A self-guided tour of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail

In our 10K steps series, we asked authors for the best places to walk while enjoying the city’s sights, your favorite routes, and a few secret detours. In this one, Sheeka Sanahori takes us through some of Atlanta’s neighborhoods via the BeltLine Eastside Trail.

It doesn’t have to be rush hour for visitors to Atlanta to witness the city’s notorious traffic. With the mass movement of people to the Georgian capital and the city’s over-reliance on cars, slow traffic is a common occurrence.

The great thing about the Atlanta BeltLine – a 22-mile outdoor trail that loops around Atlanta neighborhoods – is that it eliminates some of the reliance on cars and restores the joy of walks in the neighborhood. Before construction of the BeltLine began in 2005, many neighborhoods in Atlanta were not closely connected to each other.

Today, thanks to BeltLine, residents are enjoying the outdoors more than ever. This trail gets busy, especially on weekends, and cyclists may have to navigate many pedestrians. My favorite stretch is along the Eastside Trail, which stretches 4.6 miles between Piedmont Park and Reynoldstown. Along the way, you’ll encounter a skate park, renovated shopping districts, and some of the city’s best restaurants. Here’s how to take my favorite walk in Atlanta’s East Side neighborhoods.

Where to start: Piedmont Park

You will begin your walk in Atlanta’s most popular park. Piedmont Park is home to many of Atlanta’s biggest festivals, but even on regular days you’ll find this downtown park filled with joggers, bikers, and picnickers. Head to the southeast corner, where you’ll find the intersection of 10th Street and Monroe Drive. Take a stroll under the colorful Virginia Avenue Bridge and you’ll be on the right track.

The walk: The Eastside Trail is fully paved and wide enough to accommodate multiple joggers, walkers and cyclists going at different speeds. On weekends, the trail begins to get busy around 8:30 a.m.

Stop for shopping at the Ponce City Market

About a mile into your walk, look on your right for the scooter-lined sidewalk that leads to the Ponce City Market. This is where the trail joins one of Atlanta’s most popular shopping districts. Take your first off-trail adventure as you browse the market and stock up on local designers, food stalls, and beautiful views of the Atlanta skyline.

Enjoy a drink on the terrace and admire the city view

Now that you’ve had your dose of shopping therapy, get back on the trail and head south for another half mile until you reach the back patio of a smaller shopping center on your left. Grab a seat on said New Realm Brewing Co patio to enjoy craft beers and pub grub. Or head next door to TWO Urban Licks for wood-fired American cuisine and live blues music. If you’re looking for entertainment, check out the immersive virtual reality exhibits at Illuminarium Experiences Atlanta.

Hang out (or skate!) at Historic Fourth Ward SkatePark

Take a few more steps south on the trail to come across Fourth Ward Historic Park on your right. Here you’ll find skateboarders of all ages enjoying the city’s first designated skate park. Adjacent to the park is land accessible to all. Every day you’ll see people working out or just hanging out in this versatile urban oasis.

Grab a bite to eat in the Inman Park neighborhood

Pass under the Freedom Parkway underpass, lined with street art. On your right, you’ll see the BeltLine Marketplace, which is made up of two converted shipping containers that serve as incubators for new businesses. Once on the other side of the underpass, look for the rhino sculpture on your left, next to a sidewalk that will take you temporarily off the trail and deeper into the Inman Park neighborhood.

You are now in one of the best areas of Atlanta for dining. This community has everything from cafes and wine tasting rooms to gastropubs and fine dining. Once you have eaten something, you will need to retrace your steps back onto the BeltLine and continue your ride.

Stop to admire the street art

By now, you’ve seen a lot of street art along the way, but my favorite art is in the Reynoldstown/Cabbagetown neighborhoods near the Krog Street Tunnel. There’s a nice mix of ever-changing graffiti and murals inside the tunnel, as well as more permanent street art (and a small Atlanta gate) on the MARTA train wall along Wylie Street. Look for the vibrant, open-mouthed characters created by Atlanta artist Greg Mike: his murals are all over the city and beloved by ATLiens.

The walk: Once you reach the intersection with Memorial Drive, you have officially hiked the entire Eastside Trail! If you want to see more of the city, head west to Atlanta’s Grant Park neighborhood or east to relax in East Atlanta Village. You can also explore the trail further by crossing Memorial Drive and continuing south to begin your Southside Trail jaunt.