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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Cochran Shoals (Columns Drive & Interstate North)

Cochran Shoals
June 26, 2021 by Shawn Taylor in parks

This unit connects to Sope Creek via trails. Mountain bikes are allowed on some segments of both Sope Creek and Cochran Shoals. Note: some of the mountain bike trails are one-way only. They change direction based on the day. Hikers hike in the opposite direction of bikes.

Address: 150 Columns Dr SE, Marietta, GA 30067
Cost of admission: $5/day parking fee per car
Governance: NPS
Acres: 968, including Sope Creek, Interstate North, and Powers Island sections
Approximate miles of trails: 4 (more if combined with Sope Creek)
Hours: Dawn to dusk, exact park hours are posted at the trailheads
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 12
Transit directions: Take the CobbLinc 10 bus from Arts Center Station to the Cumberland Transfer Center. At the Cumberland Transfer Center, transfer to the CobbLinc 50 to Powers Ferry Rd + Rivers Apartments. Walk southeast on Powers Ferry. Take a left on the multi-use path along Interstate N Pkwy. The multi-use pathway ends at the entrance to Cochran Shoals.
Transfers between CobbLinc (formerly Cobb Community Transit — CCT) and MARTA are free, so taking the train to and from Arts Center will not cost extra. But be aware you will need a Cobb pass or cash to board a Cobb bus when not making a transfer. Cobb trips can be added to your Breeze Card at any Breeze station.
Cycling directions: Cochran Shoals is adjacent to the Akers Mill trail, which is a multi-use path
Parking: Parking is available at both trailheads for $5/day. Annual passes are available.
Trailhead(s): There are two Cochran Shoals trailheads. One is "Interstate North" on Eugene Gunby Rd, just off of Interstate N Pkwy. The other is at the end of Columns Drive. Sope Creek is connected to Cochran Shoals and has its own trailhead.
Trail surface: Mostly natural, some gravel and boardwalk
Blazes/markings: Each trail intersection has signage
Restrooms: There are restrooms at each of the trailheads
Geocaching: No
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 53 of Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition), page 90 in Hiking the Hooch (1st edition), trip 80 in Afoot & Afield Atlanta (2nd edition), chapter J (page 317) in Hiking Georgia (4th edition)

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

  • Gas and food are available along Powers Ferry about 0.4 mi from Interstate North trailhead

Links:

  • NPS trail map (PDF)

  • SORBA (mountain bike trails)

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

Cottonwood fluff, May 16, 2015

Cottonwood fluff, May 16, 2015

April 15, 2017

April 15, 2017

April 15, 2017

April 15, 2017

April 15, 2017

April 15, 2017

Gunby Creek, April 12, 2018

Gunby Creek, April 12, 2018

April 12, 2018

April 12, 2018

April 12, 2018

April 12, 2018

Chattahoochee River, April 12, 2018

Chattahoochee River, April 12, 2018

Spangled Skimmer, June 26, 2021

Spangled Skimmer, June 26, 2021

More photos on Flickr:

Cochran Shoals - all

From around the web

Recent iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist
View more observations near Chattahoochee River - Cochran Shoals Unit on iNaturalist »

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Good to combine with:

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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Sope Creek
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Sope Creek
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: West Palisades
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: West Palisades
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry South
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry South
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Powers Island
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Powers Island
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry North
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry North

Updated November 7, 2016, April 15, 2017, April 12, 2018, & June 26, 2021

June 26, 2021 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 2, near bus-10 min, north metro, 3+ miles of trails, mountain biking, near: west palisades, near: sope creek, near: powers island, near: johnson ferry south
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