Monday Morning at Sope Creek (Beginners Welcome)

Rain got in our way last Monday, so let's try this one again . . . this time, with Trena back! 

This will be a moderately paced hike through the beautiful trails of Sope Creek.  If there are people on the hike who've never seen the ruins, we'll likely go there first;  otherwise, we'll skip the ruins and head straight to the middle section of Cochran Shoals.  Though many areas are relatively flat, there are some hills that we'll encounter.  If you have hiking poles, they'll definitely be an asset.

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 Sope Creek Elementary School and the Sibley Forest subdivision - -  but if you get to the Sope Creek bridge, you've gone too far.   

Please remember to bring $5 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!

Sorry - - no bathroom facilities at this location.

Please remove your registration yourself if you can't make the hike.  You can do this up until the actual time of the event.   You can do so right up until the starting time of the hike.

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.

Please remove your registration yourself if you can't make the hike.  You can do this up until the actual time of the event.  

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

Don't forget to bring $5 cash for parking if you don't have an annual pass.

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