Sope Creek Wander

Let's hike Sope Creek and wander around in the woods.  We are finally getting a break from the weather so lets get outside.  We will start at 1:00 pm, so plan on arriving 10 minutes early for introductions.  As the parking lot at Sope Creek can be crowded on weekends, we will meet instead at Sope Creek Elementary School which sits on Paper Mill Road about 1/3 of a mile from the CRNRA lot.  Parking is free.

For this hike, we will spend time hiking on some of Sope Creek's lesser used trails and as well as some time off-trail. My focus will be on trying to stay off the multi-use trails in Sope Creek (bike trails) which are likely to be quite wet and messy.  Regardless, we will likely encounter some mud and water so plan on getting wet. 

Fair warning, due to the time we will spend on either lightly used trails or bushwhacking, I strongly recommend you consider these factors and whether you are comfortable being off well groomed, established trails  before signing up for this hike.  I will rate this as a D2 hike but it will be on the difficult end of a D2 hike due to the nature of the trails we will encounter.  This is NOT a beginners hike. 

Although I have hiked all of the trails we will be on, I will not have hiked the exact trek we will take (some of which will be decided on the fly as we go). I estimate the hike to take 2 hours but it could be a bit more or less depending on the path we take.   

Our pace will be moderate and we will plan on covering about 4.5 miles in 2 hours.   

Sope Creek Elementary School Parking Lot

3320 Paper Mill Rd SE
Marietta, GA

Directions: Take Interstate 75 North out of Atlanta to Windy Hill Road (exit 260). Turn right on Windy Hill Road, and then left on Powers Ferry Road. At the intersection of Powers Ferry and Terrell Mill Road, take a right on Terrell Mill. Take a right on Paper Mill Road; Sope Creek Elementary is located about 1/2 mile down on the right at the intersection of Paper Mill Road and Shadowlawn Road.  

From Johnson Ferry Road, cross the river going North; turn left at the Paper Mill Road intersection, past the Columns Drive light.  Stay on Paper Mill as it winds along to the Sope Creek bridge.  Once you cross the bridge, be alert for the Sope Creek sign on your left, about 1/4 mile from the bridge.  Pass this parking lot and continue approximately 1/3 miles further to the stop light at Shadowlawn Road.  The elementary school will be on your left.  

If you're traveling south on Johnson Ferry Road, turn right at Paper Mill Road and proceed according to the directions above.