Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

All clear. The managing agency, the National Weather Service and wildfire reporting show no current alerts.

Overview

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.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Stand Up Paddleboarding
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Tubing
  • River Tubing
  • Swimming
  • Freshwater Swimming
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

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.

Fees and passes

  • Entrance - Per Person — $5.00
  • Entrance - Private Vehicle — $5.00
  • Entrance - Motorcycle — $5.00
  • Annual Entrance - Park — $40.00

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.

Getting there

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.

Visitor centers

  • Island Ford Visitor Center

Weather

Summers typically consist of long spells of warm, humid weather. Average highs are in the lower 90's and overnight lows range from the upper 60's to lower 70's. Winters are more variable with highs averaging from the mid 50's to lower 60's while the lows average in the mid 30's. Oftentimes, stretches of mild weather will alternate with cold spells. Spring and Autumn seasons are characterized by much variability from day to day and from year to year.

Phone: 678-538-1200

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Park ranger showing a group of school children the critter on his arm.
Look Closely · NPS
Stone ruins of the Marietta Paper Mill surrounded by lush green vegatation.
Marietta Paper Mill · NPS/David Ek
Angler in waders holding a fishing rod in the middle of a shallow river
Fishing · NPS/Tom Wilson
Trail heading off under a canopy of trees.
Inviting Trail · NPS/Tom Wilson

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