Every result we found for this search covers one park or one outfitter. This page puts the access points near downtown Roswell side by side, using what each operator publishes: the City of Roswell, the National Park Service, the City of Sandy Springs, the Chattahoochee Nature Center and Nantahala Outdoor Center. Checked 2026-10-18.
Find the right spot
Decision tool · river access
Which Chattahoochee access fits you?
Tell us what you want to do on or beside the river. We match you to the parks, launches and trails near downtown Roswell that offer it, using what each operator publishes, and flag anything they do not say.
Every river access near downtown, side by side
| River access | Paddle launch | Boat ramp | Rentals | Trail | Fishing | Picnic | Playground | Dogs | Restrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vickery Creek Old Mill Park (covered bridge and dam overlook)City of Roswell · 0.5 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes |
| Vickery Creek Unit, Chattahoochee River National Recreation AreaNational Park Service (Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area) · 0.8 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Azalea ParkCity of Roswell · 1.4 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes |
| NOC Roswell Outpost (river rentals)Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) · 1.4 mi | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Don White Memorial ParkCity of Roswell · 1.5 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Chattahoochee Nature CenterChattahoochee Nature Center (nonprofit; not part of the NPS or the City of Roswell) · 1.7 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published | No | Not published |
| Roswell RiverwalkCity of Roswell · 1.9 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Willeo ParkCity of Roswell · 2.2 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Island Ford Unit and Hewlett Lodge Visitor CenterNational Park Service (Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area) · 2.5 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes | Yes |
| Gold Branch UnitNational Park Service (Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area) · 3 mi | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Morgan Falls Overlook ParkCity of Sandy Springs · 3.7 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes |
| Johnson Ferry Unit (North) boat ramp and launchNational Park Service (Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area) · 5.9 mi | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes |
| Garrard Landing ParkCity of Roswell · 6.3 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes |
Check = the operator says yes. Dash = the operator says no. Question mark = the operator does not say; ask before you go. Miles are straight-line from Roswell City Hall.
Features, fees and hours come from each operator's own page (City of Roswell, National Park Service, City of Sandy Springs, the Chattahoochee Nature Center or the outfitter), checked 2026-10-18. Distances are straight lines from City Hall, not driving routes.
Want the river closer than a drive? Some homes around Roswell sit minutes from these parks and launches.
The matcher’s miles are straight lines from City Hall. Below is what the table cannot hold: how you pay, when to go and whom to ask.
Riverside Park is closed
- The City says Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, closed on February 1, 2026 for a bond-funded renovation and is expected to reopen in summer 2027. The Riverside Sounds concert series is on hold until further notice. Roswell Connections (City of Roswell news): Roswell Approves Major Bond-Funded Renovation of Riverside Park
Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, closed on Feb. 1, 2026 and is expected to reopen in summer 2027. Older guides still send paddlers there. The City points drivers to Ace Sand Park (705 Riverside Road) and Don White Memorial Park instead, and says alternate parking is not available at Azalea Park or Roswell River Landing.
Paddle launches
- Azalea Park, 203 Azalea Drive (City of Roswell), about 2.9 km from the visitor center in a straight line: a canoe and kayak launch, restrooms and Riverwalk access, dawn to dusk. Visit Roswell lists a canoe and kayak launch, not a boat ramp; a motorboat ramp here is not confirmed by the City.
- Don White Memorial Park, 925 Riverside Road (City of Roswell), about 2.7 km: a canoe and kayak launch and fishing docks, dawn to dusk. It is now a Riverside Park overflow lot, so expect more cars.
- Garrard Landing Park, 8000 Holcomb Bridge Road (City of Roswell), about 10.3 km upstream: the NPS lists its launch for canoes, kayaks, rafts and tubes, with a playground and picnic area for the wait while drivers shuttle a car.
- Island Ford, 8800 Roberts Drive, Sandy Springs (NPS), about 4.3 km: a canoe and raft launch at the end of Hewlett Field. The NPS calls it an easy paddle upstream and float back, so no shuttle is needed. Park in the lot at the top of the hill; cars along the launch road may be towed.
- Morgan Falls Overlook Park, 400 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs (City of Sandy Springs), about 6.6 km: a floating dock above Morgan Falls Dam. Murph’s Surf Paddle Shack rents boats at the park. The City page still shows a restroom renovation notice, so check before you go.
Boat ramps
For a powerboat, the NPS Johnson Ferry North launch, below Morgan Falls Dam, takes power boats as well as canoes, kayaks, rafts and tubes. It is about 10.3 km from the visitor center. Jet skis, night boating and night fishing are not permitted in the recreation area.
Rentals and tubing
Nantahala Outdoor Center calls itself the City of Roswell’s exclusive on-site outfitter, and the NPS lists it as an authorized outfitter. It rents from Azalea Park and Don White Memorial Park. NOC’s listed “from” prices:
- Tubing from $30 (ages 8+, April to September, 2 to 4 hours). The float runs about 1.5 miles from Don White to Azalea Park.
