Outdoors
Trails and recreation areas near Alpharetta open to biking and mountain biking.
Good to know: Wilderness areas are closed to bikes; check each area’s trail rules and yield to hikers and horses.
5 mi south · National Park Service
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up, or have a picnic on a Sunday…
13 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains lies Lake Sidney Lanier, one of America?s favorite lakes. Over 7.5 million people a year choose to visit Lanier.
14 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Bald Ridge Creek Campground is on Lake Sidney Lanier, popular for its aqua-blue waters and spectacular scenery.
Map of 16 places loads as you scroll.
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up, or have a picnic on a Sunday…
Nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains lies Lake Sidney Lanier, one of America?s favorite lakes. Over 7.5 million people a year choose to visit Lanier.
Bald Ridge Creek Campground is on Lake Sidney Lanier, popular for its aqua-blue waters and spectacular scenery.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a 2,965 acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Opposing forces maneuvered and fought here from June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864.
Old Federal Campground lies on the eastern banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in Northern Georgia.
Duckett Mill Campground is located on Lake Sidney Lanier. With over 692 miles of shoreline, the lake is well known for its aqua-blue water, spectacular scenery and variety of recreational activities.
Allatoona Lake is one of the most frequently visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in the nation.
For millions of years, granite monadnocks have stood watch over the rivers and forests of Georgia.
Carters Lake Project is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. Carters Lake is one of the most scenic lakes in the Southeast.
Little River is unique because it flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama.
In 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga - a gateway to the Confederacy. The Confederates were victorious at nearby Chickamauga in September.
to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years.
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Thurmond Lake is the largest Corps of Engineers lake east of the Mississippi River. The lake encompasses 1,200 miles of shoreline, 70,000 acres of water and 80,000 acres of land.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Alpharetta. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity video shared by Connected Alpharetta.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Around Atlanta with Joel Boss.
Watch on YouTube ↗
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (National Park Service), about 5 miles south of Alpharetta as the crow flies. Next are Lake Sidney Lanier (13 mi) and Bald Ridge Creek (14 mi).
Based on Alpharetta’s average highs, September–May. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including National Park Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.