SANDY SPRINGS, GA – A majority of Paces Mill, the last river take-out at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) will close on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. The closure will include Paces Mill parking lot north of Highway 41, the main boat ramp, and restrooms. While the Highway 41 northbound entrance will be closed, trails in the Palisades unit will remain open and accessible from the Bob Callan Trailhead and the Akers Mill parking lot. The closure will last the end of May 2025.
This closure is to allow for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in combination with the New Day Palisades rehabilitation project, a design and construction project in partnership with Cumberland Community Improvement District. New Day Palisades is an inspired $15.8 million project that will improve visitor safety and circulation with a new parking lot, upgrade the trail system, develop new restrooms and visitor information. The project includes a meadow and bioswales to create sustainability along the Chattahoochee River. Construction of phase one at Paces Mill is scheduled to begin mid-October.
“With the flooding that occurred at Paces Mill from Hurricane Helene,” said Superintendent Ann Honious, “the entire site needs extensive cleaning to remove approximately three inches of silt. In addition, the restroom will be assessed for damages and repaired, downed and damaged trees removed, and site furnishings cleaned and relocated. Since the recovery will extend into the planned start of New Day Palisades construction, it makes sense to close Paces Mill at this time.”
The Paces Mill boat ramp south of Highway 41 will remain open during this phase of rehabilitation. This is the last take-out for river users but will not have available parking. We encourage all visitors to prepare for restricted river access, plan ahead, and explore other areas of the park during this construction project. There are 15 land units that provide parking, access to the river and over 65 miles of hiking trails.
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.
