Big Trees Forest Preserve

The photos make this park look much larger than it actually is. It’s about 1.2 miles long and took a friend and I about an hour to work through (that’s including photo ops and getting occasional trail turnarounds). Very pretty in some areas, kind of overrun. You sort of feel that the place doesn’t get serviced by maintenance regularly. There’s the occasional pizza box and litter plus an overturned bridge. The ones that are still up are somewhat rickety.
All in all, the area near the water and rocks is pretty and 75% of the trails are an easy walk.

I love this place. Definitely a great escape without having to travel too far out of the city.

Cool place for short easy hikes and/​or picnic! Not crowded at all on a Saturday and free parking. Definitely recommended!

Despite being so close to so much civilization, Big Trees Forest Preserve has a variety of scenic spots to get away from it.
There are several well-​marked trails that meander through the space — some high, some low, some by the creek, some over the creek. There are benches above and below the cliffs so you can appreciate both perspectives. I love that the trails are diverse, well-​marked, and mostly root and rock-​free for the little guys.
There are clean public bathrooms and a water fountain at the entrance from the parking lot.

Came here a few times after my father in law discovered it on a run. It’s such a nice gem to be hidden in a busy area! Took my pup hiking and she loved it.

This was such a beautiful and relaxing walk.
A nice getaway super close to the city. And it’s free!!!

I found this place by accident when I was driving in a new area and had my dog in the car with me. Deciding we could both use a little break, I used Unilocal to search out good places to take her for a walk and found out about Big Trees Forest Preserve. It turned out to be an excellent stop!
Nestled in a neighborhood, the Preserve can be a little tricky to find for first-​timers. There is no clear main entrance. Rather, there are several small groups of parking spaces so that you can pull up and enter the preserve at various places. took my dog on a loop around a lake. The trail was well-​marked and had a variety of terrain, everything from footpaths to paved «sidewalk» type areas and a couple of wooden bridges. If you’re in the mood to take a nice 2.5 mile or so walk and enjoy some peaceful, quiet nature, this is a great place for you.
I did notice a lot of people (mostly families with kids) congregating around one side of the lake. Saw a couple of joggers but otherwise my dog and I were alone on the trail. Good news if you’re in the mood for peace and quiet, but it might not be for you if you’re not keen on being alone in the woods for very long.
I would absolutely go back.

I feel like Peter Parker. I just returned from Big Trees Forest Reserve and am still picking spider webs out of my hair.
I took my two dogs there for an early morning walk and although Big Trees Forest Preserve is a beautiful natural site, I will never go there again.
Restrooms were recently built at the trailhead and they placed a doggie doo-​doo bag dispenser there as well which is normally a good thing.
One of my dogs weighs 80 lbs. He is a regular fellow so I grabbed a couple of bags. Good thing I did. The bad thing is that there are no trash containers anywhere on the trail to dispose of this waste. I had to carry my souvenir around for an hour which I acknowledge is my responsibility as a dog owner.
The major problem at Big Trees Forest Preserve is that other dog owners felt it was all right to throw the bag in the woods, leave it next to the trail, dump it on a closed bridge and other gross places. Plastic doesn’t break down for a long time meaning that at the present rate, Big Trees Forest Preserve will be Big Dump Preserve in the not too distant future.
And shame on all you other lazy bastards for throwing your soda cans and candy wrappers in the woods.
It is poison ivy season too and there is too much of it encroaching the trail.
The trails are also not clearly marked because the signage is old and some of it is falling down. Several bridges are closed for repair as well.
It is a beautiful place and it is great to save the trees but people are ruining all the natural beauty.

Nice get away spot for a few hours. Nice area and beautiful scenery. The trails are good for low-​key stroll and are well kept. There is plenty of free parking. Dog friendly. The only thing bad about this place is there is not much ground to cover. This is a great spot for a pleasant and peaceful nature walk!

This is a great park if you love nature! There is a nice creek which runs through it, and I come here a lot. That being said, the drawback is that it is small. There are only 2 main circular trails. It is great if you’re a local, but I would not go out of my way to come here.

The Mrs and I love this place! It’s gorgeous and so quiet back there, even though it’s right off of Roswell Rd! We take the puppy here to walk all the time, luckily it’s so close to home too! Their putting in bathrooms now too, always nice! Check it out, it’s worth it!

We discovered this park recently and love to come here and bring the pup. He loves the nature and the streams and it’s a good easy workout. Great location if you live nearby to catch a quick peaceful trail run too. Usually 3 laps around the back country trail will get you a 5k.

