Best Places to Commune with Nature

Our list of parks, trails and ideas for getting back in touch with nature.

DollsHeadTrail Chad Radford
Photo credit: Chad Radford
A WALK IN THE WOODS: A piece of art on the Doll’s Head Trail.


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Below are our recommendations for Places to Commune with Nature in Atlanta. These selections came from our past winners of Best of Atlanta, recommendations from readers who voted in the past 2 years of Best of and from our critic’s personal choices. Please leave comments below about your ideas to add to this list.

Best Parks/Nature Spots in Atlanta

Known for its waterfall and beauty, the Amicalola Falls State Park is a treasure in Georgia. There is a wonderful lodge on the property. | more...

CL: Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is a must-see destination come springtime if you are inclined to visit only one OTP spot. The mountain’s stunning geologic formations are home to five species of plant life that are listed on the state and federal endangered lists, including the bright red diamorpha plant, which lives and thrives in small pools of water. It’s an extremely rare, colorful, and very fragile ecosystem that at times feels like visiting another planet. Spiderwebbed with trails, this former quarry vividly demarcates the collision of nature and industry. Only 20 minutes away from the city, Arabia Mountain offers both a beautiful hike and over 400 years of history. The area is home to more than 12 miles of nature trails and 30 miles of paved bike paths along wooded areas and wetlands. The rich plant life, including the vibrant diamorpha bloom and at least five endangered plants, gives the rock an outerspace feel.
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is a must-see destination come springtime if you are inclined to visit only one OTP spot. The mountain’s stunning geologic formations are home to five species of plant life that are listed on the state and federal endangered lists, including the bright red diam... | more...

Headquarters of Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile loop of trails, greenspace, and parks that circles the city. | more...

Established in 1979 with city, state and federal funds, the 120-acre woodland and former Creek Indian settlement features steep inclines, a babbling creek, a waterfall, and is home to deer and more than 150 native plant species. It includes an old spring house where tourists once bathed and the rema... | more...

The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a private non-profit, 127-acre, award-winning, interpretive center dedicated to environmental education. Visitors particularly enjoy the new Gold level LEED-certified Discovery Center Museum and Nature Exchange with hands-on/minds-on exhibits that tell the Chattaho... | more...

Out past the Starlight Drive-In Theatre, heading south on Moreland Avenue is an Atlanta cultural gem: the mythical DOLL’S HEAD TRAIL. Created by ATL’s Joel Slaton, the trail is an outsider art exhibit with enough weirdness and compelling art made from refuse to leave you contemplating its existence ... | more...

Wikipedia: Fernbank Forest is a 65-acre mature mixed forest that is part of Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, Georgia. It has some relatively old trees compared to much of the forests in the Piedmont. | more...

A 2,965-acre park and museum on the site of the 1864 Civil War Campaign for Atlanta. | more...

From Atlanta Trails: Beautiful, wide river views in a blooming forest, with rocky bluffs and sandy shorelines on the banks of the Chattahoochee River: the West Palisades Trail is easily one of the most scenic in-town hikes in Atlanta. And this four-mile loop covers this park’s highlights on a serie... | more...

The world’s largest mass of exposed granite is the centerpiece of this park, which features golf courses, hiking trails, camping, swimming, dining, and attractions including the Geyser Towers, Summit Skyride, and much more. The park also hosts a spectacular 3-D laser light show nightly during the su... | more...

Sweetwater Creek State Park is a peaceful tract of wilderness only minutes from downtown Atlanta. A wooded trail follows the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs rocky bluffs to provide views o... | more...



More Park/Nature Spots

The 46-acre preserve is a favorite for families and hiking day trips. The Heritage Village maintains the charming rural heritage of a General Store, chapel, and farmhouses. Nature enthusiasts can explore 2 miles of walking trails through the forest or dip their toes in Sal’s Creek. | more...