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 Historic Site, and the sprawling Mall of Georgia. The route also has a 400-foot-long boardwalk over the creek. There is some traffic noise as the trail approaches I-85, but it is otherwise quiet.
Another more recent disconnected segment takes runners on a 2.5-mile round trip through George Pierce Park in Suwanee on a combination of paved trail and boardwalk. The southern end of the trail connects to the beautiful and popular Suwanee Creek Greenway.
Parking is available at the trail's western end at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (2020 Clean Water Drive). For the George Pierce Park segment (55 Buford Highway), there is free parking in the park.
As a novice rider, this was a great trail for riding! The only real hill, other than the spur, is coming back up to the environmental center. Other than that the trail is mostly flat, made up of concrete, asphalt, and gravel/dirt, and runs along the creek. I would consider this a fairly easy ride.
I HAVE RAN THIS TRAIL SINCE IT OPENED. AND WITH ALL THE RAIN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YRS THE CREEK HAS FLOODED THE TRAIL MULTIPLE TIMES AND GWINNETT COUNTY HAS LET THE TRAIL GO TO POT, NEEDS JUST A LITTLE TLC WITH GRAVEL AND JUST CLEANED UP A BIT. GREAT TRAIL, JUST A SHAME IT USED TO BE AWESOME AND IS TURNING INTO JUST SO SO. SEVERAL MUDDY AND WET SPOTS WHERE YOU CAN SINK INTO MUD OVER YOUR SHOE, YOU HAVE TO STOP RUNNING AND MAKE YOUR WAY THRU THE WOODS TO GO AROUND IT. I TALK TO ONE VOLUNTEER FOR YEARS AND HE SAYS THE CONNECTION TO BOGAN PARK WON'T HAPPEN IN HIS LIFETIME, SO DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH IT WILL EVER CONNECT ANYWHERE ELSE.
Nice trail, would be great if they could expand this to the Suwanee Greenway, like it says on the map at the park.
I had been to the Heritage Center many years back when it had a few walking trails very close to the building. And it was ok for a brief walk. Now that it has expanded, and connected to the Ivy Creek Trail via expansion bridge, it is totally awesome. I take my chocolate lab with me and he just loves it. Totally shaded in most areas with access to the creek for dog swimming and cooling off. Cant wait until it is expanded even further.
Challenge Level: 3 Out of 5 (strenuous hills)
Scenery : 4 out of 5 Beautiful, fragrant run
Crowd : 5 out of 5 - rarely crowded
Safety: Run with a partner. Secluded
Amenities: No restrooms, no water
Little-know trail, wonderful for getting in a fun run and enjoying a partially canopied paved track.
Park by Moe's next to the Mall of Georgia, right by the exit ramp to 85. Step over the curb toward 85 and you will see the entrance to the trail on the left.
Drop in and enjoy a meandering paved path along the creek that crosses under the hwy abutments and overpasses as it spills into the waterfall and Mill area on the other side of the Hwy.
Continue to follow past apartment complex on the left and towering wooden bridges over the creek until you hit the "T" paved trail.
Take a left and then immediate right to get in the 3.5 miles, it will take you up/down some intermediate to challenging hills, bridges and switchbacks until you arrive at the HUGE SUSPENSION BRIDGE out in the middle of the woods. This is the end of the trail, turn around and head back to where you started and this will allow you to get in a 3.5 mile fun run.
Great trail! If you are needing more mileage, there are multiple dirt trails to take that are hilly & scenic. We only had to back track on part of the main paved trail to get back to our car and got in 5 miles, there were more trails we had even skipped. Really enjoyed our run.
This is a great trail in Buford, GA. I enjoy biking this trail with family. I also use regularly the Suwanee trail. I heard about plans to connect these two trails, but it has been a while since any other news on this.
Connecting both trails would make it the best trail in the Northeast Atlanta area. We need longer trails to provide for safe place for our communities to enjoy the outdoors and keep/get fit and healthy. Let's invest in better quality of life and ways to accomplish it! Connect the trails, make them 5 STARS!!!
Thanks!
I started on the trail at the Environmental and Heritage Center... There seemed to be a lot of trails but I finally found the one that was the longest. It was very nice, not really busy at 11am so was perfect to walk my dog!
This is a very nice trail between the Gwinnett Environmental Heritage Center and Mall of Georgia/Gravel Springs Road. Once it connects with Suwanee Greenway, it will be perfect! Please hurry and complete the rocket.
This trail is a nice mix of blacktop and gravel. Very scenic and not too rugged. Perfect for families. We always enjoy it.
This is a nice small trail. Perfect for the run after work! Didn't even know it existed!
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