Double Loop at McDaniel Farm Park

Hello Everyone, I'm Back in Full Force Awakened! Let's enjoy another sunny day in a double loop at this beautiful McDaniel Farm!

McDaniel Farm is one of Gwinnett County's convenient parks for outdoor exercise. The most interesting fact about Gwinnett County is that it caters to anyone who loves the outdoors through its beautiful parks.  This is considered one of Gwinnett County's unique parks because it has been restored to depict a farm life of the 1930s. There is something nostalgic about this farm, it feels like being at home again as I imagine the pigs running around under our mango trees hoping to catch that freshly ripened fruit falling to the ground.  I can almost see those little chicks that I used to feed whenever I got home from school.  I can also imagine the alarming rooster's wake up call at the crack of dawn.  What a beautiful reminiscence of my childhood years.

Aside from the modern restroom facilities at the main entrance, the farm is furnished with a farmhouse, Barn, Blacksmith, shed, Carriage house, Tenant house and of course a vegetable garden. The park is designed for educational, historical and recreational purposes. The park offers classes, special events, day camps, and volunteer opportunities.  There are guided tours with a small fee and a large pavilion is available for rent. 

According to history, McDaniel Farm was run by subsistence farmers that grew what needed to survive.  The restoration of the original barn, well shed, blacksmith shed and tenant farmer house truly brings out the beauty of what simple life used to be.

The Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation describes this park as a 130-acre park and has 3.5 miles of paved multi-purpose and soft surface trails traversing woods, streams, and meadows.  Our repeated treks around this park seemed to indicate that completing the loop once is about 3 miles.  We can probably justify 3.5 miles if we include an "off-trail" towards the western portion as we go clockwise on the main trail.  However, that portion has been muddy due to the constant rainfall in the last few months. The well paved trail is so easy to navigate and there are no challenging elevations, and therefore, hiking through these area is so easy and for some with faster strides.

Usual Route: Facing the restrooms, we will take the west side (left) trail passing the pavilion onto the bridge, then loop our way around the park to take the soft trail at about mile 2, then return to the rest room for a 4-minute break.  To finish the double loop, we will then take the east side (right) trail, taking again the soft trail and finish up the hilly side of the park where we started and return to the parking lot.  If you are late, your chances of catching us is by taking the second loop route - which should be the direction to the east side (right) trail.

From Atlanta, take I-85 North to Exit 104, Pleasant Hill Rd. Turn left (NE) off the exit.  Take a right on Satellite Blvd and then a left on Old Norcross Road.  Turn right on McDaniel Farm Road...take this straight into the park.

Parking is free and there are restrooms at the trailhead.