Chattahoochee Hiking

The trails near the Hewlett Lodge Visitor Center are scenic and moderately easy.

NPS Photo

With over 66 miles of hiking trails, opportunities for hiking and walking in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area abound. Chattahoochee River NRA has 15 different park units spread along our 48-mile river corridor. Some units have very short hiking trails and are more commonly used as a boat launch or picnic area, while other have extensive trail systems.

Where to Hike?
We recommend using our Maps page to find the park unit that will suit your hiking interests based on trail mileage, accessible trails, and amenities like restrooms and water fountains.

Trails in the southern units closer to Atlanta tend to be more crowded, while parks farther north tend to offer more solitude and parking.

Hiker Etiquette:

• Be responsible for your safety - bring water, snacks, maps, appropriate footwear, layers, and a way to contact emergency services if need be
• Only park in designated parking spaces; if a lot is full, go to another unit
• Downhill hikers yield to uphill hikers; find a safe place to step to the side without damaging vegetation or causing erosion
• Stay on the trail - make sure you are on a signed trail not a "social trail" shortcut or accidentally widening the trail by walking outside it
• Be aware of bicyclists and their signals on the Cochran Shoals or West Palisades shared use trails

Thinking of bringing your dog on a hike?
Great! Did you know dogs are allowed on all trails in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area? We are proud to be a dog-friendly park. To help us continue this policy and to be a good steward of our shared public spaces, please follow the B.A.R.K. Ranger code:

• Bag your poop & Bin it. Walkers, bicyclists, anglers, paddlers, and dogs all love to visit the Chattahoochee. No one wants to step in poop. Improperly managed dog poop is also a major contributor to E. coli bacteria in the Chattahoochee River! Do the right thing: bag dog waste and dispose of it in the trash.
• Always wear a leash.
  • This protects you and respects other pets, people, and wildlife.
  • Staying on trails protects park vegetation and wildlife, prevents erosion on hills and riverbanks, and lowers exposure to poison ivy oil and ticks.
  • A leash no more than 6 feet in length is required anywhere in the park to help avoid wildlife interactions, bicycle collisions, and pets or people who may not be as comfortable with strangers as your pet.
  • Rivers present other hazards; be cautious and enter at your own risk.
• Respect wildlife. Do not let pets chase or harass wildlife. Also be aware of human "wildlife" and other pets; share spaces respectfully.
• Know where you can go. At many parks, pets are limited to certain trails; know which ones. At Chattahoochee River NRA, dogs who follow B.A.R.K. Ranger rules are welcome on ALL trails! Stay on the trails. No animals except trained service animals are allowed in federal buildings per the Code of Federal Regulations Title 36 Chapter 1 Part 2 Section 2.15.

Want to show your park + doggie pride and help lead by example? Stop by our Hewlett Lodge Visitor Center during business hours (9am - 5pm every day) to complete a short B.A.R.K. Ranger program, get sworn in as a B.A.R.K. Ranger with certificate, and even earn a special, Chattahoochee River-specific B.A.R.K. Ranger badge!