Chicopee Loop - Sun, Jan 18 2026

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Chicopee Loop

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville GA 30504

Date(s) & Time:

Sun, Jan 18 2026 10:00 am >> Sun, Jan 18 2026 3:00 pm

Registration Opens:

Mon, Jan 12 2026 8:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Sun, Jan 18 2026 7:00 am

Event Duration:

5 Hours

Difficulty Rating:

D4: Moderate to Difficult

Distance:

7.9 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Richard A. Zalik

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You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

6 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Elachee Nature Science Center is one of the premier environmental education centers in Georgia, serving over 35,000 students from more than 35 school systems and an additional 50,000 visitors to the museum and preserve each year.

Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve serves as an invaluable outdoor classroom and is being preserved in a wilderness state. Elachee serves as the trustee for the Preserve in concert with the Chicopee Woods Park Commission.

Elachee is a private not-for-profit institution supported by program fees, memberships, fundraising events, museum admissions, and donations from corporations and individuals. The name Elachee is derived from the Cherokee language meaning "new green earth."

The following distances are approximate, starting at Elachee Nature Science Center parking lot.

At mile 0.5 we reach the start of Chicopee Backcountry Trail, which ends at mile 4.7. We then turn right on Lake Loop Trail; at mile 4.8 we reach Chicopee Parking Lot where there are tables and a port-a-potty. Here we will stop for a while to eat our snacks and hydrate. We then continue on Lake Loop Trail. At mile 5.7 we turn right on Ridge trail. At mile 7 we turn right on Dodd Trail, which reaches Walnut Creek and turns left. We follow this trail until mile 7.55. We then follow Geiger Trail back to the parking lot.

Elevation Change: Almost exactly 1600 ft.

Chicopee Backcountry Trail information: At this time of the year most of the trail is covered with leaves and you cannot see what is underneath, so you need to walk with caution and use walking poles, preferably two. In addition, this trail has five creek crossings, but we don't need to get our feet wet: we will be able to step on stones, branches, or blocks of wood. The first 1.5 miles are very close to Interstate 985.

Required Items to Bring:

water, a snack, and good hiking shoes

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

A thermos filled with your favorite hot beverage; walking poles.

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Go north on I 85, and take the I 985 exit.
Continue on I 985 to Exit 17. Turn left off the ramp onto GA 13 (Atlanta Highway).
Continue north on Atlanta Hwy past Chicopee Woods Golf Course on the right.
Turn at the next right and a quick right onto Elachee Drive. Pay parking fee at the toll booth.
Follow Elachee Drive for 1 mile through the golf course, across bridge over I-985, and bear left around curve leading to museum center parking lot.

Notes:

Link: https://www.elachee .org

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

The parking fee is $5.00. You can pay by cash at the booth at the entrance to the park or, if you have a cell phone and either the Visa pay app, Google Pay or Apple Pay, you can pay at the parking lot.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.