Friday Morning at Sope Creek (Paper Mill Entrance)

Let's do a moderate hike starting in  Sope Creek and venturing into the Cochran Shoals unit.  

The trails through the area 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 be keeping a steady, moderate pace on this hike, covering many of the trails that criss-cross the Sope Creek area as well as those that cut through Cochran Shoals. This is NOT a fitness hike, so we'll stop as needed for views of the river, water, or just for a breather. However, because of the uneven trails and moderate hills, it would be a challenging hike for a beginner or someone who is tentative on uneven terrain.

We'll sometimes be on biking paths, so we'll need to keep to the right to allow bikers to pass.

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 drive!  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 there is a $5 National Park Service parking fee, unless you have a Chattahoochee CRNRA annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass.  Passes should be purchased online in advance at: https://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/fees.htm

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 pay for parking in advance!  Do this at https://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/fees.htm

No bathroom facilities at this location, but the trees and bushes provide good cover!  We'll likely pass by the bathrooms at Cochran Shoals about half way through our hike.