Run Suwanee

Laurel Ridge Trail (Lake Lanier)

The Laurel Ridge Ridge Trail skirts the banks of Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River for 3.8 beautiful miles of prime trail running.  Isolation, varied terrain, and outstanding views make this trail a must for any trail running enthusiast in the North Atlanta area.  

The Laurel Ridge Trail is a loop trail beginning and ending at the Lower Overlook Park parking lot off of Buford Dam Road next to the Buford Dam Powerhouse.  Parking is free but restricted to park hours.  The trail first crosses Buford Dam Road and rises to an overlook of the Lake Lanier and Buford Dam.  The trail quickly descends in a series of switch-backs and stone stairs to the Chattahoochee River where it releases from Buford Dam.  From here runners can cross the river just south of the dam and run a mile or so on along the west bank of the Chattahoochee.  This would add some distance to the 3.8 mile loop. Rejoining the main loop, the Laurel Ridge Trail travels south along the west bank of the Chattahoochee.  The trail then quickly veers left and rises quickly.  This half mile section of trail is steep and taxing.  Small wooden bridges cross small streams that flow to the Chattahoochee.  This is a prime area for spotting deer and snakes.  Once you reach the top of this ridge, you'll cross back over Buford Dam Road and rejoin the trail.  The Laurel Ridge Trail the winds north towards the shore of Lake Lanier.  For the next half mile, the trail skirts the south shore of Lake Lanier providing some spectacular lake views.  Departing the lake shore, the trail then winds west through woodlands and wetlands for the last half mile for a final climb back to the Lower Overlook Parking Area.  

Several climbs on the Laurel Ridge Trail are sufficiently steep to warrant walking.  The climbs, however, are brief.  Overall, the trail provides an excellent trail running experience close to home.  If you are training for a trail race or ultra, the 3.8 mile loop provides a great training ground.  The parking area has a restroom and water fountain.  You can also leave fluid and food at your vehicle and not worry about wearing a hydration pack.  The loop is stressful but not a killer.  Also, for some reason, the Laurel Ridge Trail has remained largely undiscovered by runners and hikers and you'll have solitude.

Additional details about the Laurel Ridge Trail, including a trail map, can be found at US Army Corps of Engineers website.

Encounters with Nature

Running at dusk on the Suwanee Creek Greenway and George Pierce Park during the summer months provides unique opportunities to experience our local wildlife.  Last night I was running on the dirt trails of George Pierce Park at about 8:30 p.m.  My run was interrupted about five times with deer sightings.  These beautiful animals froze in front of me on the trail, staring at me with curiosity at distances of less than 30 feet.  Each of us waiting for the other to make the first move.  These encounters deepened my appreciation for our local greenway and park.  I've seen deer on our trails dozens of times in the past few years, however, never so many in such a short span of time. 

And while I enjoyed the deer sightings, my run was made quite unpleasant for about 10 minutes.  Perhaps you've noticed that the horseflies along the dirt trails in George Pierce Park can be absolutely brutal during the summer.  They chased, bit, and harassed me into an unintended fartlek session as I unsuccessfully tried to outrun them.  Ouch.  Overall, however, I'll take the horseflies with the deer.

Settles Bridge Unit (Chattahoochee National Recreation Area)

Looking for an isolated and picturesque running experience in Suwanee?  Try the trails of the Settles Bridge Unit of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area.  The park is located on the Gwinnett County side of the Chattahoochee River at the intersection of Johnson and Settles Bridge Roads near Riverside Elementary School.  One parking option is Riverside Elementary (during non-school hours) where you can run the dirt/gravel road downhill one mile to the trail-head.  Alternatively, you can drive the dirt/gravel road to the trailhead near the river. 

Once you reach the trailhead, the best trails run north from the parking lot along the Chattahoochee River.  The large boulders mark the beginning of the trail.  From there, the single-track trail crosses several small streams that flow into the Chattahoochee.  These stream crossing aren't difficult to negotiate, however, caution should be exercised climbing down the large rocks that protect the stream beds. 

The trail is quite narrow and generally flat as it meanders north.  The main part of this trail runs along an underground sewer line.  The river frequently comes into view on your left.  Several spur trails run along the left towards the river.  Take these spurs when you can.  While these trails sometimes dead-end, more frequently they travel right along the river and then rejoin the main trail.  By taking the spur trails, you are afforded beautiful views of the Chattahoochee.  The footing on the spur trails is also far superior to the main sewer line trail.  The better trails are found behind the Wild Timber subdivision running north to Georgia State Route 20.  When you see the GA 20 bridge crossing the river, you'll know that your run is just about finished. 

From the Settles Bridge trailhead to GA 20 and back is about four miles round-trip.  To increase your run to six miles, park at Riverside Elementary and include the dirt/gravel road.  About a half mile of trails run adjacent to the river near the remains of Settles Bridge traveling south from the trailhead. 

