Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail

The Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail is a peaceful, tree-lined walk that’s a hidden gem in Buckhead.

The Northside Trail is a 1-mile pathway that winds through Tanyard Creek Park and along the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Buckhead that feels miles away from the high-rises and skyscrapers.

This is the most scenic part of the BeltLine trail so far. Here’s everything you need to know about enjoying the Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail.

What is the Atlanta BeltLine?

The Atlanta BeltLine is a former railway corridor around the city that is undergoing redevelopment. Plans include a streetcar loop, 2,000 acres of parks, and 22 miles of multi-use trails.

Segments here and there have already been developed, but the whole loop hasn’t been completed yet. You can read about the popular Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail here.

Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail

The Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail was the first of the BeltLine trails to open. It’s located on the north side of Atlanta in Buckhead.

The trail runs from Woodward Way (Atlanta Memorial Park) in the north to Goodson Lane (Ardmore Park) in the south.

You can access the trail from Atlanta Memorial Park where there is a parking lot off Woodward Way and Havenridge Drive, through Tanyard Creek Park just off of Collier Road where there is a small parking lot across from Overbrook Drive, from the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center where there is a parking lot and a connector trail to the BeltLine, and from Ardmore Park where there is street parking along Ardmore Road.

If you start your hike from Tanyard Creek Park or the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, you’ll be starting from the middle of the trail.

Trail Details

I recommend starting from the north and following the trail south because the parking lot at Havenridge Drive is larger and less busy than the parking lot at Tanyard Creek Park. But a lot of people do start from Tanyard Creek Park.

The Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail runs through Atlanta Memorial Park, following along Peachtree Creek on the outskirts of the Bobby Jones Golf Course.

It’s not long before the trail turns and crosses over Peachtree Creek, following along the side of Colonial Homes Circle and the golf course where it combines with the Tanyard Creek Trail.

The trail curves to the west and starts to become more tree-covered. Soon, the trail diverts away from the golf course. Here, you’ll find the off-shoot connector trail that leads to the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, named after Atlanta tennis legend Bryan M. Grant Jr.

The Northside Trail becomes fully immersed in the trees, showing just how Atlanta got it’s nickname of “the City in a Forest”.

The trail crosses a bridge over Tanyard Creek, winds through the trees, continues past the Louise G. Howard Park on the right with its pavilion and little lending library, then uses an underpass lined with street art to cross under Collier Road.

Here, the trail has reached Tanyard Creek Park. The trail then passes a playground and crosses over Tanyard Creek again over a wide bridge and makes its way through the park, following alongside the path of the creek.

It makes it’s third pass over Tanyard Creek and the comes to a beautiful covered bridge beneath a 30-foot tall wooden railway.

Past the covered bridge, the trail enters Ardmore Park. Taking the fork to the left takes you to the Ardmore Park Playground with some fancy play equipment that will send you spinning and make you extremely dizzy, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.

On the fork to the right, you can continue through Ardmore Park under a canopy of trees. The ends abruptly here at a townhome complex at Goodson Lane.

The walk from Woodward Way to Goodson Lane is about 1 mile. Turn around and retrace your steps for a full hike of 2 miles.

Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail Visitor Tips

The trail is free to access.

You can find free parking on the streets in the surrounding neighborhoods near Ardmore Park (like along Ardmore Road), around Atlanta Memorial Park (like at the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center and at the 2276 Havenridge Dr parking lot), and at Tanyard Creek Park off of Collier Road.

View a trail map here.

Things to See on the Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail

Here are the major sites and things to see along the Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail that are totally worth the detour:

• Atlanta Memorial Park
• Bobby Jones Golf Course
• Bitsy Grant Tennis Center
• Boone’s Restaurant
• Louise G. Howard Park
• Tanyard Creek Park
• Ardmore Park
• Ardmore Park Playground

Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail FAQ

• Atlanta BetlLine Eastside Trail
• Zonolite Park Trails
• Lullwater Preserve Trails
• Cascade Springs Nature Preserve
• Cochran Shoals Trail
• East Palisades Trail
• Heritage Park Trail
• Island Ford Trail

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Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
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• Save on Attractions: Save 46% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.

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Cheers!

Paige

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