Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

This place in indeed a hidden gem and is certainly off the beaten path. To get there, you take a right off of the busy thoroughfare that is either named Lawrenceville Highway or Scott Boulevard. You should be heading South towards downtown Decatur and Past N. Dekalb Mall (on right side). When you pass the Quick Trip on your right, you will turn right onto Harrington Drive.
You will be in a residential subdivision and the street (Harrington Dr.)will meander for perhaps ¾ of a mile. When you get to the stop sign at Wood Trail you take a right. The street (Wood Trail) will end in a hard right and change names to Pine Bluff Drive. You will then see the signs and trail marker for CSNP. The reserve encompasses 28 acres, so go when you know you will have plenty of daylight to roam around. I am certain the place gets pitch black at night (and then the snakes come out to look for frogs to eat).
The amazing thing (and perhaps another scary one) is that once you are deep inside the preserve (and away from nearby houses /​developments), you will feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere. It seems quite easy to get lost in there if you don’t have a compass or smart phone or some other type of directional device.
I had no idea this place was so close to Medlock Pool /​Medlock Park and also accessible from /​via Desmond Drive. I am a fan and plan on visiting often enough to take good photos and to learn my way around the preserve.

Once again… I forgot about a treasure in my backyard. Some may call it a Nature Preserve, or if you are a child, you may call it «an Enchanted Forest». It has a ton of paths to walk on (ground and wooden paths). There is also a huge bamboo retreat that is like a maze. You can walk by water also and see where the water comes up too. There is a huge area that used to be filled with water and now it is a field of «quicksand». It is just so peaceful and exciting!

I love coming here whether it’s to escape, go birdwatching, or enjoy the coolness of the privet jungle.

One of Atlanta’s best kept secrets. A great spot to get a small dose of nature, do some good bird-​watching, and just chill out for a moment. It’s very much worth it to seek out this little gem and walk around a bit. Bring your camera. Or don’t. Bring your significant other. (Or don’t.) Either way, just hang out, take in a little nature. Maybe say HI to the park-​maintenance volunteers if they’re around. Oh, and there’s a geocache somewhere on the premises…
Copied from their website:
Besides the pond and wetlands, the preserve includes emerging pine forest, wooded uplands containing mature trees, and low shrub meadow in the floodplain bordering South Peachtree Creek. There is a good mix of native species and non-​native species that provides cover for nesting birds and young animals. These diverse habitats are home to beavers, foxes, turtles, snakes, frogs, rabbits, and dozens of species of birds. To date, 166 species of migratory and resident birds have been identified, including wood ducks, pileated woodpeckers, and sand-​hill cranes.

This is a great, hidden spot behind NDK Mall. The 28-​acre nature preserve has several walking trails and boardwalks, a beaver «pond» (usually dry), and creek access. Even though they have a clear map, I have gotten lost in there a few times.
**Watch out for poison ivy.*** The preserve has active scouts maintaining the trails, but PI is pretty hard to eradicate.
We’ve spied several turtles, snakes and hawks, a few were dead, tho…
They have a sweet harvest bonfire festival in the fall. Check website for deets.
From the website:
Besides the pond and wetlands, the preserve includes emerging pine forest, wooded uplands containing mature trees, and low shrub meadow in the floodplain bordering South Peachtree Creek. There is a good mix of native species and non-​native species that provides cover for nesting birds and young animals. These diverse habitats are home to beavers, foxes, turtles, snakes, frogs, rabbits, and dozens of species of birds. To date, 166 species of migratory and resident birds have been identified, including wood ducks, pileated woodpeckers, and sand-​hill cranes.
Six species of frogs were identified in the pond area in an informal study conducted by Emory University students in 1999. The species included bullfrogs, chorus frogs, spring peepers, leopard frogs, gray frogs, and green frogs. Every spring, the calling of frogs during courtship and mating is one of the prime attractions to the preserve.
Cheers~