Type: Paved Path, Out-and-back
Difficulty: 1 / 10
Altitude: 992 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 100 ft / 100 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Unknown
Filed Under: Running
Big Creek Greenway is part of the Alpharetta Greenway System. It's a 6.1 mile park that is designed for casual bikers, walkers, roller bladers, and joggers. It is a concrete paved 12 foot wide trail that runs along the Big Creek in Alpharetta. The Greenway runs between Webb Bride Rd and Mansell Rd.
If you prefer softer surfaces, such as grass or dirt, then this is not a good place to run. The trail is a 12-foot wide concrete path. It is basically a wide sidewalk that runs through the woods. Other than that, it's a good trail for a family outing. The trail is relatively flat, considering the usual terrain for the Atlanta metro area. All climbs are probably less than a gradual 2% grade, except where you cross the greenway via one of several small bridges. The greenway is used by runners, walkers, roller bladers, and bicyclists. It is conveniently located for the local offices and residents of Alpharetta and Roswell.
Starting from the Alpharetta YMCA trailhead and heading south on the trail, at about the half-mile mark you will go under Old Milton Parkway. There are stairs up to the Parkway if you want to enter or leave the trail at this point. However, you can't park your car here. At 2.25 miles you will cross Kimball Bridge Road at the intersection of Kimball Bridge and Rockmill Rd. There is a traffic light at the intersection. If you have kids, make sure they don't get ahead of you and try to cross the road on their own. Kimball Bridge Elementary School is off to the right just before you cross Kimball Bridge Road. You can park your car in the school parking lot while school is not in session. At the 5.25 mile mark there is a 'T' intersection where if you go to the right you can end at the North Point Mall trailhead. This is near Ethan Allen Furniture store, which is directly across from North Point Mall. There are several parking spaces, but not as many as at the YMCA.
The Greenway is open from 8:00 AM to sundown every day, year-round. However, it may occasionally close due to flooding. This seems to be a farily regular occurance, since the concrete path doesn't drain water very easily. Police patrol the Greenway on a regular basis and four emergency call-boxes are available.
The City of Alpharetta is planning on extending the Big Creek Greenway farther north to a point near Marconi Drive in Windward. The proposed path, which would extend the Greenway one-half mile, is in line with the long-term goal of connecting Alpharetta's Greenway to the future Forsyth County Greenway System. A separate grant application is in the works to connect the south end of the Greenway to Roswell Riverwalk project via sidewalk on Mansell Rd.
To get to the Alpharetta YMCA trailhead:
From GA 400 take the Old Milton Parkway (SR 120) exit and head east for 1/2 mile. Turn left at North Point Parkway and head north for 4/10 mile. Turn right on Preston Ridge Rd. Continue on Preston Ridge for 2/10 mile. Look to the right and you will see signs for Big Creek Greenway. Parking is on the right, just before the YMCA. You can park right next to the trailhead or in the available slots on Preston Ridge Rd.
The greenway can also be accessed from the following locations:
Haynes Bridge Road: From North Point Parkway, go 2/10 mile south on Haynes Bridge Road. A parking lot is on the east/left side of Haynes Bridge Road across from the Archstone Apartments.
North Point Mall: Driving northbound on North Point Parkway, halfway between Mansell and Haynes Bridge Roads, find the greenway sign directly across from Haverty's Furniture. The entrance to the greenway is just past Ethan Allen Furniture store on the right. There is limited parking at this trailhead. Restrooms are available at that location.
Kimball Bridge Road: Located 1/4 mile southeast of North Point Parkway, across from New Prospect Elementary School.Parking is allowed at the school during hours when school is not in session (weekends, after hours on school days,and during the summer). There is one porta-pottie at this location.
Old Milton Parkway (SR 120): There is no parking here. However, there is a staircase that leads to the trailhead that is just after the bridge that crosses Big Creek. You could run, walk, or cycle to the trailhead via the sidewalk that goes along the north side of Old Milton Parkway.
Posted by: seilogramp and last modified on Feb 02, 2006 by thoos
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