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Oxbo Trail combines a level, stream side walk with an energetic climb to Roswell's first city park. The trail also provides secondary access to the Vickery Creek unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The trail's proximity to Atlanta, easy access, coupled with the fact that it is packed with fun things for kids to see and explore, makes this an excellent trail for a family outing.
From the parking lot begin your hike by turning right. The trail crosses a small stream and begins a short moderate climb through a kudzu patch to Sloan Street. Across the street from the trail entrance is playground with a sitting area for parents. Down Sloan St. to the right, The Bricks, which may be the oldest apartments in the Southeast. Built for managers of Roswell Mill in 1839, the Bricks now house an upscale eatery. 0.1 miles to the left is the Roswell Mill Trail.
Turn around and head back to the parking lot, passing it as the road parallels the stream / river. Named for a mixed-blood Cherokee woman who owned the property at the headwaters of the river in Forsyth County, settlers began calling the stream "Big Creek." Thus the stream is known by two names depending on where you are standing at the time.
Walking with the river on your right there are a number of trails to Vickery Creek that allow access for fishermen along the gravel road (actually, its a sewer easement). The trail turns to concrete at 0.4 miles, turning leftt and climbing. On the right at the end of the climb is a bridge across Vickery with an excellent view of a dam across the river. Continue across the bridge to access the Vickery Creek unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
Return to Oxbo Road and carefully cross this busy street. Almost directly in front of you is the entrance to the Hog Waller Creek portion of the trail. The trail bears left as you enter a deciduous forest which was the site of the Oxbow Manufacturing Company. Built in 1896 by J. H. Waller, the plant used water from Hog Waller Creek to power its looms. When electricity replaced water as the predominant (and more economical) power source, the Oxbow Manufacturing Company did not have the money to refit and closed in 1913.
As the trail climbs alongside Waller Creek notice the dam on the left. This may be the dam which powered Waller's mill. The climb continues, crossing a bridge. Notice the intricate stone wall with steps, which lead to additional parking on Oak Street. This parking is frequently full, since it also is used by people visiting the baseball field in Waller Park. The steps were the original entrace to Roswell's first city park.
Once across the bridge turn right and continue along Hog Waller Creek. Notice that the sharp drop of the creek (and the path) has moderated, becoming an easy to moderate climb for the rest of the trail, now in a steep-sided gully. As you approach the park, the right bank of the creek becomes solid rock, a testiment to the power of the river. The walled park, with an ancient picnic table and grill, stands quietly along the banks of Waller Creek. A descendant of Waller's donated the land to Fulton County, who built the park then gave the land to Roswell.
From the park return to the trail and turn right. The trail continues to a bridge on the right that climbs to additional parking, and dead-ends at the creek a few steps later. Turn around and retrace you steps to the car.
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Oxbo Trail
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