OVERVIEW: Cascade Springs Nature Preserve is a fantastic park tucked away in Southwest Atlanta that will take you through a mixed hardwood and pine forest with some of the best trails within the city limits. Trails offer moderate elevation and are mostly packed dirt or pinestraw, with a few short boardwalk sections mixed in. Recently several trees have fallen across the trails and haven’t been cleared, but all are easy to climb over and the trails are fairly well marked. The park is very quiet with only a few spots where you will hear traffic and so few visitors that it is rare to see more than one or two people on the trails. Highlights include the old spring house, waterfalls and Utoy Creek, sight of a major Civil War battle.
TRAILS: 2 miles total, the best loop is 1.25 miles with 200′ of elevation gain (map posted at entrance)
TERRAIN: Mostly packed dirt or pinestraw with a few boardwalk sections
BATHROOMS: No
WATER: No
PARKING: Ample and free (don’t leave valuables in sight, there have been car break-ins)
HOURS: Note that the parking lot is gated and locked when the park is closed
Summer: Mon-Fri 7:30a – 3:00p, Sat-Sun 7:30a – 7:30p
Winter: Mon-Fri 7:30a – 3:00p, Sat-Sun 7:30a – 6:00p