Thursday Morning Hike at Island Ford

As Joyce posted last week, she will be out of town on December 25th and asked me to lead the hike for her, which I will be pleased to do.

Due to the Holiday there will be some changes to the hike: 1. Start time will be at 9:30 am.  2. North River Tavern  will be closed so no lunch after the hike: 3.The Vistor Center will be closed which means no restrooms will be available. 

I will keep to Joyce's pace which for this hike will be briskly moderate - - not too fast, and not too slow, so that we cover about 5.5 miles in the two hours allotted.   We'll stop for little breaks along  the way and perhaps take a few pictures, but it will be a good little workout hike.

We'll start at the MIDDLE parking lot! This lot is NOT the first lot on the left, nor is it the Visitor Center lot;  rather, it's the lot before you come to the pond, on the left side of the road. .  . about .6 miles from the entrance.  We've found that parking in this lot is always light, and it affords a variety of routes to hike.

We'll start the hike promptly at 9:30 am.  Arrive at least 5 minutes early to meet everyone before we start,  and/or to purchase a $3 parking ticket if you don't own an annual pass. 

No more than 3 dogs on the hike, so if 3 dogs are already listed, please do not add yours. If you bring your dog, it must be kept on leash at all times.  The reputation of the AOC is damaged when we break the leash law!

I would like to thank Joyce T for letting me use her post. 

1906 Island Ford Pkwy, Sandy Springs, GA

From northbound US 19 and GA 400
- Take exit #6 (Northridge Road).
- Coming off the exit, stay in the right lane, cross over GA 400, and turn right onto Dunwoody Place.
- Go 0.5 miles to Roberts Drive.
- Turn right and proceed 0.7 miles to the park entrance on your right.

From southbound US 19 and GA 400
- Take exit #6 (Northridge Road)
- Continue straight ahead at the traffic light onto Dunwoody Place.
- Go 0.5 miles to Roberts Drive.
- Turn right and proceed 0.7 miles to the park entrance on your right.

Once you enter the main gate, drive down the road about .6 miles until you see the parking lot on the left, above road level.  There will be a pond on your right if you drive past the lot.

http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/TrailMapIslandFord.pdf

Trail Map - http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/TrailMapIslandFord.pdf

Don't forget to bring $3 cash for a parking ticket;  change is not available.

Trails can be muddy if there has been recent rain.  Be sure to have shoes with good tread that you don't mind getting dirty.  Waterproof shoes help, too!

WE ARE STARTING THE HIKE IN THE MIDDLE LOT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE POND and JUST BEFORE YOU PASS IT!!!

You can cancel your registration yourself up to the time of the hike.