Trails & parks · Athens-Clarke County

Firefly Trail

What to know about the Firefly Trail, where to get on, a map, and the homes for sale within a real 20-minute walk.

Homes nearby See the map

About the Firefly Trail

The Firefly Trail is a paved rail-trail for walking and biking on the old Georgia Railroad line that once ran from Athens to Union Point. In Athens it starts on East Broad Street across from the transit center, crosses the North Oconee River on a 500-foot bridge into Dudley Park and heads east through tree-lined neighborhoods. A separate section runs from downtown Winterville toward Oglethorpe County, and the long-range plan is about 39 miles all the way to Union Point.

Open in Athens-Clarke
About 7 miles in three sections
Planned
About 39 miles, Athens to Union Point
Surface
Paved concrete, about 10 feet wide
Open to
Walking, running, biking, strollers and wheelchairs; dogs on a 6-foot leash
Hours
Sunrise to sunset
Cost
Free

What’s open now

What's open: downtown Athens to Hancock Road (2.8 miles, opened 2017 and 2021); a newer piece along Spring Valley Road toward Winterville (about 2.5 miles, opened summer 2026); and downtown Winterville to the Oglethorpe County line (about 1.5 miles, opened 2020). Athens and Winterville don't connect yet; the last stretch is still being built. Check the county's trail status page before you go.

Along the way

What you’ll pass

  • Downtown Athens and UGA's North Campus a few blocks from the start
  • The 500-foot bridge high over the North Oconee River
  • Dudley Park, where it meets the North Oconee River Greenway
  • The Trail Creek bridge
  • Shady old railbed through east Athens neighborhoods
  • Pastures and tree canopy along Spring Valley Road
  • Downtown Winterville: city hall, the library, the old train depot and Pittard Park

Getting there

Trailheads and parking

East Broad Street start790 E. Broad St., AthensAcross from the Multi-Modal Transit Centerfalse · falseDirections →
Dudley Park1170 E. Broad St. or 286 S. Poplar St., AthensMeets the North Oconee River GreenwayParking · RestroomsDirections →
Poplar & Peter Streets470 Oconee St., AthensRamp and stairsfalse · falseDirections →
Inglewood Avenue133 Inglewood Ave., Athensfalse · falseDirections →
Old Winterville Road107 Old Winterville Rd., Athensfalse · falseDirections →
Oconee Street Park and Ride1330 Oconee St., AthensParking · falseDirections →
Hancock Road access605 Spring Valley Rd., AthensParking weekday evenings after 5 and all day on weekendsParking · falseDirections →
Downtown WintervilleInez Edwards Plaza, WintervilleParking · falseDirections →

Map

Firefly Trail and homes nearby.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

    The green line is the trail as mapped on OpenStreetMap. Walk times follow real sidewalks, paths and streets at an easy 3 mph.

    For sale now

    Homes within a 20-minute walk of the trail

    Measured on real sidewalks, paths and streets at an easy 3 mph, to the nearest place you can actually get onto the trail. A creek, fence or highway in the way counts against a home, so straight-line distance isn’t used.

