Gold Branch
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
1978 Island Ford Parkway
Sandy Springs, GA 30350
678-538-1273
The City of Roswell has several well-known trails and outdoor recreational areas due to its proximity to the Chattahoochee River and the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Some popular trails in the Roswell area include the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, the Oxbo Trail, the Vickery Creek Trail, Big Creek Greenway, and the Roswell Riverwalk. The park spans about 90 acres, providing plenty of space for various outdoor activities. The trails are close to the cities of Marietta and Roswell – so don’t expect much privacy here – but for being so close to the city, these are really nice and scenic hikes.
This hike to the Chattahoochee River is from the Gold Branch parking area off Lower Roswell Road near Marietta, GA. The route starts in the northwestern corner of the park and descends down to a small stream in a hardwood forest. From here, you can hike either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to reach the river. Either way you will eventually walk along Bull Sluice Lake – which is a body of water on the northern end of the park. It is almost entirely cut off from the main flow of river with only a narrow passage connecting Bull Sluice Lake with the Chattahoochee. Hiking clockwise takes you to the lake in under 30 minutes. The entire Gold Branch loop is around five miles, but if you are short on time or energy there are a number of smaller loops in the park (see map). This gives you a number of options ranging from 1-5+ miles in the Gold Branch area.
- click for a trip report from this hike at Gold Branch: December 19, 2020 (password required)
- click for a trail map from this hike along the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, Georgia
- click to see more hikes along the river at Gold Branch in Februrary 2012, September 2014, and December 2020
- click for a hike on the nearby Roswell Riverwalk Trail in 2024
- click for another hike in Roswell at Grimes Bridge Park in 2011
- click for a hike on the Oxbo Trail in Waller Park in 2010
- click to access the guidebook Best Hikes Near Atlanta which has more hikes around the City of Atlanta
- click to access the guidebook Hiking Georgia which has more hikes and backpacking trips in the State of Georgia
- click for other Georgia hiking and backpacking books