We asked Eric Champlin, editor and founder of AtlantaTrails.com, to recommend three of his favorite routes around metro Atlanta. Here’s what he had to say:
Photograph courtesy of the BeltLine
Beginner
Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
No hills + skyline views
Grab a run on the paved Eastside Trail, catching skyline views of Midtown at Piedmont Park en route to Ponce City Market, past the Historic Fourth Ward Park, and into Inman Park. This former rail corridor runs nearly level, so it’s beginner-friendly and great for a run up to four miles.
Intermediate
Cochran Shoals
Long distance + riverside scenery
One of Atlanta’s most scenic, traffic-free, and popular running trails, the Cochran Shoals 5K loop follows gentle rolling elevations on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. To catch more distance, exit the north end and run Columns Drive to Johnson Ferry Road, adding five miles.
Advanced
Panola Mountain PATH Trail to Alexander Lake
Winding hills + glassy lake views
Run a five-mile loop at this state park on a paved trail, grabbing a moderate hill workout on rolling, scenic terrain. The trail runs over a causeway on Alexander Lake and through a historic barn. Not winded yet? PATH trail networks span 30 miles.
This article originally appeared in our 2015 Health issue.
