Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens, GA (Blog Hike #187)

Trails: (various)

Hike Location: Sandy Creek Nature Center

Geographic Location: north side of Athens, GA (33.98711, -83.38279)

Length: 3.6 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: November 2006, November 2012, March 2015

Overview: An mostly flat walk along the banks of Sandy Creek and the North Oconee River.

Park Information: https://www.accgov.com/2774/Sandy-Creek-Nature-Center
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=941383
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: On the north side of Athens, take the Perimeter Road to US 441 (exit 12).  Exit and go north on US 441.  Take US 441 north 1.1 miles to Old Commerce Road and turn left on Old Commerce Road (there is a blue sign for the nature center at this turn).  Where Old Commerce Road takes a sharp right, turn left to enter the preserve.  Park in the first parking lot on the right in front of the Environmental/Nature Center (ENSAT).

The hike: Located in the northern part of highly developed Clarke County, the 225 acres of Sandy Creek Nature Center provide a nice refuge for both people and wildlife from the rigors of urban living.  The nature center and nearby Sandy Creek Park are operated by the Athens-Clarke County Department of Leisure Services.  The nature center presents the area in a natural state and is operated as a nature preserve while the park features more development including athletic facilities and picnic shelters.

            The nature center is not totally devoid of facilities.  In addition to the nature center building itself (called by the acronym ENSAT), the Allen House and Walker Hall serve as park offices and meeting rooms.  Also, the North Oconee Greenway, a paved bike trail, has the nature center as its northern terminus as it heads south along the North Oconee River toward the University of Georgia.  Another longer trail, the Cook’s Trail, heads north along Sandy Creek to connect with Sandy Creek Park 4 miles to the north.

            Of all the nice features the nature center has to offer, clearly the premier feature is hiking.  More than 4 miles of easy well-maintained trails comprise one of the best trail systems in the region.  Since the trails all interconnect, many different loops are possible.  The route described here traces the perimeter of the preserve and gives one of the longer and more scenic tours possible of the grounds.

Trailhead across parking lot from ENSAT

            Stop in ENSAT to pick up a trail map.  From the front door, walk across the parking lot, heading for the far left corner to pick up a wide trail leading into the woods.  When I was here, there was a trailer for hayrides stationed at this point.  This trail exists to link ENSAT with the overflow parking lot.  On its way, this trail crosses the Kestrel Trail, the first link in our journey around the nature center.  Turn right at this intersection with the Kestrel Trail.  If you reach the overflow parking lot, you have missed this turn and need to backtrack about 30 yards.

            The Kestrel Trail heads east through a dense, young pine forest.  The trail is covered with a thick layer of pine needles, so keep your eyes open to make sure you stay on the trail.  Although this trail is called the Kestrel Trail, you are not likely to see any kestrels along this trail.  As the smallest member of the hawk family, kestrels eat mostly grasshoppers and insects found in fields and open areas, not dense woods like this section of the nature center.

Hiking the Kestrel Trail

            At 0.2 miles, the trail crosses the main park road and renters the woods at a sign on the opposite side.  After another 0.1 mile of level walking, the Kestrel Trail ends at an unmarked junction with the Screech Owl Trail.  Continue straight to begin the Screech Owl Trail.  Since the robin-looking Screech Owl prefers small, suburban woodlots, it is at least possible to see a Screech Owl in this section of woods.

            The trail curves to the left as it begins descending gently.  There appears to be a shallow ravine on your right, but when you curve sharply to the right to cross it, you can see that the depression is, in fact, an old roadbed that could not occur naturally.  Speaking of roads, after this turn, the trail makes its closest approach of this hike to US 441 on the left, so traffic can be heard through the trees.

Hiking the Screech Owl Trail

            At 0.6 miles, the Screech Owl Trail ends at a junction with the Cook’s Trail.  An information board at this intersection gives you some information about the Cook’s Trail.  Turning left would lead you 4.1 miles along Sandy Creek to Sandy Creek Park.  This hike turns right, heading away from US 441 to stay in the nature center.

