Cochran Shoals from Interstate North Trailhead - Mountain Bike Trail

The Cochran Shoals Trail from Interstate North Trailhead is one of Atlanta’s most popular trails because of its many positives. The scenic routes of Cochran Shoals park and the captivating views of the Chattahoochee River combine for a fun ride on this loop trail.

Besides the wonderful scenery, it is a moderately challenging route, thanks to the crushed stone on the surface and marsh areas.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

The Cochran Shoals Trail is a loop trail that begins from Interstate North Trailhead. It is situated at the Interstate North Parkway, which is no further than a mile after the Chattahoochee River.

The trail departs from the Interstate North Parkway and travels through impressively varied terrain, including river banks, wetlands, grasslands, as well as forests. This terrain makes for a technical ride that is only as much as you can handle as an intermediate or advanced mountain biker (a beginner will struggle to navigate this route).

The trail continues to run north along the Chattahoochee River’s western bank. It follows the river, revealing a constantly changing sight of the water’s picturesque rock shoals throughout the trail’s first part.

A boardwalk trail turns to the left at 0.6 miles. Our team of experts recommends a detour here for you to navigate among the grassy wetland; there are also prime spots so you can view the wetland’s wildlife. The trail gets to the Columns Drive parking area after 1.6 miles, turning southwest, and here a gradual hill starts.

A side trail leaves the trail at 1.75 miles, providing a connection to the hiking and biking trails at Sope Creek. The Cochran Shoals Trail continues to your south and passes through a vast grassland and marsh. Then, it crosses a Chattahoochee River tributary creek through a bridge at two miles.

Moving southeast, the Cochran Shoals Trail from Interstate North Trailhead explores a marshy grassland with fish-hunting waterfowl and groups of turtles.

As you reach the Chattahoochee River banks, the trail finishes out the loop part, hanging a right. The Cochran Shoals arrives at the southern Cochran Shoals trailhead after about 3.1 miles. Now, veer right and follow the trail back to the Interstate North Trailhead.

Precautions

The Cochran Shoals Trail offers shared use for hiking and mountain biking on some days. This shared use can be problematic if you do not exercise caution while riding. Therefore, we advise that you ride carefully and avoid hikers on the trail.