Cochran Shoals to Sope Creek

Lets enjoy this beautiful warm day with a great hike at a brisk pace from the river level of Cochran Shoals to the Sope Creek and back. Please try to carpool to the location as parking is a problem due to limited spaces.

We will meet and introduce ourselves at 9:15 by the bulletin board at the end of the Columns Drive parking lot. (See detailed directions below.)  The hike will start at 8:00 am and we expect to finish at 10:30 am. This will be a moderately brisk hike. The weather will be very warm. We'll begin the hike near the Chattahoochee River and ascend North on a small trail towards Sope Creek, passing by a 19th century family graveyard with moderate climbs. When we reach Sibley pond, we will head East towards the old flour mill by Paper Mill Rd. to take a water break and eat our snacks. Then we will proceed by smaller trails in the Sope Creek area to see the old paper mill that was burned by Union forces during the Civil War (a must see) across the creek, to continue Southwest back to Cochran Shoals.

If you prefer using GPS navigation (or Google.com/maps) the following Lat/Lon coordinates of our meeting point at the end of the Columns Drive CRNRA parking lot may be useful as your entered destination in conjunction with the detailed directions below.  33.9213,-84.4396


From I-285/I-75 Interchange on NW side of Atlanta:

• Go eastward on I-285 (toward Sandy Springs) about 4 miles and take Exit #24, Riverside Drive.
• Turn left across bridge (northward) and go 2.3 miles to Johnson Ferry Road.
• Turn left, go just 0.2 mile (crossing the Chattahoochee bridge) and take an immediate left onto Columns Drive.
• Stay on Columns Drive for 2.6 miles, which will end at the Cochran Shoals unit.  Meet by the bulletin board at the end of the parking lot.

From I-285/GA-400 Interchange or I-285/I-85 Interchange on North side of Atlanta:

• Go westward on I-285 (toward Birmingham) and take Exit #24, Riverside Drive.
• Turn Right (northward) and go 2.3 miles to Johnson Ferry Road.
• Turn left, go just 0.2 mile (crossing the Chattahoochee bridge) and take an immediate left onto Columns Drive.
• Stay on Columns Drive for 2.6 miles, which will end at the Cochran Shoals unit.  Meet by the bulletin board at the end of the parking lot.

Dogs are allowed on the trails in the park but must remain on a leash and under the owner's control at all times for the safety of visitors and the dogs themselves. Pet owners are required to clean after their dogs and dispose of the waste properly to help protect the water quality of the river.