Friday Morning at Sope Creek & Cochran Shoals

It's a day to celebrate!  Lee will be reaching his 400th AOC event today, an amazing achievement considering he's been in the club only a bit over two years.  That's a lot of hiking!

This will be a moderately paced hike through the beautiful trails of Sope Creek. We'll decide on a route depending upon our group.  We may skip the ruins if everyone has seen them . . . or we may decide it's a pretty day to check out the creek. 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 your smart phone to pay the $5 parking fee to the National Park Service, unless you have a Chattahoochee NRA annual pass.  Passes can be purchased in advance online at https://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/fees.htm  Please allow 10 extra minutes to purchase a pass if you don't get one in advance.  We'll be starting our hike on time - - 10 am!

Sorry - - no bathroom facilities at the trailhead.

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

And remove yourself from the waiting list if you don't wish to be added as spots open at the last moment

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 - https://crnra.vip/wp-content/uploads/Sope_Creek_2021.pdf

Don't forget to buy a $5 parking pass before the hike!  No bathroom facilities at this location, but the trees and bushes provide good cover!