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Any time of day is a good time to visit the Noonday Creek Trail in the northern Atlanta metropolitan area. The paved trail, separated into two parts, runs along the stream’s partly wooded and partly kudzu-covered floodplain in Cherokee and Cobb Counties.
The northern segment runs for 2 miles through Woodstock, a fast-growing suburban area. The southern segment runs for 6.6 miles through Town Center’s bustling shopping area, ending at the doorstep of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Kennesaw.
About the Route
In the north, the trail leaves off from a large parking lot at Market and Elm Streets in Woodstock and meanders behind some businesses for about 0.7 miles to Woofstock Dog Park and the junction with the Town Lake Pass Trail, another element in Woodstock’s trail system. It runs alongside Noonday Creek for another 0.9 miles to GA 92.
Until the future extension closes the gap, the southern Cobb County segment leaves off on the northern end at the Bells Ferry Road Northeast trailhead. Although this segment runs through the floodplain, much of the forest cover has been removed. The trail rolls past Town Center’s sprawling mall and many other commercial and light-industrial areas.
After passing beneath I-75, the trail leaves the creek, turns left onto Barrett Lakes Boulevard, and takes a side path on Cobb Place Boulevard and Vaughn Road before returning to the creek for a short stretch. It’s back on a side path at Cobb Parkway/US 41 where the trail briefly follows US 41 and then turns right onto Ernest West Barrett Parkway Northwest. In 1.2 miles, turn left onto Old 41 Highway Northwest (the West Cobb Trail continues south). Follow the side path for 1.3¿miles to Stilesboro Road at the entrance to the Civil War battlefield site and visitor center.
Bicycles are allowed in the park only on paved roads but are prohibited from Kennesaw Mountain Drive on weekends and holidays.
Connections
Where the trail intersects with Old 41 Highway NW, the trail intersects with the West Cobb Trail.
At the southern end of the trail, the Noonday Creek Trail runs between Kennesaw Mountain-to-Chattahoochee River Trail.
The Noonday Creek Trail runs between Market Street (Woodstock) and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr (Kennesaw), which both offer parking.
Parking is available at:
See TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Easy to walk and lots of nice views to see!
My husband and I walk/run the first part of the trail (from start to the TC mall) 3-4 times per week. Its so beautiful and peaceful. We've met so many "friends" whom we love to say "good morning" to and who brighten our day, everyday.
Nice trailhead with restroom. Good for walking jogging. Most of the trail runs by traffic so biking not so much.
We walk ride here pretty frequently, I’d love to see them link up the Marietta/Kennesaw and Woodstock sections. Being able bike from the main parking to DT Woodstock would be awesome.
Awesome trail.
Easy walking trail and clearly marked....
Road it for first time Feb 22; sunny and 50* so lots of walkers and a few bikes. Well cared for and enjoyable. Consider going north from end of trail thru downtown and enjoy sidewalks on Rope Mill road too.
It was alright, the parts through the woods and kennesaw mountain were nice but 2/3 of it was on the side of the highway, it was very loud and busy. There are bathrooms and bikes to access and the path for the most part is level and not elevated. I'd start at kennesaw mountain so you go downhill and not uphill.
This trail has it's moments. There are parts where you are deep into the woods or so it seems. But other parts are right along busy streets with lots of noise. The trail could have been routed better if right of ways could have been gotten. Noonday Creek does run under the local airport runway so it is impractical to have the trail go there. But other parts of the trail that deviate away from Noonday take away from what could have been. Traffic is an issue on many parts of the trail and I watch carefully as the motorists don't care about cyclists. They look the other way as they turn right on red without stopping. Besides that once the trail passes the end of the airport where there is a nice playground constructed and goes off along the creek it has two sections that are real nice. The sections aren't that long but provide a nice quiet ride for a short while. I hope money and right of way becomes available soon in order to connect the south end with the north. Then when you can get away from the Barrett Parkway area it can be a nice trail.
I am so excited about the possibilities of this trail. It is exactly what our kids need... A trail that will actually lead to urban areas. I currently love biking to the mountain and Town Center Mall with the kids, but I really hope that one day soon we can also bike from our area to downtown Woodstock. It would be so nice to have a alternative to driving, and would benefit so many. I pray it happens soon because I also want to see my property values go up...as I know it would if this extension happens! Let's do this!
