East Palisades is a unique hike in a densely forested park that rises to 400 feet above the Chattahoochee River. It offers some of the most scenic views of the river south of Lake Lanier.

Located in northwestern Fulton County, East Palisades loop is surrounded by some of the Georgia's wealthiest homes. Two entrance points exist to the park, off Indian Trail and Whitewater Trail, both with modest parking (fee $3.00, November, 2011). Once within the confines of the park, it is as though you have stepped a hundred fifty years into Georgia's past. This overview is told walking clockwise from the Indian Trail lot.

Initially the blue blazed trail descends down an easy-to-moderate root-strewn hill. Long Island Creek, a Chattahoochee River tributary runs alongside the trail at the bottom of the hill. On the approach to Whitewater Trail parking lot the footpath crosses Long Island Creek on a series of bridges. After the last bridge the trail turns and hugs the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Occasionally, sidepaths to the left lead down to the riverbank.

Whitewater Creek parking area is connected by bridge to the hiking trail. The bridge was heavily damaged in 2005 and rebuilt by the park.

Pollution is an obvious problem in the river at this point. We saw large clumps of garbage on the river, although the brown tinge to the water is not pollution (at this point, at least) but tannic acid from the surrounding trees. The trail continues along the bank, then turns right, up the hill. Be careful to follow the blazes, as errant hikers have carved a path that could easily pass for a trail.

View from the overlook, East Palisade.

The path follows several switchbacks to the top of East Palisades, where a side path drops down some steps to an overlook that gives a breathtaking view of the river flowing north to south. Due north of the hill is Vinings and one of the busiest roads in the Southeast, the junction I-285 and I-75. Dobbins Field is nearby, so fighters and other military aircraft also frequently overfly the area.

From here the trail climbs to a ridge, which it follows back to a point on the road to the parking area. Turn right on the road and continue to the parking area.

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