Wear Out Your Walking Shoes
In Cobb, Cherokee Counties and North Georgia
Worth the Walk
10 Places to Wear Out Your Walking Shoes in Cherokee County
BY THE WANDERERReaders have noted the mention in the biography at the bottom of my articles: I walked more than 2,000 miles in 2022. Some have asked for suggestions on where to walk; others have asked if I walk the same paths routinely and if I get tired of it all. So, I thought a month’s break from covering Cherokee County history, to focus on another of my passions, might be well received.
If you walk as much as I do, there will be some routine. My mileage total last year literally was the distance from downtown Atlanta to Sacramento, California. Unless you undertake a trek like that, you’re going to repeat more than a few footsteps. However, you don’t have to leave Cherokee County to wear out a pair of walking shoes.
I’ve previously written about a few places close to home:
•Olde Rope Mill Park, located along Exit 9 off Interstate 575, is cherished by mountain bikers and hikers. Bikers have the right of way, but hikers are welcome, provided they walk in the opposite direction and yield to the cyclists.
•Lewis Park spans 57 acres north of Towne Lake off Bells Ferry Road. The park has a loop trail that’s a little more than a mile long. If you cross the street at the park entrance, you’ll see a small unmarked trail that leads to Allatoona Lake.
• The Pine Log Creek Trail borders Cherokee County, just outside Waleska on Highway 140. The trail spans nearly 5 miles and offers views of a rock quarry.
• The Boy Scout-maintained trails near the back of Boling Park in Canton boast more than 10 miles of footpaths. For more information, visit www.etowahhikingtrails.org/ trail-system-overview.
If you missed the articles in which those trails were highlighted, visit https://townelaker.com/ archives, and scroll to the 2022 March, April, June, July and August issues.
There are many more places worth the walk that I haven’t featured:
•J.B. Owens Park, located along Hickory Road, has natural and concrete trails.
• The walkway that runs through the 58-acre Etowah River Park to the 48-acre Heritage Park in Canton offers a roughly 3-mile sidewalk along the Etowah River. (See the next page for details about future connections.)
• The Blankets Creek trail system, off Sixes Road, consists of seven trails. Like Rope Mill, hikers go in the opposite direction of bikes and must give bikers the right of way at all times.
• There are miles of interconnected trails around Lake Allatoona, accessible through places such as Barnett Park and Field’s Landing Park in Canton.
If you want to extend your reach, north Georgia offers some amazing walks/hikes within a two- or three-hour drive. Some are physically challenging; others are short and accessible enough that even those with limited mobility or in need of a wheelchair can enjoy them. To find the ones that fit you, I’d suggest a little homework online. And you can always ask me via email; I’m happy to give you my opinion. (Turn to Page 20 to check out The Wanderer’s Top 14 north Georgia trails.)
Wonderings of th e
WANDERER
Special feature presented by Aroundabout Local Media.
_ Green: completed _ Red: proposed _ Blue: funded — Black: Woodstock city limits
To interact with the map, visit https://bit.ly/3MSb2VE.
Trail Connections Within Our County and Beyond
Plans to construct a trail along Bells Ferry Road are underway. County leaders are in the concept phase currently, which is expected to take about a year. Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co. was awarded the standard construction services agreement for the concept design of the Bells Ferry MultiUse Trail. This federally funded project consists of a 3.5-mile, 10-foot-wide path along the west side of Bells Ferry Road, from the Cobb County line to Victory Drive. The project is part of the Bells Ferry widening project.
That’s not the only location where a trail connection with Cobb has been proposed. The
Noonday Creek Trail, starting next to Reformation Brewery in Woodstock and winding down to Highway 92 will connect to Cobb County’s extensive trail system, tying Woodstock’s trails all the way to the Silver Comet Trail, into Atlanta and beyond. The city of Woodstock already has acquired the right of way and funding, and expects to have this connection completed in 2024.
The Woodstock City Council also has designated three tracts of land along Little River to comprise a 106-acre park site. Little River Park will be the city’s largest park, extending from Trickum Road down to the Woodlands. In addition to proposed paddle launches, boardwalks, treehouses and more, the trail system will extend the length of the park, creating significant east-west connectivity and an alternate
transportation option. In Canton, the walkway that runs from Etowah Park through Heritage Park soon will expand through what used to be Crescent Farm and reach Boling Park. Expected to be completed by the end of the year, the fully paved system of interconnected sidewalks will take parkgoers from Etowah River Park to Heritage to Boling, or vice versa, without having to cross any major roadways and — for runners — a complete 10K without ever passing the same spot.
