Offers Ways

to De-Stress from the Daily Grind

Given the name “rocks-marked” or “painted rock” by the Native Americans’ Muskogee tribe, Georgia’s Chattahoochee River dates back 100 million years. Spanning 430 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida border, where it meets the Apalachicola and Flint rivers, the Chattahoochee was used by indigenous people for transportation, fishing and water collection.

Today the river is still a vital resource, providing 70 percent of metro Atlanta’s drinking water, or more than 300 gallons per day. It also is a major source of electricity, with 12 hydroelectric dams located along the Chattahoochee. But it also has become the metro area’s playground, offering a variety of recreation and sports activities for adults and children alike.

Country singer Alan Jackson, who grew up near the river in Coweta County, paid tribute to it with the 1992 song “Chattahoochee.”

Yeah, way down yonder on the Chattahoochee Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me

Where To Enjoy The River

With 15 park units along a 48-mile stretch of the river, the National Park Service’s Chat- has a Parks as Classrooms program where teachers can get curriculum materials and take students on field trips.

And there’s plenty to study. The CRNRA has nearly 360 animal species and 944 vascular plant species combined on its park properties. Superintendent Ann Honious says the CRNRA stands out because “the Chattahoochee corridor possesses those nationally significant resources that it takes to be a national park.”

“There’s also historic resources,” she added. “The park offers multiple opportunities within our scenic river corridor to pursue outdoor recreation, reconnect with nature and discover history.”

But with parking at a premium in most parks, Honious says park visitors should plan ahead and visit the CRNRA’s website for details on where to park. Also, each park unit has a $5 entrance fee that can be paid online.

Since the parks don’t provide boats or equipment for visitors, they can be rented by contacting Shoot the Hooch or the Nantahala Outdoor Center.