Wednesday Evening Hike at Island Ford

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.  

The pace on this hike will be moderate but not relaxed (2.8 to 3 mph). We will be keeping a steady pace to try and cover between five and six miles in the time allotted. We'll stop for little breaks as needed at the tops of hills, but generally keep moving and try to get a good workout.

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). Please also use the restroom before you arrive, as the park bathrooms are closed in the evening. 

Note: It is starting to get dark earlier in the evening, so I've moved up the start time slightly to compensate and recommend that everyone bring a headlamp or flashlight. The density of the trees means that the trails get dark before the open areas and it will be dark before we end the hike.

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.

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

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!

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.