Entrance Fee
$5.00
/ Entrance - Per Person
Park Hours (Today)
Sunrise to Sunset
Island Ford Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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Plan your Chattahoochee River trip
About the Park
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up, or have a picnic on a Sunday afternoon. Get Outdoors and experience your Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area as you have never done before.
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What to See & Do
Exploring Palisades East
Welcome to the eastern half of the Palisades Unit. There are few places better than the Palisades visit a rock shelter, view the shoals, or enjoy the river first hand.
Be A CHAT Junior Ranger
by the Island Ford Visitor Center to pick up your Junior Ranger Booklet and get to work on becoming the next park's Junior Ranger.
Exploring Palisades West
Welcome to the western half of the Palisades Unit. There are few places better than the Palisades to visit a rock shelter, view the shoals, or enjoy the river first hand.
Exploring Gold Branch
Escape the crowds with a short drive to Gold Branch in east Cobb County. Hike down to Bull Sluice Lake to wet a line or have a picnic in the woods. If you wish, take a nice long hike to really get away from the crowds.
Chattahoochee Cycling
What are you waiting for? Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area has bike trails to ride just outside the city. Some paved miles for people on their road bikes and some miles for the mountain bikers. Just remember to share the trails with pedestrians.
Cochran Shoals Fitness Loop
The Cochran Shoals Fitness Loop is a true multi-use trail. You'll find mothers pushing strollers, joggers avoiding the afternoon traffic, and cyclist in their cool p-jays.
Visitor Centers
Island Ford Visitor Center
The Island Ford Visitor Center is located in the historic Hewlett Lodge. Here you will be able to purchase your Annual Park Pass as well as any of the passes in the America The Beautiful series. While there pick up maps, obtain the latest information on the park, or pick up a souvenir from the Eastern National store.
Parking & Access
Getting Here
To find the Island Ford Visitor Center enter the physical address, 8800 Roberts Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, into your GPS unit or your favorite map software. Once you have arrived at the park entrance turn onto Island Ford Parkway and follow the signs to the park headquarters.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Abbotts Bridge Parking Lot
The parking lot is centrally located near the boat launch, picnic pavilion, and restroom facilities. There are restrictions on where different types of vehicles may be parked so please pay attention to the signage.
Open in MapsAkers Drive Parking Lot
Open in MapsAllenbrook Parking Lot
Open in MapsAzalia Drive Parking Lots
Open in Maps
Bowmans Island Parking Lot
This parking lot is located just inside the park along the road leading to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lower Pool West Parking Lot. The parking lot is not paved and therefore parking capacity is dictated by how close together vehicles are parked.
Open in MapsChattahoochee Pointe
Open in MapsChattahoochee River Environmental Education Center Parking Lot
Open in MapsColumns Drive Parking Lots
Open in MapsDon White Gravel Parking Lot
Open in MapsDon White Parking Lots
Open in MapsGa. 20 / Cumming Highway Parking Lot
Open in MapsGold Branch Parking Lot
Open in MapsHewlett Lodge Parking Lots
Open in MapsHewlett Pond Parking Lot
Open in MapsHolcomb Bridge Park
12 acres, fishing, grill, playground, 0.25-mile non paved trail, and restrooms.
Open in MapsHyde Farm Parking Lots
The Hyde Farm Park, located just off of Lower Roswell Road in East Cobb, is 42 acres of green space and a renovated/updated farm established in the 1830's. The land, farm, and buildings have been preserved as an educational and recreational facility. The drive down scenic Hyde Road cannot prepare you for your journey back in time. As you walk along the terrace gardens past the old farmhouse, or drink from the working well, it is hard to imagine that just a short distance away is East Cobb.
Open in MapsIndian Trail Parking Lot
Open in MapsInterstate North Parking Lot
Open in MapsIsland Ferry Parking Lot
Open in MapsJohnson Ferry North Gravel Parking Lot
Open in MapsGetting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
To find the Island Ford Visitor Center enter the physical address, 8800 Roberts Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, into your GPS unit or your favorite map software. Once you have arrived at the park entrance turn onto Island Ford Parkway and follow the signs to the park headquarters.
Park Amenities
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Entrance - Per Person
$5.00Required for visitors age 16+ entering on foot or by bicycle. Valid for one day.
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$5.00Private vehicle pass admits one private vehicle and its occupants for one day.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$5.00Valid for 1 day. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$40.00Frequent visitors may save money with an annual entrance pass. The park annual pass admits the cardholder and the other persons in a private vehicle to the park. You may purchase the pass online or in person at the Island Ford Visitor Center. America the Beautiful passes are also accepted.
Operating Hours
Park Hours
The park lands and waters are open for visitation from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset seven days a week. The Island Ford Visitor Center located in historic Hewlett Lodge is open from 9 am to 5 pm seven days a week except Thanksgiving Day and December 25.
- MondaySunrise to Sunset
- TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
- WednesdaySunrise to Sunset
- ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
- FridaySunrise to Sunset
- SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
- SundaySunrise to Sunset
Photos
Park ranger showing a group of school children the critter on his arm.
Stone ruins of the Marietta Paper Mill surrounded by lush green vegatation.
Angler in waders holding a fishing rod in the middle of a shallow river
Trail heading off under a canopy of trees.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
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