The Wanderer has been a resident of Cherokee County for nearly 20 years, and constantly is learning about his community on daily walks, which totaled a little more than 2,000 miles in 2022. Send questions or comments to wanderingga@gmail.com.
14 Must-Visit North Georgia Hiking Trails
The Best Places to Leave Your Footprints, From Waterfalls to Mountain Vistas
BY THE WANDERERI build walks and hikes into every place I travel. A few years ago, my wife and I walked more than 16 miles in one day exploring Barcelona. For me, the best part of traveling is experiencing a new part of our planet on foot. Last year, my feet found their way along multimile paths and trails in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan, Maine, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. They all were beautiful in their own way.
North Georgia, however, is equally amazing. The middle of nowhere is a lot closer than you might think and well worth the view. Here are 14 north Georgia hiking destinations I enjoy, almost all of which I find myself traversing repeatedly.
The Wanderer has been a resident of Cherokee County for nearly 20 years, and constantly is learning about his community on daily walks, which totaled a little more than 2,000 miles in 2022. Send questions or comments to wanderingga@gmail.com.
The Wanderer walked more than 1,800 miles in 2021 and 2,000 miles in 2022. As he adds to his total for 2023, ALM asked him to share his favorite walking trails in north Georgia. For those of you who enjoy hiking and scenic views, we’ll leave you with this thought, which likely came to The Wanderer as he was walking one of these trails: “As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, what you find the most enjoyable has as much to do with you as it does with the place itself.”
1.Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville has a very nice trail at the bottom of the falls and a stairway to the top. If you want a workout, you easily can get that in.
2. Toccoa Falls is beautiful and easily accessible at 107 Kincaid Drive, Toccoa Falls, GA 30598.
3. Vogel State Park in Blairsville has a small lake created by a spillway, with an easy, flat trail encircling it. Just off the spillway is a very short, but somewhat steep, path to Trayleta Falls, which includes a deck that puts the water right under your feet.
4.Dukes Creek Falls, located on the Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Highway, offers a moderate hiking trail and views of nearby Mount Yonah.
5.Anna Ruby Falls, next to Unicoi State Park in Helen, is accessible by a paved trail and stairs, with multiple viewing platforms.
6. The trail to Raven Cliff Falls, off Richard Russell Highway in Helen, is approximately 6.6 miles round-trip and follows Dodd Creek most of the way.
7. The DeSoto Falls Trail, located near Dahlonega, boasts five waterfalls along a 3-mile section.
8.Smithgall Woods Conservation Area is a popular destination for those who want even more walking or like to fly-fish. Located near Helen, the cabins book quickly, so prepare well in advance if you’d like to stay overnight.
9. Tallulah Gorge State Park, along the county line between Rabun and Habersham counties, offers those willing to climb a spectacular view. You can see the falls with a short walk. For those capable, doing the entire circuit, 1,000 feet down and back up again, absolutely is worth the effort. Before you go, check the schedule for days they’ll be opening the spillway over the dam. Seeing the torrent of water rushing through the gorge just might be the most exciting outdoor activity Georgia has to offer.
10.Cloudland Canyon State Park in Rising Fawn offers more challenging hikes and the beautiful Hemlock Falls as a reward for navigating elevation changes.
WANDERER Wonderings of th e
11.Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia, has a steep trail from the parking lot to the observation deck in Hiawassee. There also is a shuttle to the top, so even those who prefer to wander or amble, not undertake a challenging hike, can get the full experience.
12.Bell Mountain has a rather narrow, switchback drive to the top of the rugged mountain, with observation decks and an incredible panoramic view of Lake Hiawassee.
13. Mount Oglethorpe, right next door to Cherokee in Pickens County, is the original southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. At 3,288 feet, it is the southernmost peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has observation areas and a trail circuit that can be as easy or as challenging as you’d like.
14.Springer Mountain, the current terminus of the Appalachian Trail, is for serious hikers. As with all these hikes, make sure you do your research first, especially to ensure you are up for this one.
