Morning at Sope Creek (Paper Mill Entrance) - Beginners Welcome

While Trena's away, we will play!  This is Trena's regular beginners' hike, which I'll lead while she's occupied with work (until after Christmas). 

We'll keep a moderate paced hike around Sope Creek this morning.   We'll be taking off promptly at 10:00 am, so arrive 10 minutes early to buy a park pass ($3) and to meet your fellow hikers.  If any members haven't seen the Sope Creek ruins, we'll include them;  otherwise we'll use our time to hike around the other trails, likely headed into the Cochran Shoals area to see the cemetery.  The Sope Creek trails are all beautiful, and if we're lucky, we might even catch a view of turtles sunning themselves on the "turtle log" at Sibley Pond.

We'll hike for about 2 hours, getting in around 4.5 miles.  Some of the trails are hilly and rocky, but if you're up for the distance and can handle moderate elevation change, you'll be in good shape. This is NOT a fitness hike, so we'll stop as needed for views of the river, water, or just for a breather. 

The Sope Creek parking lot off Paper Mill Road is a more secluded entrance to the Cochran Shoals unit of the Chattahoochee NRA.  It's located among some very exclusive subdivisions, so you'll enjoy the ride!  If you're coming from Johnson Ferry Rd., it's just past the Sope Creek bridge, on your left. If you're coming from I-75 on Papermill, it will be on your right, after you pass the Sibley Forest subdivision but before you reach the Sope Creek bridge.

Please remember to bring $3 cash for the National Park Service parking fee, unless you have a Chattahoochee NRA annual pass.

If you bring your dog, it should be able to keep up with the group and interact well with other dogs and people. The Chattahoochee NRA requires that owners keep their dogs on a leash and clean up after their pets on the trails. Please be willing to keep your dog on leash out of consideration to other hikers, because it's the law and because the reputation of the AOC is damaged when members break the leash law.

Limit of 3 dogs, please!

Sope Creek Parking Lot (Paper Mill Road)

3760 Paper Mill Rd SE
Marietta, GA

GPS Coordinates: 33.939515,-84.441905

Directions: Take Interstate 75 North out of Atlanta to Windy Hill Road (exit 260). Turn right on Windy Hill Road, and then left on Powers Ferry Road. At the intersection of Powers Ferry and Terrell Mill Road, take a right on Terrell Mill. Take a right on Paper Mill Road; the park entrance is approximately 1 mile further on Paper Mill Road on the right.

From Johnson Ferry Road, cross the river going North; turn left at the Paper Mill Road intersection, past the Columns Drive light.  Stay on Paper Mill as it winds along to the Sope Creek bridge.  Once you cross the bridge, be alert for the Sope Creek sign on your left, about 1/4 mile from the bridge.

If you're traveling south on Johnson Ferry Road, turn right at Paper Mill Road and proceed according to the directions above.

Trail Map - http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/TrailMapSopeCreek.pdf

Don't forget to bring $3 cash for parking!

No bathroom facilities at this location, but the trees and bushes provide good cover!