Sope Creek in Marietta is one of our favorite metro Atlanta family friendly hikes. Not only is it a great place to get outside, but it offers a bit of Georgia history that you can actually touch.
Sope Creek is part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area – a system of parks and hiking, biking and running trails on the Chattahoochee River in metro Atlanta. Along the Sope Creek Trail is a pond for fishing and lots of great trails for hiking or mountain biking. The ruins of a Civil War era paper mill can be seen along the way, making it a unique hike for kids.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sope Creek and this fun hiking trail in metro Atlanta.
SOPE CREEK HIKING TRAIL
From the parking lot, you’ll find the Sope Creek Trailhead. The parking lot is just down the road from the aptly named Sope Creek Elementary School, and parking is $5/day. The trail is maintained by the volunteers with the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy. (See the Sope Creek Trail Map here.) The 3-mile-loop includes the Sope Creek Mill, water features, and more. It’s not too difficult, but there are some steep spots. It’s a great place to bring the dog too. We used to take our basset hound; he probably loved it even more than the kids.
Sope Creek is an easy trail for the kids with much to explore. There is a man-made lake called Sibley Pond, named for the people who owned the property before it became part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. This is a fun area, and your kids may want to spend a lot of time here, but there are even more fun water features further along the trail.
One of the best parts of the hike is the Sope Creek Paper Mill ruins. You’ll find the ruins about .5-mile in. This Marietta paper mill was built in 1855 and was destroyed by Union troops during the Civil War. The Sope Creek Paper Mill produced much of the South’s paper from 1855 to 1902.
You’ll find that Sope Creek flows right next to the mill ruins, making this a great place for families to explore.
Read More: 27+ AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN MARIETTA (+ KENNESAW TOO!)
PLAYING IN THE CREEK
It wasn’t until they realized the creek was close by that they were drawn away from the castle like ruins. The creek has gorgeous rocks along the water and we had fun hiking the boulders. The boys tried skipping stones but it ended up that we just threw rocks into the water.
There are places along the water where you can try crossing the creek on the rocks, but I wouldn’t recommend it with small kids.
Read More: 125+ BEST PLACES FOR HIKING IN GEORGIA (KIDS BEGINNERS)
EVENTS AT SOPE CREEK
Check the National Park Service page for information on cool upcoming events.
The day we looked they had scheduled a Ranger Hike, Run with a Ranger, and kids programs like a Ranger-led night hike around Sibley Lake called a Frog Frolic. The evening started with marshmallows and songs around the campfire then kids proceeded on a ranger-led hike around the lake listening for frogs.
MOUNTAIN BIKING AND TRAIL RUNNING AT SOPE CREEK
In addition to the hiking trails, there are also several mountain biking trails. My husband used to bring his mountain bike here to ride pre-kids and it’s a favorite spot for many, especially on the weekends.
Most of the mountain bike trails here are easy, but there are a few more difficult spots. One nice advantage is the Sope Creek mountain bike trails link up with the Cochran Shoals trails, located off Columns Drive, to the south for even more adventure. In total, there are 6.7 miles of designated mountain biking trails from the Sope Creek Parking area on Paper Mill Road to the paved Cochran Shoals loop to the South.
Watch out on the dual trails, especially if you have kids with you. Sometimes the mountain bikers are going quite fast and you don’t always see them until they are right on top of you.
THE STORY OF SOPE CREEK
Legend has it that Sope Creek got its name from an Cherokee Indian chief who lived along the Chattahoochee River between Roswell and Marietta. He was a favorite with the locals because he spoke English and was kind to the local children. When the Native Americans were rounded up for the Trail of Tears, locals came to Chief Sope’s defense asking the Guard to let him stay.
During the Civil War, the Union Army referred to the area as Sope Creek and it was a prime target during the Atlanta Campaign because it manufactured cartridge paper for Rebel guns. General Sherman’s troops captured the Mill in July of 1860 and burned it to the ground.
The mill was rebuilt after the Civil War, but succumbed to fire again in 1870 destroying the main building.
John Addams Sibley owned the property before it became part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. He is best remembered as chairman of the Sibley Commission, which advised Governor Ernest Vandiver on potential solutions to the federal rulings against Georgia’s segregated schools. Although about 60% of the people appearing before the commission supported resisting integration, the commission supported the desegregation of schools. He is credited with saving public education in Georgia.
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO GEORGIA
- YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
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- RAVEN CLIFF FALLS GEORGIA: Hike This Gorgeous Trail In Helen
- BRASSTOWN BALD: What To Expect On Your Epic Fall Summit Hike To Brasstown Bald
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