Shady escapes: The best Atlanta hikes for beating the heat
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Cochran Shoals Trail and Laurel Creek Trail. Photos: Jonah McDonald & Zana Pouncey
Don't let metro Atlanta heat keep you from enjoying the area's hills, gullies and the places in between.
Why it matters: Shaded hikes offer you, your loved one and your family a cooler, safer way to get outside, enjoy nature and exercise without melting.
Zoom in: We asked Jonah McDonald and Zana Pouncey, the authors of Hiking Metro Atlanta's Hidden Forests: An Hour or Less from Downtown, for the best shaded hikes for solo strollers, couples looking for some exercise and family-friendly adventures.
- The newly published book is a complement to the authors' Hiking Intown Atlanta's Hidden Forests: Inside and On the Perimeter.
Threat level: Heat and sun can pose risks, even in the shade.
- Drink plenty of water and apply sunscreen as directed.
For solo hikers
Laurel Creek Trail at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve: Skip the popular — and very exposed — trail to the top of the monadnock.
- McDonald recommends this 2.3-mile trail featuring a babbling creek and small waterfall for peaceful reflection.
Lake Charlotte Nature Preserve: This southeast Atlanta spot is "a hidden gem with limited parking so you'll not likely encounter many, if any, other folks on the trail," Pouncey said.
- "[It is] a very peaceful spot to walk through the forest and clear your mind without distraction."
For couples or dates
Pine Mountain Trail: McDonald said this rocky, forested trail in Cartersville "provides some of the best views you can get near Atlanta" and offers a less-crowded alternative to Kennesaw or Stone Mountain.
- "If you haven't hiked it yet, I hope you do."
Cochran Shoals at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Pouncey said the trail system offers flexibility to make a challenging trek or a leisurely stroll.
- "The flat section of the trail near the river stays pretty busy, but the route in our book takes you away from the crowd and through the hilly trails that make this a popular mountain biking destination."
For family hikes with kids or strollers
McDaniel Farm Park: This Gwinnett County park is in the middle of suburbia but an "oasis for nature," McDonald said.
- The green space has miles of forested, stroller-friendly trails, a historic farm and large playground — basically catnip for kids.
Proctor Creek Greenway: Pouncey likes the shady northern section of the creekside path that's the launchpad for a trail system that will stretch to the Chattahoochee River.
- Proximity to Shirley Clarke Franklin Park means restrooms, playgrounds and post-hike picnic spots.
💠Kristal's thought bubble: Also check out the trails at Leita Thompson Memorial Park in Roswell. I used to run there when I lived in Woodstock. Plenty of shade and they have different loops you can try!