Friday, July 17, 2009

3.2 Miles Today

3.2 Miles this morning, 2 in my Nike Frees and 1.2 barefoot. Felt great, but that only makes 12 miles this week so I need to try and get in a little longer run this weekend.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Red Top Mountain - Iron Hill Trail

Nice 3.1 mile run this morning along Iron Hill Trail in Red Top Mountain State Park. The trail is rough had packed gravel and dirt that runs along the banks of Lake Allatoona. There is a $5 daily parking fee which is self-service, so make sure you have exact change.

Red Top Mountain Trail Map

Red Top Mountain - Iron Hill Trail

Friday, July 10, 2009

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Vickery Park, Roswell Mill, & Covered Bridge

I woke up early and ran the 3 mile trail loop from the Old Roswell Mill through Vickery Park. It is a fun run with a lot of short climbs that will give your calfs a good burn.

This is the Mill Visitor entrance.













Couple of the Historical Markers for the Mill and Covered Bridge.












The Covered Bridge and Trail Head.














Once you cross the bridge and head up a flight of stairs it is a short climb to the first trail intersection and you can either head East or South West. I ran southwest this morning and it is mostly downhill for about the first mile. At about the half mile mark there is a Wire crossing the trail about chest high which I assume is your warning to SLOW DOWN. The trail pretty much ends here and you have to scale across a rock outcropping for about 40 yards. (See Hazard marker on GPS map below) It is not difficult to scale, but you definitely don't want to hit it at full speed.

The run was very nice, but there are a lot of rocks, stumps, and roots in the trail so you have to watch where you are stepping. At about the 2 1/2 mile mark you can keep running straight back to the covered bridge or you can climb down 40ft or so to the dam and rope swing/swimming hole area. (See Markes on GPS Map) Here is a view of the Front of the Damn, On top Looking over the Edge, and the Rope Swing on top of the damn. You can take off your shoes and walk across the top of the damn as long as you walk slowly (it is slippery) and stay away from the edge (30ft drop), but the water runs slowly so it is not difficult to cross.













After you cross it is just a short jog back to the Mill Parking lot.

GPS Map

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Vickery Trail

On Tuesday I ran about half of the park and did a little exploring. It seems there are a few swimming holes on the creek and they are frequented by quite a few of the local high school kids. The tail loop itself wasn't very hilly, but there are some big hills to climb if you want to get down close to the river. I am going to try to get back this weekend to do the whole loop.

Here is a Map of the run I did on Tuesday. I parked in the Oxbo Rd. lot and rand through the residential area and down to the Mill entrance, but I should have gone the other way or parked at Mill to begin with. There is also a parking lot on the south side of the park off Riverside Dr. I will post a full Map this weekend hopefully.

Vickery Creek Trail Map

Atlanta Area and North Georgia Trail Maps

I wanted to put together a comprehensive list of running and hiking trails in the Atlanta and North Georgia area so we could get them all in one place. This is by all means a work in progress, so please email me or leave a comment if you have a link to a better map, experience with a certain trail, or additions. It is my personal goal to run as many of these trails as possible. I plan on creating an individual post for each one I run with GPS map and notes.


Atlanta and North Georgia Trail Map Links


National Park Service Trails

(Kennesaw Mountain, Chikamauga and Chattanooga, Chattahoochee River)

Kennesaw Mountain Park Trails

(Kolb’s Farm Loop Trail, Cheatham Hill Trail, Burt Hickory Loop Trail)

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Lookout Mountain / Point Park / Chickamauga Battlefield

Overview Map

Lookout Mountain Unit Map

Chickamauga Unit Map


Chattahoochee River Trails


All Maps

Park Overview Map

Area Over View Map

Individual Maps for Chattahoochee River Trails

Bowman Island Trail

Abbots Bridge Trail

Medlock Bridge Trail

Jones Bridge Trail

Island Ford Trail

Vickery Creek Trail

Gold Branch Trail

Johnson Ferry North Trail

Johnson Ferry South Trail

Cochran Shoals (Columns Drive)

Cochran Shoals (Interstate North)

Cochran Shoals Trail Map with Distance Markers

Sope Creek Trail

Powers Island Trail

Palisades - East of the River (Indian Trail, Whitewater Creek)

Palisades - West of the River (Akers Mill, Paces Mill)


State Park Trails


Clickable Map to All Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites

Red Top Mountain State Park Trails (Homestead Trail, Sweet Gum Trail, Iron Hill Trail, Lakeside Trail)

Sweet Water Creek State Park Trail

Pickett’s Mill State Park Trail – Trail Maps available on site. (If anyone finds an online version let me know)

James H Floyd State Park Trails

Cloudland Canyon State Park Trails

Fort Mountain State Park Trails

Amicalola Falls State Park Trails

Vogel State Park Trails

Smith Gall Woods State Park

UniCoi State Park Trails

Moccasin Creek State Park Trails

Black Rock Mountain State Park Trails

Tallulah Gorge State Park Trails

Tugaloo State Park Trails

Hart State Park Trails

Victoria Bryant State Park Trails

Richard B. Russell State Park

Watson Mill Bridge State Park

Fort Yargo State Park Trails

Bobby Brown State Park

Panola Mountain State Park


City, County, and Other Parks

Clickable Georgia Map with Park Information by County

Georgia Wildlife Resources Division & Wildlife Management Association Map (Clickable Map with WMA Managed Sites)

Roswell, GA Parks & Trail Map - Full Map

(Leita Thompson Park, Sweet Apple Park, Hembree Park, Roswell Area Park, Big Creek Park, Waller Park, East Roswell Park, Gerrard Landing, Roswell River Walk, Don White Memorial Park, Riverside Park, Azalea Park, Willeo Park)

Chattahoochee Nature Center Trails


(Stone Cabin Trail, Beaver Pond Trail, Kingfisher Pond Trail, Forest Trail, Homestead Trail, River Boardwalk Trail)


Appalachian Trail (Georgia Section)

Pine Mountain

McDaniel Farm Park Trail

Altoona Pass Trail

Stone Mountain Park Trails

Suwanee Creek Greenway Trails

Autrey Hills Nature Preserve

Wild Horse Creek Trail

The Big Creek Greenway

Wills Park

Forsyth County Big Creek Greenway (Under Construction)

Sawnee Mountain Trails

Georgia U.S. Forest Camping Areas and Trail (Need Maps) Information

Chattahoochee National Forest Maps – Tons of Trails!!

PiedMont Park

Raccoon Mountain Trails

Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center Trails

Pine Log Creek Trail

Simsonwood Trail