Blue Heron Nature Preserve

Picture this: Late afternoon light bathes the north Atlanta city skyline, casting a warm glow. You feel a surge of excitement - today is your adventure to the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, a hidden gem nestled within the urban sprawl. Forget the hustle and bustle of the city. This haven of tranquility offers more than just a suburban hike; it's a sanctuary for the soul. As you navigate the winding paths, feel the weight of daily worries fade away, replaced by a deep sense of peace and quietude. Immerse yourself in a vibrant natural wonderland. Lush greenery carpets the ground, and meandering streams carve paths through the landscape, providing a refreshing escape from the city's energy. Each turn reveals a new discovery: a hidden pond teeming with life, a grove of towering trees reaching for the sky, or a chorus of songbirds filling the air with their melodies. Whether seeking a quiet escape or simply a breath of fresh air, the Blue Heron Nature Preserve welcomes you with open arms. This hidden gem beckons weary travelers and city dwellers alike to find solace in its peaceful corners and vibrant landscapes. So, when the need for rejuvenation arises, look no further than this verdant oasis in the heart of the city. Let the gentle sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds guide you on a journey of rediscovery and renewal, embraced by the restorative power of nature.

Lovely, relatively quiet woods in the middle of town but no heron and not very handicap accessible.

Nice area for a walk close to town near the Buckhead area. Not too crowded on a Sunday afternoon. Parts of the trail seemed a bit disconnected with each other where you'll need to walk on the side of the main road to get back into the preserve, but the majority of it is wooded. Overall a nice area!

Visiting Atlanta, we ran across this small preserve while dodging rain showers over Labor Day Weekend. The paths were pulverized gravel so easy on the feet but would not recommend strollers or anything of the sort. This is a simple stroll to one end and back. We stayed roughly 45 minutes walking 3 of the trails and taking pics. Butterfly garden was pretty much gone for the season but the little sign was cute. Worth a quick stretch of the legs. Also the only wildlife we saw during our afternoon visit were a few turtles but there were deer and raccoon tracks in the mud along the creek bed. Side note - the trails are just off of a residential road down the side of the preserve, so no way to get “lost” in the woods.

The trails are nicely kept and there's always some wildlife within view. I'm impressed by how little litter I find. Note- There is a part where uneven stones make up stairs so the entirely of the walking area may not be accessible to everyone.

Really cool nature preserve in-between the Sandy Springs and Atlanta area. It sits along Nancy Creek. During the warm months of the year I'm sure the kids love to play in the water. They have lots of walking trails throughout the park. I wish there was better signage for the trails as I didn't know where I was going half the time. They do have a very nice community garden area which is very cool to see. I would imagine it is a great place for school groups to come during the school year.

Lovely place inside the perimeter to roam around. The trail is marked well but pay attention to the map because you have to cross the street two times in order to do the entire 3 mile trail. Enjoy!

Great place in the heart of buckhead that focuses on keeping a natural area beautiful. Two creeks intersect on the property creating a wetland area with a long boardwalk over to explore. Arts are an important part of what Blue Heron does too.

Discovered a small (3mi) trail this weekend. Outside of being beautiful... *beginner level -mostly flat, unless you want to veer off down by the water (which we did ) *plenty of paved parking *restrooms and educational center *30acres of woodlands, wetlands, meadows and riparian *surprisingly quiet and peaceful even though it's in the the city

Had a wonderful new discovery at Emma Ln Trail yesterday. Discovered a few new habitats in the area and a few new trails. All part of Blue Heron.

Probably one of my favorite parks in Atlanta. There's essentially two parts to it, one half is pretty bright and open, with a river splitting it. This part you'll access right next to the parking lot and main building. On the other side of the parking lot is a small wetlands trail and viewing area. There's some cool little things along the way: a bee colony, a community garden, and a few other little secrets. The second half of it is across the street from the Wetlands; it's long and shaded and has a wooden underfoot trail to walk on for part of it. There's also a research center along this part of the trail, with huge plastic drums for breeding endangered amphibians. There's also some cool lanterns and "the heart of the forest" along this trail.

We came out in a beautiful Mother's Day to take a leisurely stroll on one of their trails... the grounds are well maintained, a lot of the trails are elevated of the brackish swampy areas. Beautiful shared garden areas and lots of green foliage...all of the trails are easily marked and it's hard to believe this reserve is in the middle of a big suburban area!!

This is a beautiful, serene gem in the heart of buckhead. So worth a visit, tourist and locals alike.

