Roswell Riverwalk (Fulton County, Georgia)

Originally, I was hoping to drive up to Fort Mountain State Park today and hike the Gahuti Trail, but as family obligations changed, I needed to adjust my plan. I still wanted to get a few miles in, but didn't have time for the long drive. I settled on walking a few miles along the Chattahoochee River on the Roswell Riverwalk Trail. I've walked this area a few times in the past and it's very nice. A combination of pavement and boardwalk, the trail is sandwiched between several roadways and the river itself. It's very popular for walkers, runners, and bikers, but as it is a completely urban trail, I feel comfortable listening to an audio book while I get my miles in. 

After parking and using one of the public restrooms, I start my walk at Don White Memorial Park and head west. I'm in running shoes, which are more comfortable on pavement than my hiking shoes. It's a bit cool today, but that doesn't seem to stop people from getting some exercise. There are a lot of folks out here, which is great to see. As I approach Riverside Park, I note that it is fenced off and lots of largescale landscaping is going on. Apparently, the park is being redesigned and rebuilt with fresh construction. Luckily, the planners route the walking trail around the construction.

From here, I'm right along the river for a ways before hitting the swampy marshlands of the river's overflow. This area is a thriving ecosystem for birds and amphibians of many types. Along my walk, I spot several herons, geese, and even a large snapping turtle all out sunning themselves on this beautiful day. 

Normally, I walk all the way to Willeo park when I walk this trail, but as I'm a little pressed for time, I make my turn at the Chattahoochee Nature Center bridge today, which cuts a mile-and-a-half or so from the total distance. I push my pace pretty hard on the way back and seem to be walking at nearly four miles an hour. At that pace, I'm back at my car pretty quickly having hiked a total of 5.9 miles. It's not much, but it's still nice to stretch my legs a bit.