If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, look no further than the Big Creek Greenway, where locals or visitors can transport to a serene, active slice of Atlanta’s urban forest.
The Big Creek Greenway spans 26 total miles through Alpharetta, Roswell and Cumming. It’s the perfect family-friendly adventure for a Saturday morning, and that’s exactly what my husband, 4-year-old daughter, and in-laws did!
We rented electric bikes through Pedego in Alpharetta, which is a great, less-strenuous option for exploring the trail. They even had a trailer we rented that attached to the back of the bike for our 4-year-old.
We began our bike riding journey at the Greenway entrance across from the North Point Mall near the Pedego shop, and rode up the trail to the Halcyon for lunch (pictured below!). The Halcyon consists of many restaurants, shops, and food court options, as well as a large green space for kids to play on.
By the time we got back to the bike shop, we had ridden a little over 20 miles! In total, the ride took about 4 hours with about an hour and a half stop for lunch.
On our bike ride, we passed active bikers, runners, walkers, and even kids on scooters. It is a mostly shaded pathway and very peaceful as the trail runs alongside the water and is tucked away from busy streets. The trail is also very wide and accommodating. Keep your eye out for wildlife, as we saw everything from a tiny snake to 3 deer!
OVERVIEW OF THE BIG CREEK GREENWAY:
- The Big Creek Greenway spans 26 miles.
- It connects Cumming, Alpharetta, and Roswell in 3 disconnected sections.
- It is a paved pathway consisting of concrete and wooden boardwalk used for walking, running, biking, or e-biking.
- It is stroller-friendly and pet-friendly.
- It is mostly flat, with occasional hills.
ACCESS POINTS AND PARKING:
The Greenway can be accessed at the following locations. Each trailhead has parking, and most have public restrooms.
FORSYTH SEGMENT
- Halcyon Trailhead – 6265 Cortland Walk
- Union Hill Trailhead – 5259 Union Hill Road
- Fowler Park Trailhead – 4110 Caroline Way
- Bethelview Trailhead – 5120 Bethelview Road
- Sawnee Mountain Preserve Trailhead – 4075 Spot Road
ALPHARETTA SEGMENT
- Haynes Bridge Trailhead – 10803 Haynes Bridge Rd
- North Point Mall Trailhead- 6800 N Point Pkwy
- Kimball Bridge Trailhead – 3100 Kimball Bridge Road
- Preston Ridge Trailhead – Preston Ridge Road
- Marconi Drive Trailhead –Marconi Drive
ROSWELL SEGMENT
- Big Creek Park –1600 Old Alabama Road
Let us know in the comments your favorite part of The Big Creek Greenway! Happy Exploring!
Appreciate the article, just moved here from FL
I cannot find any Pedego on map, link does not work ? Can you share specific address?
Our apologies! It looks like the story recently closed. We will update the post.