West Palisades from Akers Mill Road Entrance - Monday Morning (Beginners Welcome but Cautioned) Hike

Come join us for a moderately paced jaunt on one of the lesser-used trails of the CNRA.  

West Palisades is one of the beautiful CNRA units - - a cousin to East Palisades.  It offers scenic views of the Chattahoochee as well as wooded trails.  We'll hike at a moderate pace, and go only 5 miles or so - - making this a good hike for people who want to exercise and enjoy a chance to socialize with others along the way.  Hopefully, we'll all be able to breathe for the duration of the hike . . . except up that one LONG hill!  Caution:  Though beginners are welcome on this hike, it is NOT an easy trail . . .  especially for folks who have no recent hiking experience.  

NOTE:  This entrance to West Palisades is off of Akers Mill Road!   It is NOT the 441 entrance from which many hikes originate.  The parking lot is behind some apartment complexes that you will drive past!  Turn left in front of the CNRA brown sign and drive down the road into the parking area.  

Look for the apartments with the water wheel out front on Akers Mill Road!  That's where you turn in.  There are no signs indicating the trailhead here, so just trust that you're in the right place.  Drive until you see the park CNRA sign for your left turn.

There is a $5 parking fee at this location, unless you have an annual pass.  Be prepared with cash if you need to purchase a parking tag.

Up to 3 dogs will be permitted on the hike, so if you already see 3 dogs registered, please do not bring another.  Dogs are required to stay on leash in all of the CNRA areas - - with penalties of $75 per animal if you are caught in violation of the law.  Besides. as representatives of the AOC, we want all participants to obey the park rules.

Because of a glitch in the registration process, we've run into the problem of having too many members added to the active list above the maximum limit of 20.  Please be aware that we will be moving members above 20 registrants to the waiting list in the order of their registration times.  People will then be added to the active list as we have withdrawals.   

Location:

1927 Akers Ridge Drive,  Atlanta GA 30339

Coordinates 33.891623, -84.444515

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
Turn left at the wooden "Water 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. Turn left at the sign and drive through 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

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
Turn Left at the wooden "Water 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. Turn left at the sign and drive through 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

No bathrooms at the trailhead, though we can take a bathroom break when we pass the bathrooms during the hike. 

Please do your own cancellations until the 10 am deadline.  If you need to cancel after that, call your trip leader.