    357 Little Oak Street1 min walk$489,900357 Little Oak StreetAthens, GA2 ba · 945 sq ftListing courtesy of Five Market Realty LLC
    195 Royal Court1 min walk$235,000195 Royal CourtAthens, GA3 bd · 3 baListing courtesy of Greater Athens Properties
    755 Broad Street #8031 min walk$399,000755 Broad Street #803Athens, GA2 ba · 676 sq ftListing courtesy of Virtual Properties Realty.com
    108 Winter Hill Drive2 min walk$285,000108 Winter Hill DriveWinterville, GA4 bd · 2 ba · 1,351 sq ftListing courtesy of Keller Williams Greater Athens
    229 Church Street2 min walk$530,000229 Church StreetWinterville, GA5 bd · 3 ba · 2,655 sq ftListing courtesy of eXp Realty
    172 Glendale Heights3 min walk$359,000172 Glendale HeightsWinterville, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 1,410 sq ftListing courtesy of H.M. Fletcher Real Estate
    394 Oconee Street ##213 min walk$409,900394 Oconee Street ##21Athens, GA4 bd · 2 ba · 5,791 sq ftListing courtesy of Woodall Realty Group
    157 Glendale Heights3 min walk$380,000157 Glendale HeightsWinterville, GA7 bd · 3 ba · 3,747 sq ftListing courtesy of Leading Edge Real Estate LLC
    290 Appleby Drive #2634 min walk$260,000290 Appleby Drive #263Athens, GA2 bd · 3 ba · 1,224 sq ftListing courtesy of Our Town Realty Inc.
    290 Appleby Drive #2684 min walk$269,900290 Appleby Drive #268Athens, GA2 bd · 3 ba · 1,244 sq ftListing courtesy of Athens Real Estate Associates
    290 Appleby Drive #1534 min walk$210,000290 Appleby Drive #153Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 1,168 sq ftListing courtesy of Keller Williams Greater Athens
    665 Branch Street4 min walk$219,000665 Branch StreetAthens, GA2 bd · 755 sq ftListing courtesy of Stirling Real Estate Advisors
    1748 Broad Street5 min walk$219,0001748 Broad StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 968 sq ftListing courtesy of H.M. Fletcher Real Estate
    1704 Athena Way5 min walk$2,240,5001704 Athena WayAthens, GA5 bd · 5 ba · 5,028 sq ftListing courtesy of Compass
    250 Little Street #B1026 min walk$140,000250 Little Street #B102Athens, GA2 bd · 795 sq ftListing courtesy of Mark Spain Real Estate
    250 Little Street #C 1086 min walk$178,000250 Little Street #C 108Athens, GA2 bd · 795 sq ftListing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Fort Realty
    250 Little Street #D1026 min walk$160,000250 Little Street #D102Athens, GA2 bd · 795 sq ftListing courtesy of Athens Real Estate Associates
    250 Little Street #C2106 min walk$195,000250 Little Street #C210Athens, GA2 bd · 1,022 sq ftListing courtesy of Greater Athens Properties
    250 Little Street #APT C2046 min walk$179,900250 Little Street #APT C204Athens, GA2 bd · 795 sq ftListing courtesy of Virtual Properties Realty.com
    250 Little Street #B3026 min walk$194,000250 Little Street #B302Athens, GA2 bd · 795 sq ftListing courtesy of Athena Management
    250 Little Street #APT A1036 min walk$165,000250 Little Street #APT A103Athens, GA2 bd · 795 sq ftListing courtesy of Unlock Realty Group
    250 Little Street #B2097 min walk$178,900250 Little Street #B209Athens, GA795 sq ftListing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Fort Realty
    250 Little Street #B1107 min walk$192,000250 Little Street #B110Athens, GA2 bd · 1,022 sq ftListing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Fort Realty
    1455 Broad Street7 min walk$304,0001455 Broad StreetAthens, GA4 bd · 4 ba · 2,722 sq ftListing courtesy of Compass
    1480 Broad Street7 min walk$295,0001480 Broad StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 1,454 sq ftListing courtesy of HomeSmart
    247 Washington Street #3098 min walk$1,100,000247 Washington Street #309Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 1,031 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    131 Broad Street #4098 min walk$398,000131 Broad Street #409Athens, GA640 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    244 Washington Street #2508 min walk$1,100,000244 Washington Street #250Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 897 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    244 Washington Street #1508 min walk$950,000244 Washington Street #150Athens, GA2 bd · 830 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    1095 Athens Road8 min walk$285,0001095 Athens RoadWinterville, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 1,734 sq ftListing courtesy of Prime Real Estate
    250 Little Street #APT A1058 min walk$199,900250 Little Street #APT A105Athens, GA2 bd · 1,022 sq ftListing courtesy of Athens Real Estate Associates
