Atlanta, GA: Sope Creek
A favorite urban escape from Atlanta, Sope Creek offers a wooded playground for hikers, trail-runners, and photo-buffs.
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Just outside Marietta (and only a short drive from Atlanta), the Sope Creek trails are a popular gem in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. This 4.75-mile lollipop starts at the trailhead off Paper Mill Road, and traces the idyllic Sibley Pond before ducking into tree cover and picking up the ‘main trail,’ the main artery of Sope Creek. This thoroughfare is popular with dayhikers and trail runners, and what it lacks in solitude, it makes up for in relative remoteness. With blackberry stashes, cardinal flowers, and azaleas heading a diverse mix of flora, this trail network seems to take the ‘urban’ out of the urban jungle. -Mapped by Scott Sanders




Trail Facts
- Distance: 7.6
Waypoints
SOC001
Location: 33.9379044, -84.443161
From the Sope Creek Trailhead parking lot (fee applicable), take the wide gravel trail next to the trail sign and fee box. Hike southeast toward Sibley Pond.
SOC002
Location: 33.9372597, -84.4416656
Turn right @ 4-way intersection, heading toward Sibley Pond. Bear right at the lake’s edge to walk along the shore towards the end of the lake.
SOC003
Location: 33.9364128, -84.4422455
Turn right @ 3-way intersection heading uphill away from the lake.
SOC004
Location: 33.9370499, -84.443428
Turn left @ 3-way intersection.
SOC005
Location: 33.9365501, -84.4452362
Go straight @ 3-way intersection.
SOC006
Location: 33.9355621, -84.443718
Go right @ Y-junction.
SOC007
Location: 33.934948, -84.442688
Go right @ Y-junction.
SOC008
Location: 33.9346619, -84.4424362
Turn right @ Y-junction.
SOC009
Location: 33.9342384, -84.442482
Turn right @ 4-way intersection onto a large wide trail. This main trail is heavily used by hikers, runners, and mountain bikers. Several side trails spur off this main trail. Stay on the main trail unless waypoints specify otherwise.
SOC010
Location: 33.9336624, -84.4430161
Go left @ Y-junction, following main trail.
SOC011
Location: 33.9328842, -84.4424667
Go straight @ 3-way intersection, following main trail.
SOC012
Location: 33.9280891, -84.4433136
Go right @ Y-junction, following the main trail and crossing over a small seasonal spring.
SOC013
Location: 33.9269753, -84.4437027
Continue straight (bearing right) @ Y-junction, continuing to follow the main trail.
SOC014
Location: 33.9268913, -84.4438248
Go left @ T-junction, continuing on the main trail.
SOC015
Location: 33.9263344, -84.4438629
Continue straight @ 3-way junction on the main trail.
SOC016
Location: 33.925724, -84.4439316
Stay left on the main trail (do not take the right turn).
SOC017
Location: 33.9244652, -84.4435806
Continue straight @ 3-way intersection.
SOC018
Location: 33.9240875, -84.4437866
Continue straight @ 3-way intersection, still following the main trail.
SOC019
Location: 33.9214287, -84.4469376
Bear left @ Y-junction.
SOC020
Location: 33.915863, -84.4468079
Go right @ 3-way intersection off of the main trail. Stay on this packed gravel trail for about 100 yards to Waypoint 21.
SOC021
Location: 33.9149094, -84.448555
Turn right @ 4-way intersection, just before the small bridge. From here, the trail continues back into the woods on a narrow dirt path paralleling a small creek on the left. In the summer, blackberry stashes are common here.
SOC022
Location: 33.9188309, -84.4516144
Continue straight @ 4-way intersection.
SOC023
Location: 33.9194412, -84.4514465
Go straight @ 3-way junction. To the left, the trail veers over to a view of the stream.
SOC024
Location: 33.9201508, -84.4501877
Continue straight @ 3-way intersection.
SOC025
Location: 33.9215508, -84.4472809
Take a hard left @ 4-way intersection back onto the main trail. This is the same junction as Waypoint 19, and from here you’ll retrace your steps back to Waypoint 9/Waypoint 26.
SOC026
Location: 33.934227, -84.4424133
Bear right @ Y-junction to stay on the main trail.
SOC027
Location: 33.9351501, -84.4403152
Bear right @ 3-way intersection, following the main trail.
SOC028
Location: 33.9363441, -84.4390335
Turn left @ 4-way intersection to stay on the main trail. Immediately after the turn, there is a large exposed root from a fallen tree.
SOC029
Location: 33.9363708, -84.4403915
Bear right @ 3-way intersection to follow the trail around the pond by crossing the dam. Continue straight and uphill (ignoring any side trails) on the way back to the parking lot.
Sibley Pond
Location: 33.9372444, -84.4416504
©Scott Sanders
Pond View
Location: 33.9368178, -84.4417441
©Scott Sanders
Sibley Pond
Location: 33.9364624, -84.4422607
©Scott Sanders
Fallen Tree
Location: 33.9348773, -84.4426131
©Scott Sanders