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Bamboo Forest
4.6 ★★★★★ 137 Google reviews · Running trail in Sandy Springs, Georgia · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 5 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Bamboo Forest's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Hiking spot with woods featuring dense groves of bamboo and scenic river views.
What runners say about Bamboo Forest
“I give four stars because the place can be pretty busy on the weekends/beautiful days, and the bamboo forearm isn't very big (though it is very beautiful!”
“There are mile markers every 1/2 mile or so but it can still be confusing.”
“I recently visited Bamboo Forest in Atlanta and it felt like stepping into a peaceful hidden gem.”
Here's my guide! Parking is hard to get to because it is a narrow one-way gravel road. But with patience and decent driving/parking skills, you can find a spot in the lot and squeeze in (if it's the weekend you may need to wait 5-15 minutes for someone to leave so you can take their spot, as it gets busy!).
If you want to go here but are a little confused on how to get to the actual Bamboo Forest, you’ve found the right review! This place is beautiful and definitely worth a visit, but there are some things you should know before your hike! This is about 20 minutes from Atlanta. I live in Tucker and it took me 28 minutes.
First time here, after looping through the whole thing realized that there is a shorter way. You can park at ep19, walk back to ep13 then take ep21, 22, 23, 17, 16, and finally 26. EP 26 is where the bamboo forest is at. Good hike took about 25 minutes to walk back this way. Attached photo for trail map.
Hiked this back last August. Used AllTrails to map out the trail. I definitely recommend this spot. There are spots along the trail to pitch some chairs or hammocks and chill or do a picnic. The only issue was a downed tree that hid the trail head to the bamboo forest.
Trail conditions & character
“This place is beautiful and definitely worth a visit, but there are some things you should know before your hike!”
“Whitewater Creek entrance has more parking versus East palisade entrance.”
“The first one is lengthy (don’t say I didn’t warn you) totaling at about 5 miles round trip.”
“Now once you start your hike marker 26 is the number for the actual bamboo part.”
“I recently visited Bamboo Forest in Atlanta and it felt like stepping into a peaceful hidden gem.”
“It’s gravel and narrow (for about a mile) so there will be lots of moving over and letting other cars pass.”
“It's dog friendly and I would say it's easy to moderate but definitely not hard.”
“Trail starts off very easy, then you have some moderate areas with mud, roots rocks elevation changes.”
Plan your run at Bamboo Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Distance5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitenpplan.com
- Social Facebook
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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