cumming and beyond, so that I will no longer have to drive to trailhead to ride bike!
I walk 4 miles a day along this trail. It's very nice. Stay to your right - lots of bikers as well as joggers and walkers. Lots of deer, heron, turtles, rabbits, snakes, etc. to see along the trails.
This is a great trail from Roswell to Cumming GA, but need to be connected on the missing segment in Alpharetta. Not sure where they are at with the expansion plans. It would be great if they gave priority to connecting both sides rather than expanding at opposite ends. That would make for long great uninterrupted trail for miles and miles! I give it 4stars for now, connect them and it would be a 5stars trail.
Took my family for our first ride yesterday (Monday, January 19, 2015) on the Greenway. Very nice, winding trails. Great landscape. Easy for my kids. However, it was a terrible experience due to one particular guy who passed my four year old (who recently left training wheels) and screamed at her from the top of his lungs as he rode by because she started to enter his lane. Scared her out of her wits. Attempted to put him in his place, but he decided to put me in my place for allowing her on the trail. Granted, the sign said 15 mph, but there were all kinds of people (walkers, bikers, joggers, and strollers, all over the place) and in a public place, one would think that people would be sensitive to this kind of thing with kids. Had no idea what I was getting myself into. Was livid because my daughter almost made a mistake and the guy yelled at her by saying "COME ON!!" I have not been that angry in years and when I confronted him, it was a miracle this did not escalate into a knock down, fist fight. Nevertheless, my point in this review is to WARN all would be families that there are imbecilic, selfish fools out there, who are self-centered enough to tell a little girl to get off the trail for a slight misstep. Truth is, she is great on a bike and we watch all three of them very closely. But some people have no grace. Needless to say I did not have grace with this man and he did not have remorse. I am hesitant to return even though 99.9% of the people were very amiable. The one incident is enough to consider staying away for good. The only reason I am giving this three stars is because of the nice trails and many understanding people. If there is a next time, I will bring a big stick. Keith Beck - 229.894.5013; ekeithbeck@gmail.com (Woodstock, GA)
We biked this trail from end to end, connecting to the Swanee Greenway . There is a gap, but its great to see that work is ongoing to connect and lengthen both trails. Hats of to the planners for a superb job.
We can't thank enough for such a wonderful nature trail close to our home, but I always wonder why they can't raise the level or put a raised wooden platform or raised, combed concrete path which will allow the water to flow from one side to other ........ Do something about it. The trail almost becomes useless for walkers for 2-3 days after the heavy rain. and 2013 has been a rainy year. The flooding seems to occur at same points so please do something about it.
An excellent ride on a 65 degree fall Monday afternoon. Started at the McFarland road parking area just east of ga 400 and rode to the terminus at Bethelview road in Cumming. about 14 miles or so there and back. Not a speed trail as there are some narrow and sharp turns on boardwalk and in spots many walkers were present for a weekday afternoon.
There is more raised boardwalk then concrete and it is quite slippery if wet. There are also 2 road crossings , one on busy highway nine that of which you need to be careful.
Very nice forest, meadow and creek scenery all along its length I would very much recommend this for a leisurely paced ride.
This is a wonderful trail, but I must say in all my years of mountain biking, I never hurt myself as bad as I did going from the concrete section to the boardwalk on the Roswell side. It had rained the previous day and the boardwalk was slick with algae. I went down before I could compensate and my shoulder is still talking to me about it! (Like an idiot, I just got up and rode the rest of the way determined not to miss out of a great ride.)Easy path with good visibility all around. Just remember how slick that boardwalk gets and you'll be fine
:-)
My wife and I rode 20 miles on the Roswell/Alpharetta portion (southern part) this past Saturday. We doubled back a few miles to make the 20 miles. The temp was in the high 60's, an unusually nice day for this time of the year in Georgia. This is a very nice scenic trail and no doubt will become a destination trail once the southern and northern parts are hooked up. The southern part is a winding, but flat trail. You will be pedaling 99.5% of the way. This is great trail for every one as we saw many walkers, runners, roller bladers and plenty of folks with pets. it was fun to see everyone. There are a few of the usual Lance wannabees that do not warn you when they try to go by you. Be careful. The only other complaints are that the Roswell portion needs to be striped and the Big Creek Park parking lot needs to be paved. It's a muddy mess when wet. Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable experience.
This is a very nice trail - almost entirely flat and well paved with nice scenery. It does suffer from a lack of maps and signage, however. The parking area at Big Creek Park off Old Alabama Rd. has a nice map of the trail, but that's about it except for another one at the north end of the Roswell section. Several forks, turnoffs, and pedestrian only paved sections leave the main trail with no indication where or how far they go. For first time visitors, there could be some confusion. I will print a map before going again, which will solve the problem. All in all, strongly recommended for a nice ride.
Great Trail, well kept and beautiful nature!!!
I do this trail on inlines several days a week. The Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta and Big Creek park in Roswell are connected so the total round trip is a smidge under 15 miles.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115426453979635020450.00048d58b4a941af4e7b3&z=13
Pristine concrete, well shaded, one road crossing, a few moderate grades but typically level. The Big Creek Park portion has a few short boardwalks. They are relatively easy to skate on unless wet.
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