If your dog thinks a walk around the neighborhood is fine, but a hike is the event of the day, Atlanta has plenty of places to go exploring together. And one of the best is right in our backyard: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA)! Stretching 48 miles along the Chattahoochee River through metro Atlanta, CRNRA is a national park made up of 15 separate park units and more than 7,000 acres of land and river corridor. Across those units, visitors can explore over 66 miles of hiking trails , from easy riverside walks to steeper, more rugged routes. In other words: there is a lot of Chattahoochee to sniff! Yes, Your Dog Can Hike at CRNRA Dogs are welcome on CRNRA's trails, making the park a favorite destination for Atlanta's canine adventurers. There is one very important rule, though: dogs must remain on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. Owners are also responsible for cleaning up after their pets and properly disposing of waste. These rules aren't just about being a good trail neighbor. CRNRA welcomes more than 3 million visitors each year, and the park is home to wildlife, sensitive habitats, and a river that supplies much of metro Atlanta's drinking water. Keeping dogs leashed helps protect pets, people, wildlife, and the park itself. And yes, we know: carrying a bag of dog poop around for the rest of your hike isn't exactly the highlight of anyone's day... But leaving a bag beside the trail or river is even worse! CNPC has partnered with the National Park Service to install dog waste stations at major trailheads, making it easier to bag it and bin it.

Ever driven a winding, elk-lined road in Great Smoky Mountains, stopped to take in the scenery in Grand Teton, paddled in the Everglades, watched Ole Faithful erupt in Yellowstone, or even hiked in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA)? If so, then you've enjoyed a national park! Every year since 1991, people across the country celebrate the over 430 parks protected by the National Park Service during National Park Week, hosted August 22-30th, 2026. From iconic landscapes like Yosemite to neighborhood escapes in CRNRA, it’s a time to recognize how parks connect, inspire, and restore communities across America, now and for future generations. It’s also a reminder that places like CRNRA rely on community support. With nearly 3 million visits each year, CRNRA is consistently ranked among the top 30 most visited national parks. As a well-loved park, it faces ongoing challenges including limited federal funding, staffing, and maintenance needs. Without the support of a national park's community, projects often go without sufficient funding to help them thrive. That's where organizations like Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy come in! Many national parks across the country have a "friends group," or a philanthropic partner, to raise awareness, rally support, and fill in the gaps in funding, volunteerism, education, wildlife habitat restoration, and more. As CRNRA's official friends group and nonprofit partner, we at CNPC work alongside the National Park Service to help fill critical gaps through community support, volunteer engagement, and projects that enhance the park experience.