Thursday Evening Hike at Island Ford - Thu, Jun 18 2015

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



Thursday Evening Hike at Island Ford


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Sandy Springs, GA   Hike: Thursday Evening Hike at Island Ford  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Thu, Jun 18 2015  6:00 pm >> Thu, Jun 18 2015 8:00 pm
Registration Opens: Tue, Jun 9 2015 6:30 pm
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Jun 17 2015 11:00 pm
Event Duration:2 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Distance:5.5 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Allston
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:3
Number Registered So Far: 7 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Itinerary:

Please join me for an evening hike at the Island Ford Recreation Area on the Chattahoochee in Sandy Springs. This is a beautiful park that has trails along the river and up across some hills in the neighboring woods.  Most of it is shaded, which should help keep the temperatures down, and hopefully we can catch a breeze off the water as well.

The pace on this hike will be moderate - though not a fitness hike, we will be keeping a steady pace to try and cover about 5.5 miles in the two hours allotted.   We'll stop for little breaks as needed at the tops of hills, but generally keep moving.

We'll start at the MIDDLE parking lot. This lot is not the first lot on the left as you enter the park, nor is it the Visitor Center lot at the end of the road. It's the lot just before you come to the pond, on the left side of the road, about .6 miles from the entrance.  

Please arrive a couple of minutes early in case you need to purchase a $3 daily parking pass (if you don't own an annual pass). If you think you might need to use the restroom beforehand, give yourself an extra 15 minutes, as you'll need to drive to the Visitor Center and then return back to the trailhead parking lot. 

I will allow up to 3 dogs on the hike, but no more. If you bring your dog, it must be kept on leash at all times and get along well with other dogs and with people.


Required Items to Bring:

Hiking Shoes

Water - it is important to stay hydrated as we head into the summer's warm weather

Leash (if you bring your dog)


$3.00 cash or your Annual Pass 

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Note: please bring an epi-pen if you're allergic to yellow-jacket stings. We've spotted nests at this location in the past while hiking.

A camera.

Sunscreen - though a lot of the trail is shaded, it is still a good idea to be protected just in case.


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

1906 Island Ford Pkwy, Sandy Springs, GA

From northbound US 19 and GA 400
- Take exit #6 (Northridge Road).
- Coming off the exit, stay in the right lane, cross over GA 400, and turn right onto Dunwoody Place.
- Go 0.5 miles to Roberts Drive.
- Turn right and proceed 0.7 miles to the park entrance on your right.

From southbound US 19 and GA 400
- Take exit #6 (Northridge Road)
- Continue straight ahead at the traffic light onto Dunwoody Place.
- Go 0.5 miles to Roberts Drive.
- Turn right and proceed 0.7 miles to the park entrance on your right.

Once you enter the main gate, drive down the road about .6 miles until you see the parking lot on the left, above road level.  There will be a pond on your right if you drive past the lot.

http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/TrailMapIslandFord.pdf


Notes:

Trail Map - http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/TrailMapIslandFord.pdf

Don't forget to bring $3 cash for a parking pass;  change is not available.

Trails can be muddy if there has been recent rain.  Be sure to have shoes with good tread that you don't mind getting dirty.  Waterproof shoes help, too!


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

You can cancel your registration yourself up to the night before the hike. 

This event will be rain or shine, unless there is lightning or torrential downpour making hiking prohibitive or dangerous at this location.