However you slice it, if you want to stay fit and healthy, you have to MOVE!! However, exercising doesn't have to include barbells and ellipticals. For seniors residing in, living near or just visiting Roswell, all you have to do is get outside and explore. With Roswell located in and near the Chattahoochee National Forest along with other secluded parcels of unspoiled nuggets of nature, you have won the location lottery!
Roswell boasts more than 900-acres featured in their award winning parks, including amazing trails for you to wander in and adventure through. When it comes to outdoor activities, Roswell is a great place in which to move your body, see some captivating nature and spend time outdoors with friends and family or just by yourself.
There are long winding trails with hefty elevations that will get your heart pumping and there are easy paved walks through the forest with flat pathways and benches to rest on along the way. Yet, the seasoned, mature and distinguished population may shy away from some of Roswell's trails for fear of being too challenging. Fear not, as there are plenty of trails for Roswell's senior citizens and they are beautiful, historic and will keep you coming back again and again as the seasons change. They will also help you attain your goal of staying active, strong and ready for anything life throws at you. So, come explore the best hiking trails for seniors in Roswell.
Leita Thompson Memorial Park Trails- 1200 Woodstock Road Roswell, GA 30075
Perhaps the best kept secret in Roswell is Leita Thompson Memorial Park. This 107-acre space donated by the Leitalift Foundation in 2001, is a sprawling oasis that includes hiking trails, creek crossings, historic structures, a dog park, studio/art room and abundant rest areas throughout the park.
There are three trails within the park that can give you varying degrees of exercise with a grade of only 5% or less. A color coded map at each of the three entrances to the trails, including the entrance to the beautiful memorial garden, denotes the length of each trail, ranging from 1.12 miles to 2.25 miles. The red and blue trails will take you past a beautiful pond where catch and release fishing is offered along with a quiet place to rest. Bring a book, camera or camp chair to enjoy the quiet solitude or just rest for a moment in contemplation before you plug along.
The red and blue trails include undulating hills that will give you an extra boost of energy. The shorter 1.12-mile yellow trail features a more leisurely path for patrons who desire a short jaunt. Additionally, there are porta-johns located at the garden entrance to the trails and at the pond, so a needed pit stop is never far away. Benches and swing seats strategically placed offer a respite if a pause is needed in your workout.
Meandering this park can be whatever you want it to be. There are many portions that are flat and easily navigable. Yet, if you want to give your heart a workout, you can speed up your saunter and get in a great cardio session. The trails are all laid with crushed gravel and are wide enough to pass oncoming hikers, comfortably. Trails are also laid so that most areas are free of roots and large rocks to keep your hike safe.
The canopy is glorious in autumn when the maples, oaks and poplars put on their yearly show of golds, reds and browns. Spring is equally as stunning as the tender leaves emerge and the birds return after their winter reprieve. This park is a must if you are looking to get out in nature in an environment that is suitable for not only Roswell' senior population, but the entire family.
East Roswell Park Trail- 9000 Fouts Road Roswell, GA 30076
East Roswell Park is another well curated and operated Roswell park that includes sports fields, dog park, playgrounds, tennis courts and multi-use facilities. With a mix of an urban feel coupled with a natural setting, this trail is great for anyone that enjoys hiking but is in need of a path with safer footing.
Patrons that utilize a motorized vehicle for assistance will want to stay on the paved 1.5 mile section of the trail. However, if you would like to walk through the woods, there is a portion that passes through a lovely forest complete with cascading waterfalls and a canopy of old growth fauna high above.
East Roswell Park is a great place for a lone hike as most of the path runs through the sports complex where you can sneak a peak of a soccer game in progress or the children playing on the playground. For walkers that require more solitude, you will enjoy the part that dips into the woods and the adjoining Seven Branches Trail that offers a break from the happenings of the park. Keep your eyes peeled for a red shouldered hawk or a red bellied woodpecker as you enjoy this stretch of the trail.