Happy Trails
Plenty of Good Hiking Spots in Cobb County
BY DONNA HARRISFor people who love to hike, Cobb County offers a number of places to wear out your walking shoes.
An extensive system of more than 120 miles of federal, county and city trails covers the entire county, and some trails also connect or will connect with trails in other counties to provide a number of recreational opportunities and an alternative form of transportation.
The Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PARKS) Department manages 60 miles of paved and natural-surface trails, and the Cobb Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains the trail system map, which identifies multiuse and recreation trails that are existing, planned and programmed, according to the Cobb comprehensive PARKS master plan.
Cobb Trails
Silver Comet Trail, Noonday Creek Trail and trails in Allatoona Creek Park are among the most popular hiking sites in the county.
•Silver Comet Trail
Probably the best-known trail in Cobb County, Silver Comet is a 60mile multiuse, paved trail stretching from Smyrna into Alabama. Cobb’s section is a 12.8-mile path in the southern part of the county that was developed along an abandoned rail line once traveled by the Silver Comet passenger train. Connections to other city and county parks are planned.
•Noonday Creek Trail
Noonday is a paved multiuse side path and greenway trail that extends for 7 miles from Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to the Noonday Creek trailhead on Bells Ferry Road, connecting Kennesaw Mountain to Town Center and Kennesaw State University (KSU). Opened in September 2014, the trail is accessible for a variety of recreational users, including walkers, joggers and cyclists. Connections can be made from the West Cobb/Barrett Parkway, Mountain to River and Big Shanty Road trails.
•Allatoona Creek Park Trails
The 1,450-acre Allatoona Creek Park, Cobb’s largest park, contains 40 miles of naturalsurface multiuse trails, making it the most extensive trail system in the county.
The Acworth park also is home to the largest purposebuilt multiuse trail in Georgia. “Purpose-built means that the entire trail system was professionally designed and constructed as a destination trail system,” said John Purcell, recreation program coordinator with Cobb PARKS.
The trails host a variety of events, including cross-country races for eight local high schools, the Georgia Cycling Association race series, three running races and four bike races conducted by promoters, mountain bike and cross-country camps, bike clinics, trail workdays, night hikes, group rides, wildlife walkabouts and hiking clinics.
Purcell added more trails will be constructed in the future, including one that will connect the Allatoona Creek Greenway to Price Park in Kennesaw.
Community Improvement District (CID) Trails
There also are two fairly interconnected networks of greenways and trails in the Town Center CID and the Cumberland CID, according to the 2018 Greenways and Trails Master Plan (GTMP), which focuses primarily on trails outside park properties. Trails throughout the Town Center CID mainly link to Noonday Creek and include facilities on Big Shanty Road, the KSU walking trail and Town Point Parkway. In the Cumberland CID, key trails include the Bob Callan Trail; segments on Cumberland Boulevard, Circle 75 Parkway and Interstate North Parkway; and Akers Mill Road.
Noonday Creek Trail
Cobb County Countywide Trail Map
Acworth Trails
•Cauble Park
•Logan Farm Park
Kennesaw Trails
•Depot Park
•Adams Park
•Winchester Forest Park
•Deerfield Park
•Swift-Cantrell Park
Cobb County Trails
•Akers Mill Trails, East and West
•Al Bishop Trail
• Allatoona Creek Park Trails
•A.L. Burruss and Life University Trails
•Bob Callan Trail/Rottenwood Creek Trail
•Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Trails
•Concord Road Trail
•Dallas Highway Trail
•East Cobb Park Trail/East Cobb Trail on Roswell Road
•Floyd Road Trail
•Green Meadows Preserve Trails
•Heritage Park Trail
•Hyde Farm Park Trails
•Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Trails
•Kennesaw Mountain to River Trail
•Leone Hall Price Park Trails
•Lewis Road Trail
•Lower Roswell Trail
•Lucille Creek Trail
•Noonday Creek Trail
•Rottenwood Creek Trail-University Trail
•Silver Comet Trail
•Silver Comet Cumberland Connector Trail
•West Cobb Trail/Barrett Parkway Trail
•Wild Horse Creek Trail
The 2,965-acre national battlefield includes 19 miles of interpretive walking trails that allow visitors to view information about the Civil War battle that took place there June 19-July 2, 1864, as part of Union Gen. William Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. Connecting to the park is the Noonday Creek Trail.
