Chattahoochee NRRA: Mulberry Creek Trail (Blog Hike #266)

Trail: Mulberry Creek Trail

Hike Location: Chattahoochee National River and Recreation Area

Geographic Location: Sandy Springs, GA (33.94547, -84.40590)

Length: 2 miles

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: May 2009, April 2014

Overview: A flat hike through the Chattahoochee River floodplain.

Park Information: http://www.nps.gov/chat/index.htm

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=941377
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: On the north side of Atlanta, take I-285 to Riverside Dr. (exit 24).  Exit and go north on Riverside Dr.  Take winding Riverside Dr. north 2.2 miles to Johnson Ferry Road and turn left on Johnson Ferry Rd.  Immediately after crossing the Chattahoochee River, the trailhead parking lot will be on the right; there is a traffic light at the parking lot entrance.  Park in the large blacktop parking lot.

The hike: For my general comments on the Chattahoochee National River and Recreation Area, see the East Palisades hike.  Located in the Johnson Ferry unit of the recreation area, the Mulberry Creek Trail may lack the panoramic views found elsewhere in the park, but for quality hiking in a floodplain forest it is hard to beat.

            Do not despair if you pull into the large parking lot and see it almost full: most of these people are heading for different places than you are.  A very popular bike path heads west for the Cochran Shoals unit, a destination described in the next hike.  Also, this parking lot provides canoe access to the river, a very popular activity in the summer.  In fact, after I left the area around the parking lot, I did not see another person on the trail, and I was hiking on a mild Saturday morning.  I did however see plenty of mosquitoes due to the floodplain nature of this hike, so be sure to wear bug repellent during the warmer months.

Trailhead: Mulberry Creek Trail

            Begin at the brown vehicle gate at the rear of the parking lot.  The trail starts as a gravel road as it heads past some restrooms and the canoe access area.  Just before reaching a gravel parking lot, leave the road and take the mown grass trail which angles softly to the left.  This section of trail passes through a field with lots of tall grass and a few wildflowers in season.

            Step over a metal cable and soon reconnect with the gravel road to cross Nannyberry Creek, the first of four creeks on this hike.  Immediately after crossing the creek, you reach a major intersection where the Mulberry Creek Trail goes right and left.  I wanted to get to the river quickly, so I chose to turn right here and use the left trail as the return route.  Another option is the natural gas pipeline right-of-way which goes straight, but this hike does not use that trail.

            The trail soon arrives at the river bank, and unobstructed views of the calm, still waters begin.  A quartet of geese close to me drifted serenely downstream while a man near the opposite bank worked hard to paddle his canoe upstream.  Tall floodplain trees such as basswood keep the bank heavily shaded but still allow in enough sunlight to support a lush understory including plenty of honeysuckle.  There is also quite a bit of poison ivy in the understory, but the trail is wide enough so that careful stepping should keep you clear of it.

Chattahoochee River

            At 0.5 miles, the trail intersects the gas pipeline clearing again.  A faint trail continues ahead, but the main trail turns right, crosses Arrowhead Creek, and then turns right again to head back to the river bank.  This trail is marked with blue paint blazes, and while their number is not particularly large, they are strategically placed at potentially confusing points such as this one so that they do a good job of preventing you from becoming lost.

Hiking along the river

            At 0.8 miles you will cross Owl Creek, this time with the aid of a wide wooden footbridge.  At 1 mile the trail forks.  To continue the loop, you should follow the blue blazes which head left away from the river.  The trail to the right leads a short distance to the confluence of Mulberry Creek and the Chattahoochee River where it ends.

            At 1.1 miles the trail reaches the bank of this trail’s namesake creek where the gas pipeline crosses the creek.  While it is possible to follow a wild trail across the creek, most hikers should stick with the blue blazes that stay on the west bank of Mulberry Creek, heading further upstream a short distance.

Hiking along the edge of the floodplain

            The blue blazes seem to end at the next intersection, but the Mulberry Creek Trail turns left to begin its journey back to the parking lot.  For the next 0.7 miles the trail traces the northern boundary of the floodplain, as evidenced by the steep hillside rising to your right.  The creeks which required bridges to cross near the river can now be simply stepped over.  The area to the left is a small wetland teeming with life, though it may take some patience, effort, and preparedness to see it.  I could detect very little, but then again I was more concerned with the mosquitoes buzzing around my legs than the wildlife in the ponds.

            At 1.8 miles, the trail curves left and heads into the wetlands, crossing them on a boardwalk built in 2004 as part of an Eagle Scout project.  My approach sent a large brown snake slithering into the water.  Some benches allow for opportunity to observe the wetland, assuming the mosquitoes do not get the best of you.

Boardwalk across wetland

            At the other side of the boardwalk, you arrive back at the major intersection to close the loop.  A right turn and 0.25 miles of retracting your steps through the grassy field will return you to your car and complete the hike.