For history buffs, Settles Bridge was completed in 1896 and was constructed with iron and wood.  The bridge was built to replace a ferry across the Chattahoochee River operated by the Settles family.  The bridge was abandoned in the 1950's after the wood rotted and other nearby bridges were built to cross the river. 

The trails in Settles Bridge are extremely isolated and you're likely to see deer and other wildlife who normally have the area to themselves.  If running alone at Settles Bridge, always tell family or friends where you are going.  The Park
Service patrols the area but the trails are largely undeveloped so ankle sprains and falls remain a possibility.  While these trails are hardly perfect, they can make for a nice change of pace and terrain.  The park opens at dawn and closes at dusk. 

Additional running trails at the Settles Bridge Unit are expected in the coming years.  In 1999, Gwinnett Country, the National Park Service, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources agreed to preserve 340 acres along the Chattahoochee River.  A future park is planned for the intersection of Settles Bridge and Johnson Roads, adjacent to Riverside Elementary School.  This should be a welcome addition to Suwanee's already impressive network of parks and green spaces.  For more information about Settles Bridge (including specific directions), follow these links to the National Park Service or Gwinnett County Parks.

Suwanee Creek Greenway / George Pierce Park (An Overview)

The Suwanee Creek Greenway, George Pierce Park, and the accompanying single track trails combine for over 10 miles of natural and automobile-free running trails.  While on these trails, you may see a variety of wildlife including deer, beaver, snakes, rabbits, and many species of birds.  I've found dawn and dusk to be the best times to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife.  Suwanee Creek flows through the east end of George Pierce Park and runs the length of the Greenway.  Below is a detailed description of this local running gem.

Suwanee Creek Greenway:  The Greenway follows Suwanee Creek 3.5 miles from Suwanee Elementary School (Smithtown Road) to Suwanee Creek Park on Buford Highway south of McGinnis Ferry Road.  The Greenway surface is primarily asphalt and wood planks, which cross over streams and wetland areas.  Only small portions of the Greenway are concrete.  From Suwanee Elementary School to Martin Farm Road is a distance of approximately 1 mile.  This stretch of trail is pancake flat.  Suwanee Creek flows along the west side of the trail and floods the Greenway during heavy rains.  The Greenway continues south from Martin Farm Road to McGinnis Ferry Road for a distance of 1 mile.  Much of the Greenway south of Martin Farm Road is shaded by trees except during mid-day.  From McGinnis Ferry Road to Suwanee Creek Park is a distance of 1.5 miles.  Several small hills greet you near Suwanee Creek Park. 

The Greenway is most crowded during weekends and parking spaces can be difficult to find at the Martin Farm Road Trailhead during peak hours.  During park hours, the Greenway is patrolled by the Suwanee Police Department on bicycle.  The only water sources on the Greenway are two water fountains near Suwanee Creek Park.  Consider bringing a water bottle or hydration pack if you are running more than an hour or so.  A straight out-and-back along the Greenway is about 7 miles if you run the loop at the Suwanee Creek Park.

George Pierce Park: Near the trailhead at Suwanee Elementary School, a long wooden bridge will take you over Suwanee Creek.  This is the trail entrance to George Pierce Park via the Greenway.  The Park contains another 3 to 4 miles of paved and soft surface running trails that climb slightly in elevation from the Greenway.  Hills are more prevalent in the Park but the scenery and solitude are definitely worth the extra effort.  The views of the Suwanee Creek floodplain near the end of the dirt trail are spectacular.  You will run through woodlands and wetlands as well around soccer and baseball fields.  A water fountain and restroom are located between the pond and pavilion/playground near the Buford Highway entrance to the Park.

Connector to Town Center Park:  A bridge was recently constructed to connect the Greenway to Town Center Park.  The connecting bridge runs adjacent to Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.  The bridge runs about .25 miles heading west to Town Center Park.

Single Track Trails:  For those interested in trail running, about .5 miles of single track trails weave through the ridge above the pond at George Pierce Park.  Even better, about .75 miles of single track trails were recently added near Suwanee Creek Park.  About one mile south of McGinnis Ferry Road on the Greenway, you'll notice a spur trail on your left.  The trail descends down the hill and leads you south a fork.  The left fork leads you along a ridge overlooking Suwanee Creek and then rejoins the Greenway along the southern loop.  The right fork rises up the hill and to the pavilion/restroom at Suwanee Creek Park.  As long as you remain on the trail, it will always lead you back to the Greenway.  This single track running trail is a spectacularly isolated and natural diversion from the more popular Greenway.

Parking:

• Suwanee Elementary School on Smithtown Road (during school hours only)
• Martin Farm Road (between Buford Highway and Satellite Blvd.)
• Burnette Road at McGinnis Ferry Road
• Suwanee Creek Park (Buford Highway)
• George Pierce Park (Buford Highway)
• Town Center Park (at intersection of Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road)

Links:

Map of Greenway courtesy of Suwanee.com