A new section of trail coming to Underwood Hills isn't just another paved path through metro Atlanta — it's an elevated boardwalk winding through the woods like something you'd expect to find in a state park, not minutes from downtown.
The Silver Comet Connector Segment 3 is currently under construction along Chattahoochee Avenue, just west of The Works mixed-use warehouse district. According to Urbanize Atlanta, this segment features a system of elevated boardwalks threading through the trees over Woodall Creek — a design choice that preserves the natural landscape while creating what might be the most visually stunning section of trail in the city.
What Makes This Trail Different
Multi-use trail projects are popping up all over ITP right now, but this one stands out. Instead of cutting through the woods or paving over everything, the elevated boardwalk design lets you move through the canopy while the forest floor stays largely untouched below. It's the kind of infrastructure that makes you forget you're connecting downtown Atlanta to Alabama.
Because that's exactly what this is doing. The Silver Comet Connector is the missing link that will eventually create a continuous trail from downtown Atlanta all the way to the Alabama state line. Segment 3 is scheduled for completion in August 2027, and when it's done, you'll be able to start at The Works in Underwood Hills and theoretically roll for over 60 miles without hitting a stoplight.
Atlanta's Trail Network Is Almost Whole
The Silver Comet Trail itself already runs 61.5 miles from Smyrna to the Georgia-Alabama line. What's been missing is the connector that links it to Atlanta's core trail network. Segment 3 is one piece of that puzzle. The full connector will tie into the city's expanding web of trails, creating the kind of car-free mobility that actually changes how people move through neighborhoods.
Atlanta has been investing heavily in trail infrastructure over the past few years. We've covered how the city just bought 50 acres for a new nature preserve in Southwest Atlanta, and major redevelopment efforts in South Downtown are incorporating green space and pedestrian connections as core components, not afterthoughts.
What's Around This Section of Trail?
Underwood Hills sits in a part of Atlanta that's been transforming fast. The Works has brought new energy to Chattahoochee Avenue with its mix of creative office space, retail, and dining. Once this trail opens, you'll have a nature-forward route that connects directly to that activity.
If you're planning to check out the area once the trail is open, Delilah's Everyday Soul and Doug's North Carolina BBQ are both in the neighborhood — the kind of spots you'd want to hit after a long ride.
Atlanta's trail network has always had potential, but it's the design details that determine whether something becomes a true asset or just another amenity that checks a box. An elevated boardwalk through the woods shows someone actually thought about what it feels like to use this infrastructure, not just whether it connects Point A to Point B on a map. When Segment 3 opens in August 2027, it's going to set a new standard for what trail projects in this city should look like. This is the kind of infrastructure investment that makes Atlanta more livable for people who actually live here, not just people passing through.