The recreation area, designated a National Recreation Area in 1978, contains 48 miles of river flowing from Lake Lanier’s Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek. Winding through several cities and four counties, including Cobb County, the corridor includes more than 70 miles of hiking trails.
Special Feature
Cobb County participates in the Emergency Locator Marker program, which provides trail markers at every quarter mile along the trails in the county’s system. These markers provide U.S. National Grid alphanumeric coordinates, which are important for emergency responders. When provided in 911 calls, the coordinates quickly direct emergency responders to a location on a trail where a physical address might not exist.
Trail Map Legend
Map courtesy of the Cobb County Department of TransportationConnectivity
While most trails are contained within the county, a few Cobb trails already extend or will extend into other counties.
The Silver Comet Trail begins in Smyrna and runs to the Georgia/ Alabama state line, where it joins the Chief Ladiga Trail and continues to Anniston, Alabama. The Silver Comet Connector Trail, which will stretch from the Cumberland area across the Chattahoochee River into Fulton County to connect to Atlanta’s trail system, is in various stages of planning and construction, according to Laura Beall, planning division manager for Cobb DOT.
And the Noonday Creek Trail will be connecting with Cherokee County in the near future.
City Trails
•Acworth
Located on Lake Acworth, Cauble Park has more than a mile of multiuse trails and two bridges that connect the park with adjacent neighborhoods. Logan Farm Park features almost 2 miles of paved and unpaved trails along Tanyard Creek, linking the park with adjoining neighborhoods.
“We also consider any of the sidewalks that are big enough for golf carts (8 feet wide or more) to be part of the trail system,” Acworth spokeswoman Taylor Aubrey said. “The plan in the next several years is to have full connectivity around Lake Acworth. There are also lots of sidewalks, making the Main Street area very walkable from the north side of downtown, all the way to North Cobb High School.”
Aubrey added an official city trail map is “actually in the works,” but it won’t be completed for “a few more
•Kennesaw
The Deerfield Park, Kennesaw First Baptist Church, Matlock, Whispering Lake and Winchester Forest Park trails make up the Kennesaw trail system. Each trail has a different trailhead.
In addition, the city has three parks that have trails within them, according to spokeswoman Rebecca Graham.
“Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw’s largest community park, is home to a 1-mile-long perimeter trail, and the (inner) half-mile-long Fisher King Iditarod Lead Dog Memorial Trail,” she said. “The 12-foot-wide perimeter trail is ideal for walking, running and cycling. The 8-foot-wide inner trail is ideal for strolling and dog walking. Both trails are paved asphalt.”
At just over a half-mile, the 8-foot-wide concrete trail at Adams Park extends from Park Drive at the northern boundary of the park to points near Watts Drive along the southern boundary, Graham said. Skating and dogs are permitted on the trail and sidewalks, unless otherwise posted.
Depot Park, located downtown across from the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, has about a half-mile of paved sidewalks.
“The city of Woodstock, with Cherokee County, has a trail nearing a construction phase, which will connect the existing trail in downtown Woodstock into Cobb County at the north end of Noonday Creek Park,” Beall said.
The 2-mile trail would be a 10-footwide shared-use concrete path stretching from Noonday Creek Park at Shallowford Road into Cherokee County, where it would link up with the existing Woodstock Noonday Creek Trail at Highway 92, according to the GTMP.
Cobb County is conducting a planning study for a Noonday Creek Trail Extension that would pick up at the park where the Woodstock/ Cherokee County section ends and stretch south to the existing Bells Ferry Road trailhead.
“The county’s section planning study is wrapping up this summer,” Beall said. “Once the Board of Commissioners approves a final trail concept report, the county expects to actively pursue funding opportunities to begin engineering and design. We do not have funding yet for the trail but expect to pursue several options.”
The county also is doing a planning study on the Austell Powder Springs Trail, which would connect the two cities from the existing trailhead at Silver Comet Linear Park in Powder Springs to Joe Jerkins Boulevard in downtown Austell, generally along Austell-Powder Springs Road.
The Kennesaw Mountain to River Trail will connect separated trails across Cobb.