North Georgia Family Fun

Wild Horse Creek Trail

Trails
This is a side trail of the Silver Comet, and looks pretty much the same.  It is about 8-10 feet wide and concrete/paved.  It is 4 miles in and out, taking about 1.5 - 2 hours to complete.  I was there several days after a rain and it was still very wet and muddy.  See pictures below. The mid made it difficult to stroll in some places, but not bad. 

Playground
None - however, the parking lot is at a ball field with a playground.

Other
There is a lookout you can climb to see over the marsh.  We did not see any animals but others have seen them there.  There is supposed to be the largest red maple tree in GA near the trailhead.  I looked but could not find it. i was disappointed because it is why i picked this trail that day, but now we just have to go back.  Also, I have to confess, we did not complete this trail due to the extra windy cold weather, so we will be going back!

Website

Pictures

 

Trails
This is a side trail of the Silver Comet, and looks pretty much the same.  It is about 8-10 feet wide and concrete/paved.  It is 4 miles in and out, taking about 1.5 - 2 hours to complete.  I was there several days after a rain and it was still very wet and muddy.  See pictures below. The mid made it difficult to stroll in some places, but not bad. 

Playground
None - however, the parking lot is at a ball field with a playground.

Other
There is a lookout you can climb to see over the marsh.  We did not see any animals but others have seen them there.  There is supposed to be the largest red maple tree in GA near the trailhead.  I looked but could not find it. i was disappointed because it is why i picked this trail that day, but now we just have to go back.  Also, I have to confess, we did not complete this trail due to the extra windy cold weather, so we will be going back!

Website

Pictures

 

Leita Thompson Memorial Park

Trails
There are 3 trails. The yellow one is 1.12 miles.  The blue one is 2 miles; the red one is 2.25 miles.  The red and blue trails offer a .25 mile extension around the lake.
All the trails are very shaded and crushed gravel.  It is wide enough for two people to walk side by side - even with strollers.  No tree trunks or erosion control logs.  There is one area where you have to cross a very small creek but I was able to do it without any problem in our regular stroller (not the all-terrain).

Playground

None

Other
There is an off-leash area for dogs, but you get to it from a different parking lot than you use to get to the trails.  Park by the gardens (not the ceramics house) for the trails. There are a lot of mosquitoes so bring some repellent.  There were several runners so try and stay to the right as you walk.

Pictures

Hembree Park

Trails
There is a trail that is just over 1 mile (maybe 1.2 or 1.2).  It is perfect for a stroller - crushed gravel. The trail is also extra wide so going with a friend is nice; you can walk side by side on the trail, even with strollers. The trail follows the outside edge of the park all the way around.  It is mostly shaded, but there are a few full sun spots.  It is also fairly level, making the walk pretty easy (unless you are in brand new flip-flops like I was today).  There are numerous rest stops along the way.

Playground
There is a pretty neat playground area in the back of the park.  It is fenced in, also. It kind of looks like it is in full sun, but the way the sun comes up, it is in the shade most of the day.

Other
There are lots of birds in this park and not a lot of people.  Tennis courts and ball fields, as usual.  I really like the fountain at the front of the park - took some cute pictures of my DS there.  There is also an activity building at this location.

Website

Pictures

Autry Mill

Trails
Autrey Mill has over 2 miles of nature trails that feature a walk through a hardwood forest to pine forest. They wander past a scenic creek with rocky shoals, many spring seeps, mature trees, wildflowers, native plants, and a variety of animal life. There is plenty to explore with bridges, an outlook, a farmer's attempt to discover gold, foundations stones of the old mill, plus benches and pavilions.

The trails are almost all in shade and I had no problems using a stroller. I got a trail map at the visitor center which was helpful, except that there were trails in the forest that were not on the map. Annoying for me.

Playground

There is not a playground

Other

There are some neat things there - an adobe shelter and a teepee.  There is a farm museum and a preserved house and church that are beautiful. The visitor center has geese, snakes, turtles and even a chinchilla.

Website

Pictures

Kidstock @ First Baptist Church of Woodstock

Trails
Just learned when I was there today that they have 3 walking trails - 1 mile, 1.25 miles and 1.5 miles. All sidewalk. Mostly sun.

Playground
One goes here for the playground, not the walking path.  The playground is better than anything I have ever seen. Lots of areas to play. The ground is made from recycled rubber tires so even though it had been raining for several days, it was not muddy or icky (except in the sand box). And the play set is made from materials that do not get too hot in the summer.
I have read that there is a water feature area for the kids.  A friend confirmed this, but I did not see it (I did not search it out, though, either).
Other friends who have been here before say that it can get very very busy, especially with older kids. There is a toddler area where only 2-5 year olds can go, but who knows if the older ones adhere to this.  When we were there, there were only 3 other parents (other than the group I was with).
One comment I heard from a mom-friend of mine who has a very energetic young boy - it is difficult to keep an eye on him because there are just so many places to play. 