I hope this trail system continues to grow as it provides easy access for metro Atlanta residents to get off the roads and get some exercise. I primarily use the Woodstock trials and really look forward to being able to visit my friends in Cobb county. We are waiting for that connector where the Woodstock section ends at 92. I hope the funds are there for a nice pedestrian/cycling bridge over 92. I miss my friends in Cobb. We haven't seen each other in so long. Please complete the trail. :-)
Wife and I have been riding the Noonday trail for several years and enjoy all the expansions being made.
We live very close to Noonday park and look forward to the day the trail comes to the park and it becomes a trail head for the Noonday bike trail as it is already a established park with restrooms etc lots of parking too.
We are hopeful that a walking track might also be installed at Noonday park to really bring it all together for everyone.
The park is huge.
Ride the noonday trail and enjoy it along with us.
Some parts of this trail are real nice but parts run along busy Barrett Pky and Cobb Pky (Hwy 41). Why did they not actually follow Noonday Creek in this area? It would have been safer and nicer. Otherwise this is a nice trail for at least half of it. Going north from Town Center is the nicest part of the trail. Watch all the intersections between Town Center and Kennesaw Mtn as drivers don't pay attention to pedestrians or cyclists. Once you turn up the hill at Old 41 Hwy it is a good climb and if you want you can continue to the top of Kennesaw Mtn. If you follow Barrett Pky instead of going up Old 41 the trail continues for several miles.
The trail is poorly marked in several places. Barrett Parkway and old 41 being one. Several dangerous intersections and strip mall entrances make this more of an urban adventure than I would like on the Kennesaw side. The Northern section towards Woodstock should be better once (if) completed.
Ran the whole length of the trail. It is well marked and a nice run, but most of it is exposed without any shade cover, along major roads through an industrial district. As a bonus, the trail ends at Kennesaw Mountain, so you can continue your walk/run up to the top of the mountain.
No water along the trail, so bring some money to buy drinks at a store or restaurant along the way.
Bathrooms, etc. are at the Kennesaw Mountain park (and of trail).
I use the trail weekly and do enjoy it. However, it is dangerous to walk by the BIG TREE between Bells Ferry and the mall as it drops dead limbs on the trail, which have nearly struck me in the past.
It's safe and fun and easy to get to!
Good
Would be perfect if there were rest rooms. Kids can't go far and find it easier to go to park and ride the circle because restrooms are close.
We biked this trail from 41 (we parked at a local business, because I wasn't sure where the trail started) to the Bells Ferry parking lot and back, it was awesome!! My only complaint was I need to replace my bicycle seat! It was a great workout with easy and difficult portions of the trail! I can't wait to go back again!
I walked this trail from the parking lot on Bells Ferry to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield. I missed the sign to cross Cobb Pkwy at Hood Pkwy, and ended up going down to Barrett Pkwy. There are two stretches of the trail that run beside busy highways. There are a couple of busy intersections that have to be crossed as well. There a few hills; but I had no problems with them. The last two miles seemed like they were up hill. I thought it was a great hike.
I LOVE this trail so far. I have not made the full length yet, but have been running it from the Bells Ferry parking lot to about Duncun road. It does go along Barrett Lakes Blvd and there is a lot of traffic going by, but most the trail is nice and quiet.
Not sure why the first reviewer calls it "not kid friendly". Seems like common sense to make sure your children know how to properly walk on the sidewalk and making sure you are holding on to their hands if you are walking along side a road. Seems irresponsible on the parent to let their 6 year old do something so dangerous. Complaining about the hills seems pretty petty as well. There's other people that use it for training. If you want your kids safe, take them to park and playgrounds that the county provides.
Anyways, I have walked this trail a good few times when it first opened and I really enjoy walking my dog on this trail. I love taking in the scenery and just enjoying being outside. The path is well paved and the trail is very clean. Yes, they are still doing some construction on some parts, but it'll be temporary. It's well done and I'm impressed. I hope to walk it through all the way.
Although the scenery is great and the fact that it is 6 miles one way is nice, this trail is not very kid friendly. A huge portion of the trail is up and down hill while also being next to very busy open highways and streets. After the first mile, we had to turn around because our 6 yr old kept getting dangerously close to falling into oncoming traffic.
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