The Best Parks and Trails Near Atlanta

When it comes to parks and green spaces, Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs have an abundance of places to explore nature.

This post, for all intents and purposes, will be a directory of all the great parks, green spaces and trails around the metro Atlanta Area. Documenting this project is large and will take time.

This page will improve over time, be patient and check back!

As I explore all the Atlanta neighborhoods and suburbs in Atlanta, this directory will improve with guides on how to get to the park, what there is to do at each park and any other tip or tidbit I think may be helpful to someone not familiar with the park, trail or green space.

While exploring parks online, what I noticed was that each city or parks department documented minimal information. There were other sites that went deep on hiking or biking, but there really wasn’t a single place to really understand all the great parks and recreation in Atlanta.

My focus will be to start on downtown, northern neighborhoods and suburbs.

Why?

Mostly because it’s impossible to do everything in a metro area like Atlanta once and need to start somewhere.

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Parks In Atlanta City Limits

• Centennial Olympic Park offers 22 acres dedicated to when Atlanta hosted the Olympics. Today, it is a place where kids can splash in the water or you can snap a photo next to the Olympic Rings or just enjoy the playgrounds, gardens, and expansive lawns.

• The Eastside Trail on the Atlanta BeltLine is a paved trail that runs from Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta and runs through the Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park, ending a couple blocks past the Krog Street Tunnel.

• The Freedom Trail is a walking trail that starts at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Park and extends parallel to the John Lewis Freedom Parkway to the Jimmy Carter Museum. From there it heads south through the Inman Park Neighborhood. You can continue on the trail in Poncey-Highland or Candler Park.

• Springvale Park is a small wooded park with walking trails and a playground.

Piedmont Park

Historic Fourth Ward Park

Atlanta Memorial Park

Grant Park

Winn Park

Woodruff Park

Central Park

Tanyard Creek Park

DH Stanton Park

Cabbagetown Park

Olmsted Linear Park

Little Nancy Creek Park

Maddox Park

West End Park

Brownwood Park

Charlie Loudermilk Park

Chastain Memorial Park

Shady Valley Park

Anderson Park

Westside Park

Standing Peachtree Park

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Parks in Fulton County

Alpharetta

• Wills Park is a large park full of ball fields, walking trails, a dog park, playgrounds, swimming pool, a recreation center, basket ball courts, disc golf, tennis courts and an equestrian center,
• The Big Creek Greenway is paved trail that runs over eight miles from Windward parkway to Mansel Road. The trail is ideal for biking, roller blading, running or walking. It runs directly along the Big Creek. Sections of the trail will flood if there is a lot of rain. Along the trail are a few opportunities to bring your mountain bike.
• North Park is a 97 acre park with baseball fields, football fields, soccer fields, two playgrounds, pavilions and many tennis courts. There is a walking trail the follows the road through the park. Some parts are paved and some run through the woods.
• Cogburn Park is a small six acre park that has a large playground and greenspace. There is a circle trail, perfect for kids to bring their bikes or scooters.
• Webb Bridge Park is a green space on the border of Alpharetta and John’s Creek that has a large walking trial and pavilions.

Roswell

• The Vickery Creek Trail is located in Old Mill Park. It has a scenic hike that includes the Vickery Creek Waterfall, a covered bridge and an old historic mill.
• The Gold Branch Trail is a wonderful hike along the backs of the Chattahoochee river. They parking lot is small so get their early on the weekends.
• The Roswell RiverWalk allows you to walk or ride along the banks of the Chattahoochee River
• Big Creek Park has many mountain biking trails and connects to the Greenway, which is a paved trail for walking, running or biking that runs over 10 miles up through Alpharetta.
• Riverside Park Roswell has seomething for everyone. In the summertime, there is a splash park for the kids and multiple playgrounds. There are paved and unpaved trails perfect for walking and access to the River Walk. They even host concerts in the summer.
• Azalea Park has access to drop a kayak in the Chattahoochee river and access to the Roswell Riverwalk.
• Roswell Area Park has a lake, soccer and rugby fields, playgrounds & and a recreation center.
• East Roswell Park has sports fields, disc golf and a dog park
• Sweet Apple Park has walking trials and sports fields and a playground and a large sand box.
• Leita Thompson Memorial Park
• Mabry Park
• Don White Memorial Park
• Grimes Bridge Park
• Hembree Park

Milton

• Providence Park in Milton has gone through renovations in 2021. Added to the park was a paved trail from the parking lot all the way to the lake. On the lake is a newly constructed covered pier, with room to fish or have a picnic.
• Birmingham park has over a mile outer loop trail, with many interconnecting trails that you can extend your hike. Horses are allowed on the trail system.
• Bell Memorial Park has Astroturf sports fields and many baseball fields. The playground next to the snack stand is fun for the little ones. There is a walking trail the runs along the perimeter of the park.
• Wood Road is a dirt road that connects Birmingham highway with Freemanville Road. Parking is available at the intersection of Phillips Cir and Freemanville Road. The road is a little over 1.5 miles and you can walk, bike or jog out and back.

Sandy Springs

• The Island Ford Park is a hiking trail along the Chattahoochee River. This trail has a lot to offer, and is one of the prettiest sections of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.  The loop trails at Island Ford offer about 5 miles to explore.

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Georgia State Parks Near Atlanta

• Don Carter State Park in Gainesville, GA is nestled in the woods on the north eastern tip of Lake Lanier where the Chattahoochee River feeds the lake. The park offers miles of hiking trails, access to the lake, a beach, primitive campsites, cottages and RV campsites.

• Amicalola Falls State Park is home to the state of Georgia’s tallest waterfall. The park has 604 steps to climb along side the waterfall. In addition there are trails, campsites and a lodge. Come see why this is one of the states natural wonders.

Sweetwater Creek State Park

Panola Mountain State Park

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Vogel State Park

Tallulah Gorge State Park

Fort Yargo State Park

Hard Labor Creek State Park

Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Indian Springs State Park

High Falls State Park

National Parks Near Atlanta

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is just steps from the location where he was born and raised on Auburn Ave. The acreage around the park is beautifully manicured. There are many buildings to tour and exhibits to see while you are there.

• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a series of amazing parks and hiking trails along the Chattahoochee River. The units of the recreation area or found along a stretch of 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River and extends between Lake Lanier and Atlanta.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

Jimmy Carter National Historic Site

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Chickamauga And Chattanooga National Military Park