Get ready, Atlanta hikers! Your next adventure is just an hour away as local naturalists Jonah McDonald and Zana Pouncey unveil their latest hiking guidebook, “Hiking Metro Atlanta’s Hidden Forests: An Hour or Less From Downtown.”
Released last month, this book is a follow-up to their earlier publication, “Hiking Intown Atlanta’s Hidden Forests: Inside And On The Perimeter,” which debuted six months prior. Together, these two volumes encapsulate a wealth of hiking opportunities in Atlanta, revealing over 90 locations that have previously bypassed the pages of guidebooks.
McDonald, a dedicated park ranger at Mason Mill Park under DeKalb County’s Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs, initially forged his connection with Pouncey at the Environmental Educator Alliance Conference in March 2020. During that pivotal time, just before pandemic lockdowns altered daily life, McDonald and Pouncey developed a solid friendship.
Intriguingly, both were unknowingly aligned in their aspirations; McDonald was amidst plans for a hiking guidebook while Pouncey was transitioning between jobs.
“I was looking for a co-author to partner with, and, when I found out that Zana—someone I trust, like and work well with—was between jobs, I reached out with a co-authorship proposal,” McDonald recounted.
A serendipitous opportunity blossomed as Pouncey echoed McDonald’s enthusiasm.
“When I left my position at DeKalb County, Jonah approached me and asked about being a co-author for the books. I knew he’d written the original version 10 years ago and was making updates and, of course, I said yes,” Pouncey stated.
McDonald has long been a prominent figure in the hiking community within Georgia’s capital, having traversed the entire Appalachian Trail in 2002.
His journey concluded in Atlanta, a city he fell in love with, leading him to organize hikes across metro area parks. This ultimately resulted in his first edition of “Hiking Atlanta’s Hidden Forests: Intown and Out” in 2014.
As a decade passed, McDonald sought to refresh the guidebook into a comprehensive two-volume set.
Realizing the enormity of the task as a working father, McDonald turned to Pouncey for assistance.
“I think these books are better for having two people’s brains behind them,” Pouncey remarked, reflecting on their collaborative efforts.
Together, they aimed to thoroughly map trails and parks around the metro area, allowing more people to uncover the hidden gems and uncommon hiking spots.
McDonald and Pouncey took care to personally visit each park, preserve, and trailhead featured in the new guides, ensuring precision in their descriptions.
Beyond basic trail descriptions, they devised a detailed rating system that accounts for length, difficulty, safety, public transit options, and even historical anecdotes about specific sites—like the “mule” carving at Line Creek Nature Area or the peculiar old bathtub at Briarlake Forest Park.
The completion of their guidebooks wouldn’t have been feasible without an army of over 50 volunteers.
These dedicated individuals helped test the hiking routes featured in the books, providing feedback on text and maps throughout a rigorous two-year process.
The outcome? A thorough compilation of 126 hikes, 70 of which are entirely new to the guidebook scene. This includes hidden treasures like Clinton Nature Preserve and Lionel Hampton Beecher Hills Park—locations never before highlighted in any hiking literature.
Their book launch at the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve on June 14 included an engaging book talk, followed by a nature walk. Unfortunately, they faced a bit of a hiccup with inclement weather, but the event still fostered excitement among attendees.
“Now that everything’s finally finished, it’s really satisfying, and I feel proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Pouncey shared, acknowledging the exhaustive effort of the three-year writing endeavor.
As the duo shifts from writing to public engagement, they have a lineup of talks and book signings scheduled at various locations, including the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center in Conyers on September 27, DeKalb History Center on September 4, and the Decatur Book Festival on October 3 and October 4.
As for McDonald, who has authored four guidebooks to date, his future in writing remains uncertain yet optimistic.
“I don’t imagine that I’ve written my last book, but this project was so time-consuming, I am ready for a break,” he said, hinting at a well-deserved pause from the literary world.
As they step away from the strenuous demands of publishing, one can’t help but wonder if a peaceful hike through one of Atlanta’s hidden forests awaits these two authors on the horizon.
image source from:artsatl