Allatoona Creek Park, located in the northwest part of Cobb County, is a vast 1,450-acre outdoor retreat leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This expansive park is perfect for nature lovers, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The landscape transitions from wide-open fields to dense forests as you approach Lake Allatoona, and two creeks, Little Allatoona and Big Allatoona, converge near the lake. The park is teeming with wildlife, including deer, foxes, bobcats, and a variety of birds and reptiles. The land is managed to preserve this diverse wildlife, and during hunting season, archery hunting for deer is permitted in some sections of the park, with other areas remaining open for public use.
Trails and Recreation
With over 40 miles of multi-use trails, Allatoona Creek Park offers plenty of options for hiking, jogging, and mountain biking. Trails like Turtle Back Loop, with its 4-mile stretch of singletrack, provide a fun ride with rock features, berms, and bridges. The Rusty Bucket Loop, a 1-mile trail, winds through a pine thicket, offering a beginner-friendly route with tight twists and turns. For more experienced riders, Whipper Snapper presents a challenging 1/2-mile course with technical features like rock gardens and log rides. The park’s extensive trail system also includes downhill flow trails, a pump track, and skill sections that connect through Pitner Road Park. Trail conditions vary, so it’s important to check signage at each trailhead and note that some trails may close during wet weather.
History and Natural Beauty
In addition to its outdoor activities, Allatoona Creek Park is rich in history. Once home to Cherokee Indians who farmed the land, artifacts such as grinding rocks and arrowheads have been discovered within the park. After the Cherokees were displaced in the early 1800s, the land became part of the 1832 Land Lottery and eventually a family farm until the creation of Lake Allatoona in the 1950s. Today, the park offers visitors a chance to explore both its natural beauty and its historical significance.
Plan Your Visit
Allatoona Creek Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, offering opportunities for biking, hiking, or simply enjoying the great outdoors. Be sure to check trail conditions before heading out, and pay attention to any seasonal hunting restrictions. With plans for additional trails and greenways in the future, Allatoona Creek Park is continuing to expand its offerings for outdoor enthusiasts.
Hours:
Open from sunrise to sunset
Phone:
(770) 528-8825
Address:
5690 Old Stilesboro Road
Acworth, GA 30101
Notes:
- Trail direction changes daily. Please check signs at each trailhead.
- Trail may close due to wet conditions.
- Keep right as you use the trail.
- Pass on the left and give a courteous and audible signal of your intention to pass.
Trail Descriptions:
- Turtle Back Connector – .4 Miles (Beginner): The Turtle Back Connector is a double track bi-directional flat trail that starts out of the main parking lot and crosses Old Stilesboro Rd. The trail features two large bridges that cross Little Allatoona Creek and a section of wetland that houses nesting Herons.
- Turtle Back Loop – 4 Miles (Intermediate): The Turtle Back Loop is a fast flowing single track trail with fun features and a few tight turns thrown in to keep you on your toes. The trail attributes include: several rock features, multiple bridges, berms and dips. The degree of difficulty is beginner/intermediate. The Turtle Back Loop has beginner elevations with intermediate features making it a good choice for beginners with improved skills and conditioning.
- Turtle Back Spur – 1.3 Miles (Intermediate): The Turtle Back Spur is 1.3 mile loop that extends off the Turtle Back Loop. The spur has more elevation than the loop with faster flowing sections and heart pumping climbs.
- Rusty Bucket Loop – 1 Mile (Beginner): The Rusty Bucket is relatively flat single track trail that has lots of tight and twisty sections that weave in and out of a new growth pine thicket. The trail gets its name from the hundreds of old paint buckets that were found when building the trail.
- Mason’s Bridge Connector – .4 Miles (Beginner): The Mason’s Bridge Connector joins the Rusty Bucket and Mason’s Bridge Loop. This trail is a double track sewer easement that parallels Allatoona Creek and travels under the Bridge on County Line Rd.
- Mason’s Bridge Loop – 5 Miles (Intermediate): Mason’s Bridge is a fast flowing single track trail with lots of dips and turns. The trail borders a large wetland and multiple rock outcroppings. The trail is made up of two loops, the first loop is 3 miles and the second loop is 2 miles.
- Whipper Snapper – 1/2 Mile (Expert Only): Whipper Snapper is a 1/2 mile skill trail that features expert features such as: rock gardens, rock crawls, ladder bridges, log rides, drops and gap jumps.
