Emory’s Lullwater Park & Hahn Woods + Optional Comet Viewing!

IN a NUTSHELL:  This Sunday afternoon should be ideal for anything outdoors including this easy-to-moderate hike along the lovely creeks and lakes in the forested parks at Emory.  The forecast calls for temperatures in the high 60s with lots of blue in the sky and low humidity.

Skygazers!  You're welcome to join me (optionally) just after the hike to carpool or caravan to Lake Varner (just off I-20, ~30 mi east of Atlanta) for about an hour of telescopic and naked-eye COMET VIEWING! (weather permitting) with my friends from the Atlanta Astronomy Club. The "Pan-STARRS" comet is just now coming into view in the western sky at sunset and Tony C, Harry Falise and I are leading other AOC events this week (also in conjunction with hikes) to help our members experience this fleeting cosmic visitor!

Emory University's Lullwater Park and its adjoining Hahn Woods are prized by hikers and joggers as "crown jewels" of Emory's extended campus in NE Atlanta.  The 185-acre forested nature preserve boasts a huge network of scenic trails.  Attractions include Lullwater Park & Estate with its beautiful Candler Lake, old mill ruins and waterfalls, a 210-foot-long suspension footbridge over Peachtree Creek, blooming native plants & wildflowers, and sightings of songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and occasionally even wild otters!

    
WHEN & WHERE?  We’ll gather at 2:00 PM in the FREE Clifton School parking lot at 1900 Starvine Way—see detailed Directions below and click on the red "Location Icon" above for a nice zoomable map & satellite view.  We have permission to use this convenient lot for free on evenings and weekends. CAUTION:  Be sure to enter Starvine Way from Clairmont Road since its western end (toward Emory's main campus) is restricted to Emory Campus buses!
 
EVENT PLAN:  After introducing ourselves we’ll begin the hike at the Clifton School and continue around the lovely parklands and lake of Lullwater Estate, then explore both sides of the South Fork of Peachtree Creek with a thrilling walk over the suspension bridge.  After visiting Hahn Woods Park we'll return via the creekside trails - should be back at the cars by about 4:30 PM.   We'll take a leisurely pace, stopping occasionally to regroup and for photo-ops at several scenic spots—about 5 miles total.
   Emory's park property is a popular place among dog lovers. We'll permit up to three well-behaved dogs on this AOC event provided they're leashed and under their owner's control at all times. If you'd like to bring your dog please make a note of that in your online event registration.

FOR NICE PHOTOS from our JAN 2011 AOC HIKE at LULLWATER PARK:
Check out Scott & Laura Erich's Picasa SmugMug photo album at the following link:
http://www.jauntsaroundtheworld.com/Atlanta-Outdoor-Club/2011-01-23-Hahn-Woods-Atlanta/

FOR MORE on EMORY'S BEAUTIFUL CREEKSIDE PARKLANDS including PHOTOS & HISTORY:  Check out from the library David R. Kaufman's excellent book, "Peachtree Creek: a Natural and Unnatural History of Atlanta's Watershed," and go to:
http://www.environment.emory.edu/ecology/lullwater.shtml

Thanks to our AOC Director of Events Mark Reffett for his beautiful "promo shot" above of the Lullwater Park suspension footbridge,  And thanks also to our friends at the Clifton School, for permission to use their great free lot!  -Charlie

DIRECTIONS from the "SPAGHETTI JUNCTION" I-85 / I-285 INTERCHANGE in NE Metro Atlanta (Also for a zoomable color map & satellite view of the spot where we'll meet click on the above "RED LOCATION ICON" at the top of this article.)

1. From "Spaghetti Jcn" take I-85 South toward Atlanta about 4 miles and exit at Exit #91 "Clairmont Road."

2. Turn Left onto Clairmont Road (US-23 southeastward toward Decatur) and go about 3.2 miles to the traffic light at Starvine Way (The Starvine light is less than a quarter mile past the huge VA Hospital and is just north of the RR bridge over Clairmont.)

3. Turn Right onto Starvine Way and go 0.4 mile (through Emory's "Clairmont Campus" and a couple of stop signs) to the "Clifton School" on your Right.  We'll meet near the steel & stone gate that blocks further passage along Starvine Way.  Its signs say "Authorized Entry Only."

CAUTION for GPS USERS!  As directed above, be sure to enter Starvine Way from Clairmont Road since its western end is restricted to Emory Campus buses! You may wish to augment these directions by entering as your GPS or Google.com/maps destination the following Address or Lat/Lon of the Clifton School parking lot:
  Street Address: 1900 Starvine Way, Atlanta, GA 30322
  Lat/ Lon Coordinates: 33.7953,-84.3115

No Charge—Free Event with Free Parking!