North Georgia Family Fun

Hidden Songbird Trail

Trails
Songbird Trail is a 1.7-mile loop that is very easy and not a problem with a regular stroller.

Playground
None

Other
This trail passes through 300 acres of lands managed specifically to enhance songbird viewing by providing a diversity of habitats. Shrubs, forests, beaver ponds, and grassy areas each attract their own array of birds. Species seen here include chestnut-sided warblers, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, sandhill cranes, and red crossbills. An observation platform overlooking a beaver pond is an excellent place to observe wildlife. If you are going to the mountains to see wildlife, this is the place to go. Bring a camera.

This trail takes a long time to get to.  But, I think it was worth it. I'd like to go back in the Spring.

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Vickery Creek

Trails
There are 6 miles of trails here.  It is not good for taking a stoller.

Playground
None

Other
There are a few picnic tables alongside the creek as well as some semi-strenuous cliff sides. Use caution when climbing on the rocks. It takes you past the mill's power plant, the spinning room, and along the banks of the creek to the dam that helped to create the power for Roswell Mill

Website

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East Palisades Trail

Trails
3 mile loop. Beautiful and peaceful. Dirt/clay trail which get REALLY muddy after the rain. This was very doable but not easy with a jogging stroller.  I would not recommend it without one (or an all terrain).  I would not have been able to do what I did with our regular Chicco stroller.  There are a lot of tree roots on the trail and about 10 or so tree trunks crossing the path (in one area, three cross the path all together - don't let this discourage you - this path is the easiest way).  You have to go over these - you can't go around them.
As a rule of thumb, stay to the left when the trail spits.  I did not follow this rule and spent 30 minutes on a sharp incline with tons of tree roots.  I was not able to finish after that craziness, only to learn upon turning around that I went the wrong way and it should have been a relatively easy 5 minute walk.
Trails are in all shade, and we got a good breeze from the water (at least today we did).  Bring Skin So Soft -- it was cool today but the mosquitoes were still out because it is such a lush forest and by the water.

Playground
No playground here.

Other
We saw blue heron, babies ducks, pretty native wildflowers, tons of song birds and more.  It was very nice.
If you are a timid walker, you may want to bring a sling rather than a stroller.  There are some tiny paths, steep drops and big holes (from tree roots coming out of the ground).  I am a wimp and I still did it, but it is not a piece of cake.
There is a $3 parking fee here.
Great places to bring the kids to play in the water, especially right by the parking lot.
There are not any restrooms that I saw.
People were fishing there which was nice.

Website

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Coming Soon

Wildcat Creek Trail

Trails
1.5 mile hike
After 40 minutes into the hike I had to stop. It became too intense a hike with my son on my back. This is definitely not a stroller-friendly hike.
The first part of the trail is very sunny. After the sharp turn and the natural "stairs" it turns into shade.
The water sound is very calming.  The creek is lined with rhododendron and will be pretty when in bloom.
The creek is a great place for small and big kids to play in.

I will probably not do this hike alone, again.  It is too difficult a hike (at least in today's heat) to do with my son.  Maybe soon I can get my husband to go so that we can take turns carrying him in the ergo carrier. 

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Additional Information

From Dawson County Website

Access to this network of connected trails is normally off Steve Tate Road in the northeastern part of the county. To reach Wildcat Creek Trail, take Steve Tate north until you are just past Pleasant Union Baptist Church. At that point, take a left onto Wildcat Campground Road, a well maintained gravel road that descends into the valley for about a mile. Keep an eye on the right for scenic views of the Amicalola River far below in a rocky gorge. The road dead ends as it flattens out in the river bottom and an information kiosk with trail information on the left as you enter the campground area will provide details on the three area trails. Wildcat Creek Trail is about 1.5 miles long and begins just upstream of the campground area. A small footbridge across the Amicalola provides access, and the trail follows Wildcat Creek along its length. Mountain laurels, azaleas, rhododendrons and other flowering mountain species dot the ridgelines as the trail follows a gentle course through the mostly flat valley. Some uphill sections and trail obstructions, including logs and rocks, and an easy ford across Wildcat Creek, are easily negotiated even by children. However, Wildcat Creek Trail still provides a solitary, backcountry hiking experience within an hour of a major metropolitan area. Hikers can finish the hike and return by the same trail, or join up with Fall Creek Trail. Falls Creek Trail is a more challenging hike, with significant elevation gain and more rugged conditions than Wildcat Creek. Turner Trail is part of an old homestead tract known as the Turner Estate, and provides access to the upper Wildcat Creek area over almost two miles of improved trail following an old road bed. To reach Turner Trail, go past the Wildcat Campground Road on Steve Tate Road to the trailhead at Turner Bridge where it crosses the Amicalola. Turner Trail ends up on Wildcat Creek, not far from the upper end of the Wildcat trail. This trail section also connects to Rocky Ford Trail as well as other unnamed trails in the area. Windy Ridge Trail begins at mile 1 on the Turner Trail and is a fairly strenuous hike to the summit of a 2,500 foot mountain ridge, and connects back to the Eastern Wildcat trail system by either the Rocky Ford Trail or the Wildcat trail.