Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) Vickery Creek Unit
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Located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, Island Ford offers visitors a peaceful gateway into both the natural and cultural history of the Chattahoochee River corridor. The park’s visitor center is a charming historic structure, built in the 1930s using cypress timbers from the Okefenokee Swamp and granite from Stone Mountain. Whether you’re seeking a serene riverside hike, a deeper dive into regional history, or simply a quiet place to reflect by the water, Island Ford welcomes you.
Island Ford offers a rich visitor experience, blending natural beauty with accessible trails and educational opportunities. Begin your visit at the historic visitor center, where park rangers can help answer questions, suggest trails, and offer maps or interpretive materials. Just steps from the visitor center, a well-marked trail leads to a wooden bridge and into a shaded forest that hugs the riverbank. This is one of the more scenic stretches of the CRNRA, with frequent sightings of deer, herons, and fly fishermen casting into the cold, clear trout stream.
Benches and resting spots along the trail invite visitors to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the flowing Chattahoochee. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the relatively flat trails make this unit popular for families, casual walkers, and nature photographers alike.
When the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) was established in 1978 to protect the Chattahoochee River corridor in metro-Atlanta, Island Ford was chosen as a central hub thanks to its natural beauty, historical significance, and accessibility. The term “ford” refers to a shallow part of a river where people, animals, and vehicles could safely cross—and Island Ford was one of the most prominent crossing points along the Chattahoochee. Long before bridges spanned the river, Native American tribes, early settlers, and Civil War troops used this ford to traverse the region.
Island Ford is also home to 16 prehistoric rock shelters that were once used as seasonal dwellings or stopover points by Native peoples. These formations can be found along the trail near the river’s edge.
During the 19th century, the area became a key travel route for settlers and traders moving through north Georgia. In the early 20th century, the land was privately owned and used primarily for recreation, including a rustic fishing lodge that now serves as the park’s visitor center.
Parks & Recreation
Parks & Recreation
Parks & Recreation