Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area – East Palisades

Great place for some casual hiking on a nice day! The trail is mostly shaded and right by the Chattahoochee river so you won’t have to bake in the sun. There are several markers with numbers and the park map that lets you know where you are.
There are a few places you can park at (we parked at marker 19 I think). Although the driveway to this parking lot is a bit narrow and can be a challenge when there are two cars, there was a lot of parking available around 1p on the Saturday we were there. There’s usually a fee but we came here during a free week, woo lucky us!

Great trails and views of the Chattahoochee. Though convenient to the city, it feels like you’re in another part of the state with how quiet and scenic it is. Trails are wide and well kept and maintained.
To get to the trail, take Indian Trail NW until it becomes a gravel road. There’s parking along the road, and it ends in a parking lot. The fee is $ 3.

Did about 4 miles (we think, the «trail» is super windy and you can go lots of different directions sort of like a choose your own ending book) and it was a great way to spend our Sunday morning. Was pretty easy with some minor difficult parts and we eventually found the big pretty deck with the view of the river and the bamboo forest. Tried to stay on the trail suggested by Atlanta Trails blog but wasn’t as easy as we had thought. Very very fun hike and you dont feel like youre in Atlanta at all. Only reason Im not giving 5 stars is the trash we kept seeing on the shore and in the river itself.

East Palisades is probably the most popular of the Chattahoochee NRA units and, I believe, the one with the most hiking trails. If you’re adventurous, you can hike off-​trail quite a bit*. You might find a rock cave or two if you do.
With maybe half a dozen visits to this unit, I’ve been on all the marked trails. The river views are quite scenic, and the trails through the forest take your mind away from the city quite quickly. Winter is my favorite time, particularly in the early morning when the light is fantastic.
Along with Sweetwater Creek, Arabia Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain and Sawnee Mountain, the Chattahoochee NRA is among my core group of Atlanta metro hiking spots.
* I do not recommend it — in fact, I’m advising against it — but if one was adept at rock climbing and scrambling up leaf-​strewn cliffs where a slight misstep can send you hurtling down to the water after bouncing off a few rock scarps, it is possible to continue north on the river trail, past EP30 on the map. It is by no means necessary to do such a thing to enjoy this park.

I love this place, especially in the Fall. We discovered these trails this weekend (the first weekend of Fall!) after some interwebs/​yelp searching, and it’s delightful! The location is a bit hard to find, as the entrance is hidden in a residential area with very little cell service (at least if you have TMobile). It’s fairly close to Vinings, and very easy to get to via 285. Once you park, there is a $ 3 per car fee you pay via envelopes provided to you at the info station near the start of the trail. The envelope has a detachable car tag to place on your mirror that’s also your receipt. Alternatively, you can prepurchase an annual pass.
The trail itself is very clearly marked, and lovely. The first part of it follows along the Chattahoochee and is fairly flat and easy to navigate. There are some doggy bags available at the beginning of the trail if you forgot to bring yours but remember there are no garbage cans (or watering stations) throughout the trail so you will have to bring your own water and carry your pup’s stools back out with you at the end of your hike. We had lovely weather and plenty of shade along the trail, and towards the second half of the loop there are some elevations that can get a bit steep if the ground is wet/​muddy/​slippery so do be careful if there have been recent rains.
Lovely trail, great for dogs. Watch the trail markers though so you don’t get lost, there is very little cell service along this trail.

This is now one of my favorite trails that I would have never found if a friend hadn’t told me (it’s hidden in a residential area off Northside). There is a narrow gravel road that leads to parking. Make sure to pay if you do not already have an annual pass. The rangers patrol regularly here.
Really cool bamboo forrest by the river that is worth the hike back up the hill.

Just tried this trail out today per the recommendation of a friend. I knew there were trails all along the Chattahoochee and have been on a few, but I certainly didn’t know about this hidden little gem. It wasn’t easy to find, as it was in the midst of homes on Powers Ferry. Indian Trail isn’t easy to spot, but it’s well worth finding!
The trails were not too difficult to navigate, though a little mucky after some recent rain. I’m a novice when it comes to hiking and didn’t have any trouble (though still felt the burn in a few uphill portions!) My pup, a lil 10 pounder, had a blast, too! The whole circle was only about 2.8 miles, so it was a nice, quick hike as well.
We will definitely be back to this trail!

