Sope Creek - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Sope Creek |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Georgia |
| Nearby Town: | Sandy Springs |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | 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: | 3.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Paper Mill Road |
| Trails Used: | Sope Creek Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | 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: | Winter, Spring, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | 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. |
3 replies on “Sope Creek - Member Hike”
Are there any restrooms at this location?
Yes!!!! I’ve seen it recently too, by the edges by the wooden dock. I think it’s a koi someone released, or a carp of some kind. It seems domesticated, though…it wasn’t scared of me and came right up to the surface like it expected me to feed it!
Anyone see what looked like an orange catfish in the pond at Sope Creek park over Mothers day weekend 2010?