Rusk County Forest
Nature preserve
4,833 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
–Not graded
Outdoors in Atlanta
Few parks or trails are on the map in Atlanta
The biggest trail networks: Rusk County Forest (1.7 mi). 15% of Atlanta’s land is conserved, about 4,922 acres. 4,851 acres are parks and preserves, 8,495 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
15%
4,922 acres · of 50.8 sq mi of land
Trails
1.7 mi
0.0 per sq mi of land
Park land
4,851 ac
8,495 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
10%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
1,663 ft
Mount Atlanta
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Rusk County Forest, with 1.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
4,922 conserved acres
15% of Atlanta’s land. Who manages Atlanta’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
County4,832 ac
Private owners68 ac
State natural resources68 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service19 ac
Bureau of Land Management2 ac
Local Conservation Area · 4,832 acState Recreation Area · 68 acRecreation or Education Easement · 68 acConservation Easement · 19 acNational Public Lands · 2 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 20 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rusk County Forest Local Conservation Area | County | 4,832 | Open |
| Devils Creek Fishery Area-Rusk State Recreation Area | Private owners | 68 | Open |
| Northeastern States District Office National Public Lands | Bureau of Land Management | 2 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Atlanta
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Peaks in Atlanta
Mount Atlanta1,663 ft elevation
DirectionsCampgrounds in Atlanta
Trail's End Youth CampRusk County
DirectionsWhen to get out
The walking year in Atlanta
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°F) | 21 | 26 | 39 | 53 | 66 | 75 | 79 | 77 | 69 | 55 | 39 | 26 |
| Rain (in) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.3 |
February is the driest month (1.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 79 °F). 4.7 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Atlanta →
Next door
Atlanta and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Thornapple | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Murry | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Wilkinson | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Bruce | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Atlanta
Where can I hike in Atlanta?
The longest trail networks: Rusk County Forest, 1.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Atlanta’s trails?
Rusk County Forest doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Atlanta?
86,968 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Atlanta or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 4,853 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Atlanta neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →