Older oaks amid younger trees in Cascade Springs forest, photo by KKolb

This walk is full – now taking wait list

Cascade Springs Nature Preserve is a large and historic greenspace that illustrates many facets of the history of the landscape of our region. Floodplains that were likely farmed or at least turned into pasture flow up into less impacted ridges with some slopes that still hold remnants of the original forest, including many woodland plants whose forebears perhaps were gathered for medicine by Native Americans living only a few miles away at Sand Town on the Chattahoochee River.

Elder White oaks and beech, perhaps left uncut from the early-mid 1800’s, predate the recovering forest that surrounds them, which includes native trees such as Buckeye, Umbrella magnolia and American Elm. Trillium, May apple, Jack-in-the pulpit, Solomon’s plume, Solomon’s seal, and Violet wood sorrel are among the rich surviving palette of plants from the original forest. Cascade Springs Nature Preserve was inducted into the national Old Growth Forest Network in April, 2017.

Georgia buckeye flower, Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Waters from the springs were originally bottled and sold for their healthful mineral content. This area also saw action during the Civil War, where Confederate troops mounted a strong yet eventually unsuccessful defense of Atlanta, with much loss of life for Union soldiers in the Battle of Utoy Creek.

We’ll walk approximately 2.5 miles on natural trails in this park, walking is easy with some hills.

To register, click HERE.  Details and directions sent to registered participants. 

A donation of $15 or more helps sustain our programs.

Violet wood sorrel at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve