West Palisades and Akers Mill Ruins

Let’s hike the West Palisades unit of CRNRA and visit the ruins of the Akers Mill.  We will start at the parking lot off Akers Drive.  We will begin our hike by heading down towards the river which is a fairly steep descent.  At the river, we make our way out to the West Palisades Beach (well it's more of a sandy patch but you get the idea).  From there we will begin heading back to the ridge line the way we came.  We will follow the ridge for about a mile and then begin a descent down the ridge, briefly meeting the Bob Callen trail and the Chattahoochee River.  After making a loop using the riverside trail, we will once again climb the ridge and head back towards the parking lot.  However, before reaching the trailhead, we will make one more decent down to Rottenwood Creek on some faint and rarely used trails to visit the ruins of Akers Mill.  Then one last climb and back to the cars.  

The 5 mile hike should take us about 2 hours to complete.  I would not recommend this hike to beginners due to the elevation gain and the difficult footing on some of the trails sections near the river and down to Rottenwood Creek.  There are no bathroom facilities at the trailhead.  This is a Chattahoochee River NRA site so parking costs $3 or use of a CRNRA annual pass.

Location

1927 Akers Ridge Drive

Atlanta GA 30339

https://goo.gl/maps/s1kuwnuqK7p

From eastbound Interstate 285

Take exit 22, Northside Drive, New Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road.

Right on Northside Drive to Powers Ferry Road.

Right approximately 1.5 miles to Akers Drive SE

Turn left at the wooden "Mill Wheel"

Drive up the hill on Akers Drive passing apartment homes untill you see the brown CRNRA sign on the left at the drive to the parking lot.  If you reach an apartment complex at the end of Akers Drive, you have gone too far. Backtrack to the CRNRA driveway.

From westbound Interstate 285

Take exit 22, New Northside Drive, Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road.

Straight to second traffic light.

Left on Northside Drive to Powers Ferry Road.

Right approximately 1.5 miles to Akers Drive SE

Turn Left at the wooden "Mill Wheel."

Drive up the hill on Akers Drive passing apartment homes untill you see the brown CRNRA sign on the left at the drive to the parking lot.  If you reach an apartment complex at the end of Akers Drive, you have gone too far. Backtrack to the CRNRA driveway.