What a lovely little hidden treasure! Simple. Quiet. Beautiful. Would I go here for an intense hike? No, it's not that kind of place. It is a perfect city get away, though- hidden nature in Atlanta. We need more of those places! The people at BHNP are taking some beautiful woods and water and keeping them safe and available for the public. How amazing. I just love that it's basically in Buckhead, 10 minutes from my Ashford Dunwoody apt. Great location- quick drive. I plan on coming here to read, walk and picnic! Xo Seems like these folks are only expanding. Lots of plans to do great things. Would be an awesome place to get involved especially with kiddos.

Cute little park with paved trails along the river with a small community garden. Plenty of parking and street parking available.

Blue Heron is a very small nature preserve on Roswell Road east of Chastain Park and west of Brookhaven with essentially one path that loops up and back on either side of Nancy Creek. You can also walk around the little pond but I didn't do that. Good for people living in the neighborhood to have a casual stroll or play with the dog. Not a destination hiking spot by any stretch of the imagination. The website trail map mentions plans to develop a trail linking Blue Heron preserve with green spaces to the south and possibly the beltline There's a moderate-sized parking area off Roswell Rd shared with Little Da Vinci school. The start of the path is from the northeast corner of the parking lot. The path is nice but unremarkable. Except for the occasional alien monsters you might come across (refer to my photos of the creative sculpture (artist is Pam Longobardi) located at the north portal off Rickenbacker Drive). The preserve boasts a large community garden, perhaps the largest active one I've seen in Atlanta. There's a short boardwalk running to the garden from the interior path, or you can access it directly from Roswell Road. A bee apiary! With actual bees! They're not all disappeared! According to the website, the preserve also actively plants to attract butterflies, with the support of Georgia Power.

Went here for a walk on a mid morning Saturday. Very pleasant and calm. Lots of greenery and trees next to a babbling brook. Trail was well kept for the most part, though not in all areas, and it was pretty confusing to figure out where to go. There is a porta potty if you need it alongside the trail. Bring water as it can get real humid real fast especially in summer. That said there is quite of bit of shade from the trees. You can be in and out of here in an hour. Very easy walk, not strenuous. Muddy in spots. Dogs allowed.

I ventured through their little trail before sun rise and that is not a good idea. Well, it wasn't my idea at all but the hubsters. So, we could not see anything, it was so dark. The trail is very small and seemed to take us 15 minutes to finish unless there was more to it that we didn't see.

Our secret spot. Heavily wooded area so it stays cool even on warmer days. Our dog loves going on walks here. Trail takes about 30-45 minutes all the way around; kind of split into two parts. Rarely see more than a few people there which is also nice. You would never know you're in the middle of a city!

I found this place on my way from Georgia to Ontario after going to a coffee shop. It was a great place to exercise my dog and me and see some wildlife.

I have the pleasure of living close by to this gem. There are multiple walking trails that go alongside the creek, and the wildlife viewing is fantastic - I've seen multiple turtles, ducks, birds and even a beaver. Blue Heron is dog-friendly and ample parking is available, directly off Roswell Road. There's interesting artwork located on parts of the trail and if you want to get involved, the nature preserve holds multiple events each month, including a trail cleanup day and kid's events. This is a great little park in the city that's great for an early evening stroll.

I live right by the nature preserve, I love it but I do wish they would connect their paths.

I love this place. I live across the road, so it is virtually my front yard. Yes, as the douche bag C.D mentions in their lame ass review there are dogs running around. But who the hell cares, it's nature, dogs are natures creation. It's fun for them. There is a creak they can run and swim in, so for sure, why would you have a dog on a leash in a creak? Do it! And there are no tress that are falling, the place is well kept.

Blue Heron Nature Preserve is a little oasis off Roswell Road in Buckhead. There is one main loop trail which is flat, mostly dirt and wood chips, with a couple of bridges and a couple of breaks where you need to walk on surface streets. We saw plenty of wildlife, including turtles. It was peaceful, clean, and pretty deserted. There's also a sandbar along Nancy Creek, the turtle pond, and a bee house. And it's free. Enjoy!

Too many people walking their dogs at Blue Heron Nature Reserve, and that was the only 'wildlife' we saw. And the walking trail is dangerous, because there are many trees that have fallen or are getting ready to fall and need to be cleared off the premises. So if you want an adventurous walk and don't mind people bringing their dogs over to walk them or to let their dogs roam free without their leash, then you'll probably love this place.