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ATLnature is your guide to Atlanta's trails and other rad nature stuff in the city. Live in the city but miss hiking on the weekends? Don’t have time (or a car!) for a trip to north Georgia? Did you know there are over 30 nature trails inside the perimeter of 285 alone?

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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 »

Random eBird sightings from the last 30 days


Good to combine with:

Featured
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
parks
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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry South

Johnson Ferry South
November 24, 2019 by Shawn Taylor in parks

Address: 4630 Columns Dr SE, Marietta GA 30067
Cost of admission: Parking at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area lots costs $5 per vehicle
Governance: NPS
Acres: 77
Approximate miles of trails: 1
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 13
Cycling directions: There are bike lanes on Johnson Ferry and Abernathy, but they don’t yet fully connect to the Sandy Springs MARTA station
Parking: Parking is available at the trailhead
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Each formal intersection is marked with a map
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
Guidebook mentions: Chapter 55 in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests (1st edition); Hiking the Hooch (1st edition) page 81

Amenities:

  • Picnic pavilion

Links:

  • Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

  • Park map

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 16, 2015

January 3, 2017

January 3, 2017

January 3, 2017

January 3, 2017

November 24, 2019

November 24, 2019

November 24, 2019

November 24, 2019

For more photos, see my flickr album.


Good to combine with:

Featured
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Sope Creek
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Sope Creek
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Cochran Shoals (Columns Drive & Interstate North)
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Cochran Shoals (Columns Drive & Interstate North)
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry North
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Johnson Ferry North

Good to combine with:

  • Cochran Shoals

  • Johnson Ferry North


Updated on August 4, 2016 and November 24, 2019

November 24, 2019 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 2, north metro, wetlands, near: sope creek, near: johnson ferry north, near: cochran shoals
parks
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powers-island.png

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Powers Island

Powers Island
March 11, 2018 by Shawn Taylor in parks

As well as the trails marked on the official maps, there are social trails on the island. From the PI3 marker, you can walk north to the northern tip of the island and then return via a different path, making a full loop of the island.

The trails in this unit are mostly flat, other than the eastern loop between intersections PI6 & PI7, which is quite hilly.

Address: 5450 Interstate North Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Cost of admission: Free, $5/day parking fee per car
Governance: NPS
Acres: 90
Approximate miles of trails: 3
Hours: Dawn to dusk, exact park hours are posted at the trailheads
Miles from downtown Atlanta: 11
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 the Cochran Shoals NPS unit. Continue straight along Interstate N Pkwy, on a sidewalk across the river for 300 feet and then in the grass on the roadside for 100 feet. The entrance to the Powers Ferry unit is on the left.
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.
Parking: Parking is available at the trailheads for $5/day
Trailhead(s): There are trailheads at three corners of the parking lot
Trail surface: Natural
Blazes/markings: Blue blazes along some trails. Trails are well-used and clear, other than the social trails on the island.
Guidebook mentions: Page 99 in Hiking the Hooch (1st edition); Trip 79 in Afoot & Afield Atlanta (2nd edition)

Amenities:

  • Restrooms

  • Picnic tables

  • Nantahala Outdoor Center outpost (river trips and rentals) (seasonal)

  • Watercraft launch (Note: the launch is a short walk from the parking lot. It is not a ramp that you can back a vehicle up to.)

Nearby amenities/conveniences:

  • Harry's Pizza & Subs at the intersection of Powers Ferry & Interstate N Pkwy (0.5 mi from trailhead)

  • Gas station at the intersection of Baby Does Ln & Powers Ferry (0.5 mi from trailhead)

Links:

  • NPS

  • eBird hotspot


March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

Falcate Orangetip butterfly, March 10, 2018

Falcate Orangetip butterfly, March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

Mycena mushroom, March 10, 2018

Mycena mushroom, March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

Lentinus arcularius, March 10, 2018

Lentinus arcularius, March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

Chattahoochee River, March 10, 2018

Chattahoochee River, March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018

For more photos, see my flickr album.

Good to combine with:

  • Cochran Shoals

  • Sope Creek

March 11, 2018 /Shawn Taylor
atlanta page 4, north metro, 3+ miles of trails, near: west palisades, near: cochran shoals, near: sope creek
parks
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