Cochran Shoals: Trails along the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, Georgia

Cochran Shoals offers 3.1 miles of popular running and biking trails along the banks and shoals of the wide, grand Chattahoochee River near Atlanta, Georgia.

Just outside the Atlanta I-285 perimeter sits one of the most popular, widely used and enjoyed, and beautiful parks in the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area: Cochran Shoals. With 3.1 miles of wide graveled trails along the banks of the shoals of the Chattahoochee River, this is a popular running, walking and biking trail that’s convenient to Metro Atlanta.

This hiking trail is just one of many excellent trails along the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Atlanta. View our complete collection of Chattahoochee River hiking trails here.

The trail’s first mile and a half winds along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, providing pretty scenery that contrasts with the surrounding suburbs of Atlanta. The trail passes through varied terrain; wetlands, river banks, and young forest as it loops around after approaching the Columns Drive parking area at the North end of the park.

Just after looping around from the Columns Drive parking area, a dirt path extends upward from the main Cochran Shoals trail which connects with the Sope Creek recreation area (see our Sope Creek review here).

Expect plenty of traffic on the trail, especially on weekends and nightly during the warmer months. Despite a large parking area, spaces can be limited during peak times – and parking is available for a $3 per use fee, or if you’re a frequent visitor to the Chattahoochee parks (as we are), a better value is the annual parking pass for $25, available from the park’s website here.

GPS Coordinates: 33.901731,-84.443858. A trail map is available from the National Park Service here.

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