            After a short walk along the Cook’s Trail, turn left to begin the Hooded Warbler Trail as it descends slightly toward a marshy area.  Though attractive and common, the hooded warbler will be difficult to spot since they don’t stay in one place for very long.  I was not able to see any warblers, but on my visit a dozen Canadian geese were resting in the shallow pond to the left.

Hooded Warbler Trail heads around wet area

            The trail makes a broad curve to the right and, in 0.2 miles, arrives at a junction with the Claypit Pond Trail.  Turn left to begin the Claypit Pond Trail and continue beside the pond.  The Claypit Pond Trail begins by heading east with a steep ridge to the right.  The trail rounds the end of the ridge and, 1.1 miles into the hike, arrives at a small pier that allows nice views into the pond.

Claypit pond

            Ignore a set of wooden steps that ascends the ridge to the right and continue beside the pond on the Claypit Pond Trail.  Just after passing the Crossridge Trail, which could be used to shorten this hike, pass an area where the trail has recently been rerouted up the hillside to keep it further away from the pond.  At 1.3 miles, the Claypit Pond Trail ends at the base of some more wooden steps, this set leading uphill to Walker Hall.  Turn left to stay near the pond.

            There is a fairly complicated network of trails on the north side of Walker Hall, but this description will take a simple route through the area by always choosing the trail closest to the pond.  This choice will take you just downhill from a log cabin that has been moved onto this site from nearby Oglethorpe County.  When the trail finally reaches Sandy Creek, turn right and begin hiking the Levee Trail.

Log cabin

            The Levee Trail passes through a power line clearing before reentering the shrubby forest with the creek on your left.  At 1.7 miles, the trail passes underneath an old highway bridge that now serves to carry foot and bike traffic on the North Oconee Greenway across Sandy Creek.  A short set of steps connect the Levee Trail with the paved bike path.  Sandy Creek Nature Center is the northern terminus of the bike path, while following the path across the bridge would lead you 4.7 miles to Oconee Street just downhill from downtown Athens.

            0.2 miles past the bridge the trail arrives at a narrow point of land overlooking the confluence of Sandy Creek with the North Oconee River.  Notice the thin layer of dirt covering the tree trunks in this area as well as a couple of trail signs.  One look at the muddy river water will give away the fact that this land lies in a floodplain.  If you come after a heavy rain, chances are the trail will be flooded and impassible, forcing you to use the Crossridge Trail to avoid the floodplain.

Confluence, Sandy Creek and North Oconee River

            Assuming waters are at normal levels, the Levee Trail ends at this confluence, and the Oconee Trail begins, first heading upstream along the river and then turning inland.  The trail crosses a short wooden boardwalk in a marshy area before passing under the power lines for the second and final time.  The trail may be hard to find on the other side of the clearing, but the forest is open, and continuing to walk in the general direction of north will get you back on the Oconee Trail.

            The Oconee Trail makes one final loop offering a final view of the river before curving right and heading uphill for the main park road.  The trail reaches the road at 2.2 miles, where you should turn left and, after 30 yards of road walking, begin the Kingfisher Pond Trail on the same (left) side of the road.  The Kingfisher Pond Trail heads downhill and, in 50 yards, reaches the marshy area along the river.  The stream you see to the left is a branch of the main river, and 0.3 miles later, Kingfisher Pond itself comes into sight along the stream.  You may be able to see a pale blue kingfisher here, as these birds enjoy fishing in shallow water such as this pond.

ADA boardwalk

            0.1 miles past the pond, the Kingfisher Pond Trail ends at a junction with the wheelchair accessible ADA Boardwalk.  You will need to make a large step up to reach the boardwalk.  Turning right would give a shortcut back to ENSAT, but this hike will turn left and hike along the boardwalk until it ends and the Kestrel Trail, which is not wheelchair accessible, begins.  Ignore a few spur trails that lead toward the marsh on the left and begin heading north into the northwest corner of the preserve.  This is by far the most remote section of the preserve, so you are most likely to find some serenity among the young forest here.

            At 3.3 miles, the trail curves to the right, offering one final spur trail down to the marsh on the left.  0.2 miles later, the Kestrel Trail intersects the trail that links the main and overflow parking lots.  A right turn on this trail will lead you back to the main parking lot and complete the hike.