How's the nature scene around Atlanta? (Sandy Springs, Alpharetta: move, to eat, suburban)

[VirtualErik]

I know Atlanta is a big city with lots of nice parks and trails, but other than that wanting to see how the nature scene is, I'm from Georgia but never got to explore much of it, Atlanta is fairly close to the North Georgia mountains right? Looking for some outdoorsey adventures like mountain hikes, or walks in the forest. Places to get away from the city lights, i do love the city and also love nature, want to find a nice balance.

I may take up fishing and hunting as well, don't know the good areas around so looking for those who can give some recommendations. I'm currently in central oregon, so I'm surrounded by snow capped mountains and forest which are all on fire... but other than that I have fallen in love with having access to it.
I know Georgia has potential and hoping once I move back to get to exploring.

thanks!

Rick

[sedimenjerry]

There are trails in Atlanta, trails all over Metro Atlanta, and yes, an hour from the northern burbs puts you well into the mountains including the Appalachian Trail. It's a wonderful place to be.

[oldhousegirl]

I highly recommend Sweet Water Creek State Park in Douglas County. Great tours, history, a nature center, Ranger led hikes, rapids, kayaking, an old historic mill ruins, gorgeous and like another world. Not too far away from the city, but you'd never know it was there. http://gastateparks.org/SweetwaterCreek

[ATLTJL]

I don't know too terribly much about fishing, but obviously there are tons of fishing holes around the area.

One thing that might be of interest is that there is rainbow trout fishing in the Chattahoochee. Up by Buford Dam, the water that enters the river comes from the bottom of Lake Lanier, so it is 55 degrees, cold enough for rainbow trout. There is a hatchery that stocks the river with them, and up there the water is clean enough to eat them if you like. You'd have to ask someone more knowledgable than me how far down the rainbow trout go...the river does warm up and presumably eventually gets too warm for them. Plus, it gets dirtier the further down you go, so I don't know that I'd eat anything too much south of Medlock Bridge.

But here's the thing about Atlanta: There are tons of parks and natural areas that are well within the metro area, but feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Not so much within the actual city limits of Atlanta, which you might know are quite small, but for example the Chattahoochee Nature Center up in Sandy Springs/Dunwoody is in the middle of a fairly dense suburban area, but the natural area feels like you are in the middle of the woods. There's also plenty of wildlife, I've seen deer there plenty of times.

Also check out Gwinnett county parks. Little Mulberry park, for example, is over 900 acres and has horse trails. But there are over 50 parks of various sizes. There are also lots of multi-use trails in the area including the Alpharetta Greenway and Suwanee Greenway. These also go through decently populated areas, but they are secluded and protected.

You'll probably have to venture up a bit into North Georgia to get miles and miles of wilderness like you are used to in Oregon, but there is plenty of nature all over Atlanta go get a quick outdoor fix on a random Tuesday after work. I think Atlanta may have more nature than any other city of similar size in the U.S.