After your hike, you may be interested in the park's disc golf, community garden or nearby library that flanks the eastern portion of the park. On a cool day, enjoy the dog park with Fido or stop by the Art Center for an exhibition viewing in an inviting and inspiring space. East Roswell Park trails are ideal for seniors as there is ample parking, restrooms located in convenient areas and paved paths that accommodate patrons with varying needs and abilities.
Hembree Park Trail- 882 Hembree Road Roswell, GA 30076
Hembree Park is the perfect place to go if you are short on time, but still want to get outdoors and complete a quick workout. This 1-mile trail includes soft gravel for a low impact walk that meanders past baseball fields and through the forest canopy, giving you a healthy dose of needed solitude mixed with the energy of competition.
Park at the Recreation Center and start your hike here. The trail will loop around back to where you began, making for a great diversion from everyday activities. There are restroom facilities placed throughout the park, so you are never too far from a break. Enjoy features such as a rock sculpted tunnel, gorgeous hardwoods , a babbling creek, a memorial walk, and even a koi pond in which to take a rest.
Looking for a place close by to take the grandkids camping? Well, Hembree Park has you covered. This park features a campsite that is reservable, complete with water, a pavilion and a fire ring for your group gathering or family campout. Hembree Park is a perfect place to patronize for a light walk that will give you a sense of accomplishment, along with the satisfaction of a completed workout.
Roswell Area Park-10495 Woodstock Road Roswell, GA 30075
Roswell Area Park is not only the crown jewel of Roswell, but has arguably the best hiking trails for seniors due to its flat wide path, free of strenuous elevation changes and challenging hills. In fact, for much of the path, a motorized wheelchair will have no difficulty making it around the 1.6-mile loop. You can also chip away at your 10,000 step goal for the day having completed 3,500 steps with this trail.
Along with an activity center, a gymnasium, playground, pool, tennis courts and numerous athletic fields, this park includes a loop trail that winds past outdoor workout equipment, a large fountain pond, a babbling creek and wildlife such as geese and deer. Most of the trail is in a thick old-growth forest that is wonderful in the fall and spring, but equally as lovely anytime of year.
Roswell Area Park is easily accessible at the pond entrance to the park that includes a few steps down to the trail. However, if an ADA accessible parking space is needed, enter the main park entrance and take an ADA spot next to the outdoor gym. In addition to easy parking, Roswell Area Park, as with all Roswell parks, are equipped with AED’s (automated external defibrillators) that can be used by anyone at any time.
Susan Silver, Roswell’s Fitness and Aquatic Coordinator, has helped ensure that the parks are safe for seniors. “One of the most important things that I want people to know about an AED is that they are user-friendly and they are designed to be used in an emergency situation. No training is necessary. The AED will give you the instructions.” says Silver. Roswell Area Park has seven AED’s located at various points in the park and are easily accessible if the need arises.
Big Creek Park Walking Trails- 1600 Old Alabama Road Roswell, GA 30076
Roswell's newest and most extensive park is a 165-acre retreat that attracts mountain bikers and hikers, alike. This wonderful park twists and turns through Roswell's picturesque forests and marshlands presenting you with a plethora of native ferns, mountain laurels, swaying pines and a multitude of hardwood trees.
Take the longer driveway down to the second parking area where you will find accessible parking spaces adjacent to the restrooms and next to picnic tables. Take notice of the directional signage that includes many mountain biking trails, but also includes a leisurely path where you can have a nature walk or a hard core cardio session. This 1.3-mile path can be completed as many times as you want, as it is a loop that features the best of nature. Visit early in the morning or near dusk to get a glimpse of plentiful deer that are so used to people, they may even approach you for a pat behind the ears.
The trails at Big Creek Park also lead to Big Creek Greenway that connect Roswell and Alpharetta through a 15.8-mile, moderately challenging trail that is great for walkers, runners and bikers. You can experience the Alpharetta portion of the greenway by accessing the entry point at North Point Parkway.
There are so many amazing parks in Roswell that contain some of the best walking and hiking trails for North Fulton's seniors. There are challenging trails for the younger, thrill-seeking, adventurer and easy going paths for older patrons that want to take in the beauty that Roswell has to offer. Your first task is to pick a trail and try one and you will be on your way to a stronger and healthier you!