Thursday Morning Hike at Island Ford

The Thursday morning Island Ford hikes have become somewhat of a tradition!  Be sure to register right away, as we often have a waiting list for this event, and we don't want you to miss it. 

Joyce will not be available to lead next week and she asked me to fill in for her. I am honored to do so. Keeping with her tradtion the pace on this hike will be on the fast side of moderate so that we cover about 5.5 miles in the two hours allotted.   We'll stop for little breaks along  the way, 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 10:30 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. If you think you might need to use the restroom before we start, give yourself an extra 15 minutes, as you'll have to drive to the Visitor Center and then drive back to the trailhead parking lot. 

BE SURE TO LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME OR AT LEAST WELL OUT OF SIGHT WHEN HIKING.  CAR BREAK-INS HAVE OCCURRED IN ALL OF THE CNRA AREAS.

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!

If folks are interested, we can plan to eat lunch together after the hike at a nearby restaurant called Samad Mediterranean Grill. ( I got the okay from our Triple By Pass eaters and beer drinkers). It's very close to the park - - about a 5 minute drive. Samad's is a no frills place,but the food is all freshly prepared: . 

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.

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

Restroom facility is available down the road at the Visitor Center.

Don't forget to bring $3 cash for a parking ticket;  change is not available. (AN annual pass can be purchased at the Visitor Center for $35.  If you're over 62, it's $10 for a lifetime pass.)

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!

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