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East Palisades Unit - Indian Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 764 Google reviews · Running trail in Sandy Springs, Georgia · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from East Palisades Unit - Indian Trail'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.
Popular hiking area with a scenic, 3.4-mile trail through a dense woodland, plus a bamboo forest.
What runners say about East Palisades Unit - Indian Trail
“It did take me a while to find the place; it took me about 2 hours to get there with lots of stops and taking my own time to discover this beautiful majestic park.”
“So try to stay calm and move with caution.”
“My kids are under 10 years so I think it's something for all ages.”
My family and I really enjoyed this experience. They are site maps at multiple points to keep you on track so they should not be much worry about getting lost. There are many different types of sites and terrain to keep you interested along your journey.
I have a panda tattoo. So, of course, this trail is my happy place. Parking is atrocious if you're not here early, but in my opinion, it is worth the hassle. Go pass the bamboo and check out the lookout spot. It is so peaceful out there.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE MARKERS! I wanted to take the scenic route so I went the long way (about 2.4 miles) partially along the river. Excellent scenery and going back I took the shorter route which is quicker. The road getting in is narrow, only wide enough for 1 vehicle at a time so be careful and parking is $5.
my partner and I took a beautiful hike here on a cold, clear winter day. the beautiful views of the Chattahoochee and the bamboo forest were worth the trip! there were definitely some treacherous narrow areas and steep points, especially the switchbacks.
Trail conditions & character
“Although we originally wanted to walk through the bamboo forest, we realized that there is no parking directly in that area.”
“Depending on the path you select, this natural park provides easy to moderate hikes featuring a lovely overlook viewpoint, river views, and a small bamboo woodland area.”
“Also many more entitled types choose to bag, then tie their dogs' poop up nice little package, and leave it on the trail for others to pick up.”
“The whole thing is a big loop, part of which goes along the Chattahoochee River.”
“there were definitely some treacherous narrow areas and steep points, especially the switchbacks.”
“What I liked about this trail is while it is well marked, you have to know how to navigate the map because it is easy to end up on the wrong path.”
“the slick leaves and hidden roots and rocks made it difficult also, highly recommend trekking poles :)”
“There were no bathrooms at the parking lot which we parked.”
Plan your run at East Palisades Unit - Indian Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — 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
Hours
| Monday | 5:30 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:30 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 5:30 am–9 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–9 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am–9 pm |
Running trails near Sandy Springs
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Bamboo Forest
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East Palisades Trailhead
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Palisades West Trail
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Powers Island Trail
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Cochran Shoals Unit - Interstate North
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Easy, wide trail following the Chattahoochee River, plus ponds.