West Palisades

Let’s hike the West Palisades unit of CRNRA  We will start at the parking lot off Akers Drive.  We will begin our hike by heading down towards the river which is a fairly steep descent on a brand new trail.  At the river, we make our way out to the West Palisades Beach (well it's more of a sandy patch but you get the idea).  We will walk back along the river and then back up to the top of the ridge. We will follow the backbone ridge for about a mile and then begin a descent down the end of the ridge, briefly meeting the Bob Callen trail and the Chattahoochee River.  

After hiking along the riverside trail, we will begin our ascent up towards the ridge line again.   We will take one detour to a knob that overlooks the Chattahoochee river before following the ridge line back towards the cars.  

The 5 mile hike should take us about 2 hours to complete.  I would not recommend this hike to new beginners due to the elevation gain and the difficult footing on some of the trails sections near the river. However if you have recent D2 experience, you should be fine.  There are bathroom facilities near the river about 1 mile into our hike.  This is a Chattahoochee River NRA site so parking costs $5 or use of a CRNRA annual pass.

Location Coordinates

33.891632, -84.444771

https://goo.gl/maps/s1kuwnuqK7p

From eastbound Interstate 285

Take exit 22, Northside Drive, New Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road.

Right on Northside Drive to Powers Ferry Road.

Right approximately 1.5 miles to Akers Drive SE

Turn left at the wooden "Mill Wheel"

Drive up the hill on Akers Drive passing apartment homes until you see the Stone CRNRA sign on the left at the drive to the parking lot.  If you reach an apartment complex at the end of Akers Drive, you have gone too far. Backtrack to the CRNRA driveway.  Drive on the park drive all the way to the end. There are a group of handicapped spaces which you will reach first but drive past them about 50 yards to the parking lot at the end of the drive.  

From westbound Interstate 285

Take exit 22, New Northside Drive, Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road.

Straight to second traffic light.

Left on Northside Drive to Powers Ferry Road.

Right approximately 1.5 miles to Akers Drive SE

Turn Left at the wooden "Mill Wheel."

Drive up the hill on Akers Drive passing apartment homes untill you see the brown CRNRA sign on the left at the drive to the parking lot.  If you reach an apartment complex at the end of Akers Drive, you have gone too far. Backtrack to the CRNRA driveway.