I mean if you live around this trail you should definitely check it out. I came from Woodstock with my dog looking to try something new. The trails are well maintained and easy to walk. It’s a fairly small system but I knew that going in. If you’re in the area looking for a quick hike/​walk you have nothing to lose by going in. I don’t suggest you travel here from any significant distance.

This is such a beautiful space. I love, love, love it. I’ve gone here just to sit and listen to the birds and my husband and I have taken leisurely strolls and hard, long walks. The incline reaches 12 stories high, so it can be a decent little workout.
There’s lots of streams and trails and benches. The names of the trees are posted on their trunks, and a guest book that you can sign at the entrance. Another cool little feature is a rock bridge — yep, a bridge built of rocks. It’s small, so don’t expect anything amazing, but it’s a neat concept.
You’ll run into many other folks walking their dogs or relaxing with their families. No running is allowed, FYI.
We went the other morning and it was so peaceful. The sun wasn’t too hot yet, there was a cool breeze, all the animals were waking up and the air smelled so good. It was a fantastic way to start our day. You don’t ever have to worry about the sun coming down on you because it’s pretty shaded throughout.

As already stated many times in these reviews, this is simply a wonderful place to «get away», yet you aren’t really away, but only a few hundred feet from Gretchen O’s favorite Roswell Rd.
I lived so close to here a few years back and never even knew it was here. That is how well it was hidden. They have since put up a large sign last year. You park in the parking lot of the North Annex… I cannot believe they don’t have parking meters there… yet.
When we first got on it and it was paved, I was expecting it to be much like Big Creek Greenway, but that quickly changed. The pavement is only a couple hundred feet long and then you are into the mulched, more natural pathway. The path is only about 5 feet wide, enough for people to pass one another, yet not so wide that so many trees had to be removed, leaving plenty of shade to save my balding head :-) It is also better exercise than Big Creeek Greenway because this is up n’ down, up n’ down pathway rather than mostly flat.
I look forward to getting back here and learning the paths because as Craig G. stated, it is a maze. But it is one worth learning and you will enjoy doing so!

A great little park at a great location with convenient parking. A variety of terrain with hills, creeks, and foot bridges with plenty of trees for a woodland feel. The paths can get a bit muddy when there’s been a recent rain, but are mostly well maintained. It’s dog friendly and just enough trails to make it interesting without being a maze.

I love this beautiful preserve! After having moved nearby, one day I decided to check out the park. They made an amazing use of space. The only thing that will remind you that you’re just off busy Roswell Road is the sound of traffic. There are benches scattered throughout, numerous bridges and streams, uphill/​downhill stretches. It’s a great workout. I’ve seen photographers come here to do portraits. Lovely suburban getaway not to be missed!

A truly hidden gem right in the middle of suburbia. You can see busy Roswell Road from the first section of the main path, but hardly hear the cars. One might as well be miles from civilization when they come here…
My friends and I decided to take the longest path around. Dogwoods in bloom everywhere, tall trees soaring up to the sky, tons of great spots to sit for a spell or have a picnic, and everyone you meet on the trail is incredibly friendly.
Thank goodness this spot wasn’t turned into a yet another failed venture in auto sales because it’s absolutely beautiful. A highly, highly recommended walk if you want to hike close to the city but not through the likes of Piedmont Park. Less people + more trees = happiness!

This place is a little slice of heaven hiding amidst the the fast food joints and strip-​malls that otherwise line the path of Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs. My favorite part is that it’s free, local (whilst feeling remote), and not crowded. It is more of a hiking, not jogging, type place since the paths are not paved but I like that it makes you slow down and enjoy where you are. It is also dog friendly, especially for the dog that enjoys playing in a creek. And it is one of the few places that maintains it’s beauty no matter the season. I just can’t wait till spring to see it all in full bloom. =)

This is the most beautiful place I have ever been, and I haven’t even explored it all yet (I get so enchanted that I while away over an hour in half a mile).
Soft mulch trails make for comfortable, quiet walking and help you feel connected to nature. The trails themselves seem to follow the shape of the land, rather than being carved into it – the overall feel is that the caretakers of the preserve wanted to honor the land rather than subdue it. The beautiful streams are crossed by various styles of bridges — my favorite being one where a rock crossing was made firm by concrete without disturbing the natural shape. Walking among the very tall trees gives one the impression of walking through a natural cathedral — sacred and ancient.
I imagine those who like to jog or run would be disappointed to note that it is not permitted here. I appreciate that rule though, as it helps maintain the beautiful sense of peace. The purpose of this preserve is to allow people in the city to have a bit of true forest that they can come to to commune with nature, and oh, does it fulfill that.