    178 First Street8 min walk$550,000178 First StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 3 ba · 1,600 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    186 First Street9 min walk$359,900186 First StreetAthens, GA2 bd · 1,281 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    169 Vine Street9 min walk$449,000169 Vine StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 3 ba · 1,794 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    235 Pearl Street10 min walk$695,000235 Pearl StreetAthens, GA6 bd · 6 ba · 2,655 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    329 Ridge Avenue10 min walk$499,900329 Ridge AvenueAthens, GA3 bd · 2 baListing courtesy of Drake Realty of Greater Atlanta
    368 Arch Street10 min walk$424,800368 Arch StreetAthens, GA4 bd · 3 ba · 1,932 sq ftListing courtesy of VIP Realty North Georgia
    375 Arch Street10 min walk$220,000375 Arch StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 3 ba · 1,848 sq ftListing courtesy of Huff Realty LLC
    250 Broad Street #30411 min walk$849,900250 Broad Street #304Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 770 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    145 Fairview Street11 min walk$265,000145 Fairview StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 1,232 sq ftListing courtesy of HomeSmart
    250 Broad Street #72011 min walk$824,900250 Broad Street #720Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 768 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    250 Broad Street #62011 min walk$799,900250 Broad Street #620Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 768 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    300 Martin Circle11 min walk$229,900300 Martin CircleAthens, GA4 bd · 1,050 sq ftListing courtesy of American Realty Professionals
    250 Broad Street #70612 min walk$835,000250 Broad Street #706Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 768 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    335 Robert Hardeman Road12 min walk$418,500335 Robert Hardeman RoadWinterville, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 2,066 sq ftListing courtesy of C Tucker & Co
    250 Broad Street #70812 min walk$524,900250 Broad Street #708Athens, GA512 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    250 Broad Street #60112 min walk$899,000250 Broad Street #601Athens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 768 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    269 Hull Street #21212 min walk$649,000269 Hull Street #212Athens, GA2 bd · 896 sq ftListing courtesy of Stirling Real Estate Advisors
    360 Martin Circle13 min walk$224,900360 Martin CircleAthens, GA3 bd · 1,000 sq ftListing courtesy of Virtual Properties Realty.com
    159 Wright Circle13 min walk$285,000159 Wright CircleAthens, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 1,100 sq ftListing courtesy of La Rosa Realty Georgia LLC
    247 Washington Street #30213 min walk$699,000247 Washington Street #302Athens, GA841 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    224 Grove Street14 min walk$430,000224 Grove StreetAthens, GA4 bd · 3 ba · 1,932 sq ftListing courtesy of Maximum One Realty Greater Atlanta
    560 Rosa Nell Howard Street16 min walk$410,000560 Rosa Nell Howard StreetAthens, GA4 bd · 4 ba · 1,924 sq ftListing courtesy of BHHS Georgia Properties
    249 Fifth Street16 min walk$285,000249 Fifth StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 1,650 sq ftListing courtesy of Falaya
    180 Trail Creek Street17 min walk$319,000180 Trail Creek StreetAthens, GA3 bd · 3 ba · 1,311 sq ftListing courtesy of Woodall Realty Group
    121 Summerplace Drive17 min walk$339,900121 Summerplace DriveWinterville, GA4 bd · 2 ba · 1,783 sq ftListing courtesy of C Tucker & Co
    2354 Airport Drive19 min walk$259,9002354 Airport DriveAthens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 1,092 sq ftListing courtesy of Woodall Realty Group

    Close by

    Neighborhoods within the walk

    Thomas Farms4 min walkStadium Village Condominiums8 min walkGameday Condominium11 min walkCherokee Heights19 min walkThe Lodge of Athens19 min walk

    Walk times are from the middle of each neighborhood; homes at the near or far edge will be a few minutes shorter or longer.

    North Oconee River Greenway → Dudley Park → Virginia Walker Park → All trails & parks → Walkable neighborhoods →

    Sources

    Facts about Firefly Trail come from the sources below, checked October 2026. Hours, fees and trail closures change; check with them before you go.

    Listings from Georgia MLS as of October 22, 2026; homes and condos only. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Map, trail and walking routes from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors).