West Palisades

Our photo is a water snake eating a fish on trail during our recent hike in early October.  Photo courtesy of Linda Plemmons.  Thanks, Linda!

If you think you are a slower hiker, then you will not like this hike.

Moving speed: up to 3.3 mph

Elevation Gain: 1119 feet (for reference, Kennesaw is a 700 foot climb)

Weather:  5% rain chance,  mostly cloudy, 72 degrees, 10 mph wind

Trail Conditions:  lots of blowdowns and sticks, heavy leaves hiding rocks and roots.  This unit was hit harder by the late October storm than East Palisades, Gold Branch, Vickery Creek, and Sope Creek.

One of the more challenging of the Chattahoochee River parks, the West Palisades trail system provides river-side trails along with several steep inclines. 

The trails either stay around 800 feet in elevation along the river or around 1000 feet in elevation on the hilltop, so navigating this park requires several 200 foot climbs and descents.

We descend to the river from the parking lot and thereafter work our way along all the trails to maximize our climbing.

After completing the West Paliscades trails (some unmarked), we will use the Rottenwood Creek 4 mile trail (280 feet elevation gain) to top us for our elevation gain and mileage targets .

We will visit the site of the Akers Mill from vantage points on both sides of Rottenwood Creek.

Here is a link for Google Maps:

https://goo.gl/maps/x1V1wAws4Ry7nU7C8

This location is shown as the Palisades West Trailhead

This is the location at the dead end of Akers Drive which is off of Akers Mill Road at the water wheel.

Near the dead end, you will see the Palisades sign on your left for the road to the trail head parking.

The parking is at the very end of the road (not the handicapped lot)

If you do not have an annual pass, you can apply for HERE.

Will hike in rain!