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Chattahoochee River National Recreation AreaThe Shoals at Sope Creek - Photo by Tom Wilson
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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Sope Creek

Directions

From I-285 East

  • Take exit 24, Riverside Drive.
  • Left For 2.3 miles to Johnson Ferry Road.
  • Left for 2.7 miles to the junction of Johnson Ferry Road and Paper Mill Road.
  • Left onto Paper Mill Road for 2.2 miles, entrance will be on the left.

From I-285 West

  • Take exit 24, Riverside Drive.
  • North For 2.3 miles to Johnson Ferry Road.
  • Left for 2.7 miles to the junction of Johnson Ferry Road and Paper Mill Road.
  • Left onto Paper Mill Road for 2.2 miles, entrance will be on the left.

From I-75 North

  • Take exit 260, Windy Hill Road.
  • Right to Powers Ferry Road.
  • Left for .9 miles to Terrell Mill Road
  • Right on Terrell Mill Road for 1.6 miles to ‘right’ turning lane for Paper Mill Road.
  • Unit will be on right 1.1 miles down the road.

From I-75 South

  • Take exit 260, Windy Hill Road.
  • Left to Powers Ferry Road.
  • Left for .9 miles to Terrell Mill Road
  • Right on Terrell Mill Road for 1.6 miles to ‘right’ turning lane for Paper Mill Road.
  • Unit will be on right 1.1 miles down the road.

From U.S. 41 (Cobb Parkway North) to Windy Hill Road

  • Travel to Powers Ferry Road and follow I-75 directions as listed above.

From U.S. 41 (Cobb Parkway South) to Terrell Mill Road

  • Travel to turning lane for Paper Mill Road.
  • Go 1.1 miles to the unit on the right.

Activities

Sope Creek is a more secluded entrance to the Cochran Shoals area. Offering scenic Sibley Pond and a more challenging trail for mountain bikers, Sope Creek is a good getaway in the middle of the city. To download a printable trail map click here. (Requires Adobe Reader.)

History

Named for a Cherokee holdout from the Trail of Tears, Sope Creek is a picturesque stream that flows into the river. The stone ruins along the creek banks are remnants of a paper manufacturing company that produced a large portion of the South's paper from 1855 to 1902.

Jones Bridge ruins - Photo by Matt Harr  

Did You Know?
Jones Bridge spanned the Chattahoochee River from 1904-1922 falling into disrepair in the 1930's. Half of the bridge was "stolen" in 1940, neighbors didn't know the workers cutting the bridge were not authorized to do so until it was too late.

Last Updated: March 14, 2007 at 13:26 EST