Celebrate National Park Week with CNPC: Trails, Rangers, and Community Connections

There’s a lot to love about springtime in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: the wildflowers are blooming, the trails are buzzing, and the river is flowing. And now we’ve got one more reason to get outside: National Park Week is coming up April 19-27, and we’re ready to celebrate CRNRA in a big way!


At Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, we’re teaming up with the National Park Service and local organizations to kick off the week with a fun-filled day at Island Ford Visitor Center on Saturday, April 19 from 1–4 PM. It’s a triple celebration—we’re marking the start of National Park Week, Earth Day, and National Junior Ranger Day all at once! This is a drop-in event, so come whenever you like and stay as long as you want.


We’ve got a little something for everyone: a recycled craft station where you can turn trash into treasures, a native seed ball station to help you grow something beautiful at home, a scavenger hunt, a photo contest, and even the chance to become a Junior Ranger or B.A.R.K. Ranger (yes, that means your dog can get in on the fun too)! Oh, and did we mention it’s one of the fee-free days at the park? No entrance fee!


And that’s just the start! Throughout the week, we’ll be out at a few of your favorite trailheads—Island Ford, Palisades, Vickery Creek, and more—with “Thank a Ranger” stations, where you can leave a note, snag a trail map, or just say hi. It’s a small way to say thanks to the rangers who do so much behind the scenes!


We’re also giving a shout-out to the awesome local businesses that support CNPC and our mission to care for the park. Some are offering perks for members, others are hosting promotions that give back to the park—and all of them are helping keep our trails and river happy and healthy.


So grab your hiking shoes, bring your friends (two-legged and four), and help us celebrate the place we all love so much. It’s going to be a great week in the park—hope to see you out there! Head to our National Park Week page to see how you can get involved, give back, and get outside!

Explore National Park Week

Support Your Local National Park

If you enjoy CRNRA, consider supporting the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC). Your donation helps maintain and improve our beautiful trails and river, ensuring they remain a top destination and escape for metro Atlanta. Every contribution makes a difference in preserving this natural treasure for future generations.

Support CRNRA

Related Posts

June 17, 2025
Keep Your Furry Friends Safe: Leashing Dogs at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Leashing your pet protects them and preserves the park's natural beauty and ensures a safe experience for everyone. SANDY SPRINGS, GA – Dogs are welcome on the trails at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), but pet owners must follow the basic rules to ensure the safety of their pets, other visitors, and the park itself. One of the key requirements is that all dogs must be on a 6-foot leash. CRNRA sees over 3 million visitors a year, making the trails busy with people and pets. With all the new and exciting scents and sights for a dog to explore, a visit to the park for a dog can be overwhelming. Even a well-behaved and trained pet can behave unpredictably in such an environment. Leashing your dog is a rule that is an important safety measure to protect your pet, other park visitors, and the flora and fauna of the park itself. Several past incidents in the park involving unleashed pets have caused damage and created issues for park visitors and staff alike. Incidents that highlight the importance of leashing include: Damage caused to rare and sensitive plants by unleashed dogs running off trails. CRNRA staff being bitten by unleashed dogs, with one ranger bitten three times. Park volunteers facing confrontations with aggressive dogs, prompting them to carry protective items. An unleashed dog attacking a baby beaver, which had to be euthanized due to its injuries. An unleashed dog jumping on a visitor, resulting in a broken wrist. Leashing your pet also protects them from potential dangers such as venomous snakes, coyotes, poisonous plants, and unsafe water. As a pet owner, you are responsible for your dog’s behavior and safety while in the park. To promote a safe and enjoyable experience for pets and their owners, CRNRA offers the B.A.R.K. Ranger program. This initiative educates pet owners on best practices for visiting the park with their furry friends, including the importance of leash requirements. The program is available daily at the Island Ford Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants earn a certificate and have their dogs sworn in as official B.A.R.K. Rangers.  About Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area . Designated as a unit of the National Park System in 1978, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area preserves and protects the natural and cultural resources of the 48-mile Chattahoochee River corridor from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek. The park annually welcomes over 3,000,000 visitors. About the National Park Service : More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov , and on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , and YouTube .
May 23, 2025
Looking to spend quality time with your loved ones in the great outdoors? Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) is a natural fit for families seeking fun, fresh air, and meaningful moments together. With scenic trails, peaceful picnic spots, and hands-on learning experiences, CRNRA offers plenty of ways to connect with nature—and each other. Here are some of our favorite family-friendly activities to enjoy in the park:
May 14, 2025
If you’ve lived in metro Atlanta long enough, you may remember a time when people avoided the Chattahoochee River. It had a reputation—polluted, unpredictable, and not the kind of place you’d choose to paddle, swim, or fish. In the 1970s and '80s, that reputation was well-earned. Decades of development, failing infrastructure, and untreated stormwater left sections of the river vulnerable to high bacteria levels and poor water quality. For a while, the Chattahoochee was viewed more as a cautionary tale than a community resource.