We love to find little nooks of Coweta where you can escape reality for a while. Chattahoochee Bend State Park in the Northwest corner of Newnan is just such a place. With miles of trails winding along the riverbanks, you feel as though you have stepped out of Coweta into a different world.
Chattahoochee Bend covers nearly 3,000 acres of forest and riverside trails. It officially opened up to the public only three years ago.
There is a large visitors center where you can pick up information about the park and buy souvenirs.
We were just in time to see an armadillo making his way back into the woods.
Right now there are three trails to hike. Volunteers are consistently cutting new trails and there are plans for the construction of several more miles of trails including a bike trail and an equestrian trail.
Our favorite trail was the river trail. This gorgeous five-mile trail follows the bend of the Chattahoochee. The vegetation here is so different from what grows in the rest of Coweta County.
The trees are spaced far apart with sunlight gently coming through the overhead foliage. It truly feels like stepping into a fairyland.
Instead of growing straight and tall, the trees on this trail are twist and curve in a perfect imitation of the river.
The soil of the path is loose and sandy, and it felt to us as though we were taking a hike closer to the beach.
The path of the river trail is long and meandering. Trees that fall off the path are allowed to lie where they fell creating what looks like natural sculptures.
About a mile into the river trail there is a tower that allows you to climb up and get a panoramic view of the Chattahoochee and surrounding forest.
We found a skull at the tower that we think was a deer.
We couldn’t help but feel the peaceful influence of the river as we looked on it from above.
A light breeze was coming off the river making the very hot day pleasant.
All along the trail there are large, ropy vines hanging from the trees. It reminded us of Tarzan.
The river trail veers off from the river for the last two miles and passes through Georgia forests of pine and oak and past large fields of tall grass.
We also hiked a little bit of the Wild Turkey trail.
This is a dark, narrow trail through tall, thin pine trees.
The area is cool and mossy with tons of local wildlife around every corner.
The pine needles carpet the trail, providing a spicy woodsy scent that makes a very pleasant hike.
We saw several different types of birds and reptiles.
We weren’t generally quick enough to snap a photo of them, but this little guy wasn’t quite fast enough to escape the click of the camera.
As we started out from Trail Head 2, we were delighted to find the sides of the path covered in blackberry canes.
Most of the blackberries were ripe and we couldn’t help stopping to pick some. We even ate a few right off the vine. Nothing matches the flavor of wild blackberries.
This trail was definitely a more difficult hike. It was more steeply graded and rocky with protruding roots that created a tripping hazard. The wild beauty makes it a very worthwhile trail.
The end of the trail takes you to large granite slabs that are outcroppings of Stone Mountain.
Hiking the trails of Chattahoochee bend is a great way to relax and get some exercise.
This is a great place to go birdwatching. There are also kayak rentals available for those who want to see the park from the water.
Off the trails there are stands of poison ivy and oak, so we recommend that you stick to the marked paths.
You will definitely need lots of bug spray. Being close to a large body of water, this is prime mosquito territory. We also found several ticks on us when we got home, so dress appropriately.
The park offers clean, open sites for overnight camping. They are also always looking for volunteers for those who love the outdoors and want to help improve the park.
Please tell us your favorite part of Chattahoochee Bend State Park. We hope to see you on our next hike!