Sunday Afternoon Exploration of Emory’s Lovely Trails

IN a NUTSHELL:  Lots of sunshine and mid-50s temperatures are expected this Sunday afternoon so please join us for this easy but adventurous 5-mile hike.  Emory University's 185 acres of lovely parklands include Lullwater Park,  Hahn Woods, and the forested corridor that connects them via the south fork of Peachtree Creek.  The trails are prized by hikers, joggers and dog walkers as "crown jewels" of Emory's historic campus here in NE Atlanta.  We'll visit waterfalls and stony mill ruins, explore the grounds of the palatial Lullwater House overlooking Candler Lake, and cross the creek via the exciting 210-foot swinging footbridge pictured above.  Along the way we'll enjoy the beautiful trees, shrubs & wildflowers,  waterfowl and songbirds.  On past hikes here we've often spotted great blue herons, large raptors and occasionally even wild otters!
Your well-behaved dog is welcome on this event provided that you keep him or her on leash and under your control at all times.

WHEN & WHERE?  We’ll gather at 2:30 PM in the FREE Clifton School parking lot at 1900 Starvine Way—see Directions below and  for a zoomable map & satellite view click on the square blue & green "Event Location icon" above.  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 adjoining the Emory President's mansion, Lullwater House, then explore both sides of the South Fork of Peachtree Creek with a thrilling walk over the suspension bridge.  After visiting Hahn Woods on the western end of the parklands we expect to be back at the cars by 5:00 PM.   We'll take an easy to moderate pace, stopping occasionally to regroup and to shoot photos at several scenic spots— about 5 miles total hiking distance.  (Feel free to "split" early from the group if you must, but be sure to let us know.  We can easily direct you back to the parking lot.)

FOR 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 an excellent online GUIDE to Emory's LULLWATER PARK go to: https://guidetolullwaterpark.wordpress.com/
FOR more on EMORY'S BEAUTIFUL CREEKSIDE PARKLANDS including fascinating OLD 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 for an interactive park/campus map go to:  http://map.emory.edu/

Thanks to Mark Reffett for his "promo shot" above of the Lullwater Park suspension footbridge and to our friends at the Clifton School, for permission to use their free lot!   -Charlie

CAUTION for GPS USERS!   As directed below, 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: 33.79517,-84.31157

DIRECTIONS from the "SPAGHETTI JUNCTION" I-85 / I- 285 INTERCHANGE in NE Metro Atlanta (Also for a zoomable color map or satellite view of the spot where we'll meet click on the square blue & green "Event Location icon" near 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" parking lot at the end of the publicly accessible roadway on your Right.  We'll meet near the steel & stone gate that blocks further passage along Starvine Way.  Its signs say "Authorized Entry Only."

No Charge—Free Event with Free Parking!