Powers Island Trail

The Powers Island Trail is located across the river from the other sections of the Cochran Shoals Unit in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. It's a little less crowded than neighboring trails, though it's just as beautiful. Trail runners favor this short and relatively flat trail, and kayakers who use the nearby boat launch sometimes add it to a day of paddling. Whether you want to bring your pup along for a vigorous jog or a slower, more tranquil walk, the Powers Island Trail is a great place to connect to nature and bond with your best friend.

The trail is broken up into two sections by the parking lot. The main section of the trail starts on the northern edge of the lot, follows the river's edge, and loops back through a beautiful forest. It's about 1.5 miles long and will take less than an hour for most two- and four-legged hikers to complete. The other section of the trail begins at the southern end of the parking lot. It leads to a footbridge to Powers Island and a boat launch. Beyond the boat launch, there's a full loop around the island that's a little less than a mile long, but it's not marked on official park maps and isn't well-maintained. The faint trail winds through a densely wooded area and along the shores of a narrow inlet.

The main section of the Powers Island Trail is a well-marked gravel path through a forest overgrown with ivy. It features a short, steep climb up a ridge, but by the time you and your pup are panting a little, the trail flattens out and descends. The views along the way are peaceful. Trees frame the river with lush foliage and the water sparkles in the dance of light and shadow underneath their branches. Purple wildflowers dot the forest floor in warmer months. At one point, you'll pass an intensely green bamboo thicket. With no amenities, be sure to bring clean up bags and water.

This quiet, peaceful trail is a perfect place to bring your dog to get away from it all and restore your spirits with nature's beauty.