You no longer have to search high and low for 3 dollars they now have a self service visa machine to pay for the parking ticket. Praise the lord!
Sometimes the river is high after days of rain so be careful letting yourself or dog run into it. Park has a great bike path and hill that you can conquer for runners too. No water fountains on paths so come prepared, black snakes are sometimes out in the grass on path so keep your eyes open.
Now as a dog owner I do pick up after my dog but some don’t, so dog owners please be respectful and pick up after your dogs poop, no one likes stepping in dog shit.

Probably one of my most favorite places on earth.
When I lived in the area, I visited this trail almost everyday of the week. It is a beautiful place during all seasons and it offers a variety of experiences from hiking, fishing, walking, climbing, and exploring. As people have said, it has so many different trails and cut-​throughs that you can really tailer your experience to what you are feeling like doing that day.
If you begin the trail by going to the left, it takes you down at least a mile of river side walking/​running area. There are great views of wildlife, rapids, and the sound of the rushing water is lovely. Eventually this trail breaks off again into two different trails, the one to the right leads up the mountain to the lookout point, while the one to the left, which is my favorite leads to a much more difficult path. It continues to wind around the river, but you have to climb large rocks and jutting cliffs that are on the very edge of the water, some points seem to be high as 30 feet over the water, so caution is advised. If you are able to carefully climb through this this section of the trail, it ends up meeting back up with the regular trail that continues to rise back to the lookout point.
If you begin the trail to the right, it also leads to the lookout point. So there is a variety of options for people to enjoy the great outdoors.
The trail is also well marked. At every break off point, there is a map that helps one figure out how to get where they are going.
There is also a rocky beach part that many fishers go out to during the season.
People have mentioned this, but there is a park fee. Though I didn’t really realize this, I have never once paid that fee. I will do so in the future.
Definitely one of the most beautiful, wild, and fun trails in Atlanta!

The Chattahoochee is such a treasure, that it almost makes up for living a little further out of the center of town (inasmuch as Atlanta HAS a center.)
This is our favorite park near the river. It’s just a short drive from our house but is like another world. There is a long trail that stays right along the river, good hills and steepish climbs to maximize your workout, all sorts of turnoffs to make your hike shorter or longer, and a great lookout over the river. There are two parking lots and I’m not sure if they designate two technically different parks, but one of the longer loops goes through it. Our dog loves to go crazy through the trails, but be careful if you let your dog off leash — it’s technically not allowed, and one time my husband was actually ticketed by a National Parks cop (who was also a giant jerk about it, too) and that cost us $ 50.
Other than that, though, you pretty much can’t beat this slice of the ‘hootch. I’ve even seen a river otter here twice! Definitely the woodsiest and best hiking/​trail running of the parks we’ve found so far.
As for the parking fee, you’re seriously going to begrudge the National Parks that small pittance for maintenance and upkeep? I can think of few things worthy of support as much as the National Parks System, and the parks along the Chattahoochee are a pretty special feature of Atlanta. We purchased a yearly parking pass for $ 25 and it’s a wonderful way to support the parks without having to worry about having $ 3 on me.

A nice day with me and my dog. Not crazy about the the $ 3 parking fee seems the GOV is in my pocket every time I turn-​a-​round.
Until the construction is completed better directional signs would be helpful.

The parking lot is small, and it can get quite full around fishing time. There is a boat put in, though it’s far enough from the lot that it’s obviously for small and light weight kayaks. The trails running north along the river are well-​traveled, and so easy to find and follow. The blue blazes are consistently marked to help you find your way. The bridges are very sturdy.
There’s good birding, particularly as you walk along the flat planes by the river where there are many old dead trees for woodpeckers. Also, the overlook over the top and halfway down the bluff has a great view of the bend in the river, letting you watch kayakers and ospreys alike.
The trail is well worn and soft enough that it would be easy trail running, with the exception of a few root-​laden spots as you climb and/​or descend.
#Yelp365 — ³⁶⁵⁄₃₆₅

Nice paved walkway along river and through the forest. Boat ramp as well. Good restrooms. Will definitely go back and enjoy the river.