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Member Hike
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| Hike Name:
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Sope Creek |
| Country:
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United States |
| State / Region:
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Georgia |
| Nearby Town:
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Sandy Springs |
| Rating:
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| Directions:
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From the I-75/I-285 intersection on the northwestern side of Atlanta, follow I-285 East then take the Riverside Drive Exit and make a left at the light. Follow Riverside Drive several miles through a couple of stop lights to Johnson Ferry Rd. Make a left onto Johnson Ferry Road and go across the bridge over the Chattahoochee River. Just after the bridge, make a left onto Paper Mill Road. Follow this winding road to the parking area, and you will see the park entrance on the left. There is currently a $3 fee by the NPS to park here (or you can buy an annual pass). |
| Total Hike Distance:
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3.00
miles |
| Hike Difficulty:
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Moderate
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| Permit Required:
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No |
| Hike Starts:
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Paper Mill Road |
| Hike Ends:
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Paper Mill Road |
| Trails Used:
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Sope Creek Trail |
| Hike Type:
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Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Back Country Campsites:
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No |
| Back Country Water Sources:
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Streams |
| Management:
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National Park Service |
| Contact Information:
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Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
1978 Island Ford Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30350
By Phone:
Island Ford Visitor Contact Station
678-538-1200
Park Dispatch
770-952-0370 Emergency Number
678-538-1273 Non-emergency Number |
| Best Season:
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Winter, Spring, Fall |
| Users:
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Hikers, Dogs |
| Hike Summary:
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Sope Creek is named for a full-blooded Cherokee Indian who lived along its banks. The Indians had been removed by law from the area in 1838, but somehow Old Chief Sope managed to remain. It is said that little boys in the area would run away from home to visit the kindly man who told them stories and taught them Cherokee words.
The stone ruins along the creek are remnants of the Marietta Paper Mill which produced a large portion of the South's paper from 1855 to 1902. Union troops burned the original mills in 1864. Contrary to popular belief, the ruins are from the buildings erected after the Civil War. To reach the mills, visitors must use the car parking lot at Sope Creek on Paper Mill Road and descend on foot to the ruins.
This three mile loop hike skirts the edge of the Marietta Paper Mill and descends along a well worn hiking trail to Sope Creek. It crosses some mountain biking routes on occassion, so be sure to watch the trail carefully. After following along the banks of Sope Creek for about a mile, it climbs back toward Sibley Pond and loops to the parking area where the hike began.
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| Road Conditions:
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Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
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