Pictures

Grant Park

Trails
I cannot find the total number of miles of trails, but at least 3 miles are available
Trails are all concrete
Sun and Shade

Playground
Great playground and swings, covered picnic tables (require reservations) with a large grill area.

Other
This is a beautiful park with lots of trees and beautiful plants including a Native Plant Examination Area
Adjacent to the Zoo and the Cyclorama - doing all 3 things together makes for a great day

Website

Pictures

Webb Bridge Park

UPDATED with trail information and pictures 5/11

Trails
There are trails here, but we were not able to walk on them. I will update this post when we get the opportunity. I cannot find any information about how long the trails are.

I think you can connect to The Big Creek Greenway from here - 12 miles roundtrip of concrete to Mansell.  But, that is another post.  I am pretty sure there are other trails within the park

Trails are compressed gravel and very easy to maneuver with a stroller. 

They are in mostly shade. 

Main trail is 1 mile; there is an additional 1/3 mile loop available.  It is very nice by a stream at a lower elevation.

Very pretty plant life along the trail; a small man-made pond; multiple elevations but the rise is shallow and very easy.

The trail is very wide so a good choice for strolling with a friend - you can talk with them while strolling.  Right before lunch it was not too busy, but school is still in session.

Did not see connection to the Greenway.

Even though it is only a mile, there is something to seeing the mile markers...makes you feel successful.

Playground
Incredible playground. Water feature through center of playground, but they have not had it turned on lately because of the drought. Sandbox, sundial, swings, slides, xylophone (yes, you read that right). In a very shady area.  There is a center grassy area in the sun that makes for a great picnic space.

Other
Restrooms and water fountains.

Website
http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/index.php?p=219

Pictures

trail map posted at start of trail

beginning of trail (going left) - the sidewalk to the right takes you to the playground - to the left is a bathroom facility

man-made lake

example of mile markers posted every .2 miles

in front of the lake, looking left, see further along the trail at a lower elevation

Irises growing along the "stream" flowing from run off into the lake

flowers and more example of the trail terrain

right before the .7 mile marker, the trail allows for a sharp turn to the right for an extra 1/3 mile. Take it! It is nice and cool in the lower elevation with a stream making a relaxing water noise. There are 2x2 erosion control boards at various places in this area - stroller seemed to have no problem navigating them.

Heading down the spur

Coming out of the spur, looking down on the part of the trail we just came from (you can barely see the trail beyond the trees)

entrance to the playground

Big Trees Forest Preserve

Trails
Following the 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Atlanta book (and website) we walked 1.5 miles

The path was relatively easy with a stroller.  There was one section of the path -- a rock "bridge" over the creek -- that was not stroller-friendly.  I actually had to take my DS across and sit him down, then go back across and carry the stroller over the bridge.  It was not a big deal, but something important to note. (picture of it below)

Along the path in various places are 2x2's on a diagonal to help prevent erosion of the trail.  Most of them have mulch surrounding them that makes the transition over them no big deal.  Some, however, are missing the mulch.  This means having to maneuver the stroller over them which can become annoying.

Almost entirely shaded. Cool shade with a breeze, even on a 90 degree day.

There are a number of switchbacks.  The elevation is very steep, but the switchbacks back it doable with little effort.

Playground

There is not a playground.

Website

http://www.bigtreesforest.com/

Other

This park's entrance is in the parking lot of an office building.  It is a beautiful place, and a secret hide-a-way worth visiting. I highly recommend it.

Pictures

Swift-Cantrell Park

Trails
Outer trail is 1 mile; inner trail is 1/2 mile
Paved and perfect for a stroller
SUN SUN SUN - there is just no shade at this park. (Why do they level those trees?)

Playground
Really nice playgrounds. The one for the younger kids is fenced.  But, again, there is no shade.
There are covered picnic pavilions for some respite.
The restrooms are very close (as is parking) and they are nice and clean.

Other
There is a skate half-pipe and quarter-pipe (combined), and an off-leash area for dogs. One for small dogs and one for other dogs.
There is a lot of green grass for hanging out.  There were people sunbathing when we were there.

Sorry, no pictures.  Going there was unplanned and I was without a camera. Click here for pictures taken by someone else.

Roswell Riverwalk

Trails
An old website indicates this is 5 miles each way (10 miles total) from Don White to Willeo. I think it is 3.5 miles each way (7 miles) from end to end.
Regardless, it took us exactly 2 hours to walk from Azalea Park (the first parking lot at the .75 mile marker) to the "End" marker, and back. 
All paved or packed gravel perfect for the stroller
Sun and shade along the trail

Playground
There are several playgrounds along the way in the first 1-2 miles.

Pictures