Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins Hike, part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

View of Sibley Pond at Sope Creek.

Part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

The Chattahoochee National Recreation Area is located along 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River across 15 separate units in metro Atlanta. This area has 66 miles of hiking trails and offers diverse views of riverfront hiking across the city and the surrounding suburbs.

A purple passion flower in full bloom.

Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins

Sope Creek is another of the more popular Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area hikes. Given its proximity to Sandy Springs and Marietta, as well as the unique offerings at this park, it makes for a popular spot for all ages.

Brown, weathered sign for Sope Creek tacked to a Tree.

Know Before You Hike Sope Creek

The hike to see the Paper Mill Ruins and Sibley Pond is 1.5 miles round trip. The area itself does offer 6.6 miles of total hiking trails if you extend your hike beyond or to more interior trails throughout the park. This is a great park for seeing wildlife, depending on the time of day. I have seen plenty of squirrels, chipmunks, and deer here.

A red and white mushroom that almost looks cartoon like on the forest floor.

This park does fill up quite a bit on weekends, so I recommend trying an after-work hike or an early morning/ early evening hike to beat the rush and secure parking. It is $5 entry fee or $40 for an annual pass. Keep in mind there are no on-site restrooms for this park. The park is dog and kid-friendly.

 

Exterior wall of the paper mill ruins with sun shining through to create a lens flare.

Trail Overview

  • Trail Name: Sope Creek Trail Paper Mill and Pond Loop

  • Distance:  1.5 Miles Round Trip

  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Location: Marietta

  • Family-Friendly: Yes

  • Dog-Friendly: Yes

  • Entrance Fee: $5 or $40 for an annual passSign denoting biking or hiking directions at Sope Creek.

This park is a popular spot for mountain biking, so be sure to heed the trail signs and follow the paths that help separate bikers from hikers.

Side wall ruins of Sope Creek.

The Paper Mill Ruins History

The Marietta Paper Mill, which is the ruins you see here, began production in 1855. It was known as a “rag mill” since the paper was made from linen rags and old cotton. The water from a dam upstream and the abundance of water from Sope Creek are what made the paper-making process successful. It provided paper to most of the South from 1855 to 1902. During the Civil War, Union Soldiers burned down the mill. It was later rebuilt, only to be partially destroyed in 1870 by an accidental fire. The mill ultimately struggled after that and went bankrupt.

A closer up shot of the bricks and stone materials that remain of the paper mill.

Happy Hiking!

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