- Stand-up paddleboards from $45 (ages 11+, April to October).
- Kayak, canoe and raft rentals from $45 (ages 5+; kayaks and canoes April to September).
- Bikes from $25 (March to September).
By those listings, paddleboards are the one rental still offered in late October 2026, and NOC does not say which days the outpost is staffed. Arrive 30 minutes before your booking. The NPS requires outfitters to supply paddles and Coast Guard approved life jackets. Book on NOC’s Roswell page.
Free or fee
The City of Roswell publishes no entry or parking fees for Azalea Park, Don White, Willeo Park or Garrard Landing, and Old Mill Park says admission and parking are free. At the NPS units (Vickery Creek, Island Ford, Gold Branch and Johnson Ferry), the published fees read:
- “Standard Pass $5.00. Private Vehicle $5.00: “Private vehicle pass admits one private vehicle and its occupants for one day.” Per Person $5.00: “Required for visitors age 16+ entering on foot or by bicycle.” Annual Pass $40.00. “This park does not accept cash.” “Children under the age of 16 don’t need an entrance pass.””
The Chattahoochee Nature Center charges general admission ($20 adults, $16 seniors and students, $14 children 3 to 12, under 3 free), with free parking.
Before you get on the water
- Flow: the NPS says to cancel canoe, kayak or paddleboard trips over 4,000 cfs, raft trips over 5,000 cfs and tube trips over 2,500 cfs.
- Water quality: at Garrard Landing the NPS says to check the E. coli estimate at Medlock Bridge; over 235, contact with the river is not recommended.
- Dam releases: water from Buford Dam takes about 5 hours 15 minutes to 7 hours 30 minutes to start rising at Garrard Landing. Below Morgan Falls Dam, Johnson Ferry starts rising in about 30 to 45 minutes.
- Fishing: a Georgia fishing license is required at 16 and up, plus a trout stamp on the river even when fishing for other species.
- Dogs: in NPS units, on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times, including in the water. No pets at the Nature Center.
We do not print river levels or water notices, because they change by the hour. Check the NPS before you go.
Vickery Creek: trails, not paddling
At Old Mill Park, 95 Mill Street, the City suspended water access at the waterfall and creek on Aug. 16, 2024. Stay on trails and viewing areas. No coolers, alcohol or open flames; violations can bring fines up to $250. The covered bridge leads into the NPS Vickery Creek trails. More on the Roswell Mill page.
Who to check with
- Azalea Park, Don White, Willeo Park, Garrard Landing, Old Mill Park: City of Roswell, (770) 641-3727, or the City’s park pages.
- Vickery Creek, Island Ford, Gold Branch, Johnson Ferry: National Park Service, Chattahoochee River NRA.
- Morgan Falls Overlook Park: City of Sandy Springs.
- Rentals and tubing: Nantahala Outdoor Center.
The river’s story, the Riverwalk and the NPS units are on the Chattahoochee River page. Downtown parking is on the parking page.
Questions
Can you see the old Roswell mill ruins?
Yes. Visit Roswell says the ruins of the Roswell Manufacturing Company mills lie along the Old Mill Trail on Vickery Creek, near a 30-foot dam and millrace. An interpretive trail beside the Machine Shop at Old Mill Park, 95 Mill Street, leads to the ruins and the waterfall. The National Park Service also protects the Ivy Mill ruins near the mouth of Big Creek.
What is the covered bridge at Vickery Creek?
Visit Roswell says the Vickery Creek Covered Pedestrian Bridge, in Old Mill Park, is a footbridge linking the historic district with the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. It says the bridge was built in 2005, spans 161 feet and is the newest covered bridge in Georgia. The National Park Service lists a Covered Bridge entrance for its Vickery Creek unit.
Do I need to pay to hike at Vickery Creek?
The Vickery Creek trails are part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and the National Park Service says an entrance pass is required there. The standard pass costs $5 and is valid for one day; an annual pass is $40. The park lists five Vickery Creek access points, including the Covered Bridge, Riverside Road and Oxbo Road entrances.
Source: National Park Service, Chattahoochee River NRA: Fees & Passes
Is Riverside Park open?
No. The City says Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, closed on February 1, 2026 for a bond-funded renovation and is expected to reopen in summer 2027. The Riverside Sounds concert series, usually held there, is on hold until further notice. The park covers about 21 acres on the river and, the City says, gets more than 130,000 visitors a year.
Where can I get to the Chattahoochee River in Roswell?
Visit Roswell says the city has a nine-mile stretch of the river. Azalea Park, 203 Azalea Drive, has a canoe and kayak launch, picnic area, playground and Riverwalk access, open dawn to dusk. The Roswell Riverwalk boardwalk runs along Bull Sluice Lake from Azalea Drive to Willeo Road. Riverside Park is closed for renovation until summer 2027.
What is the Historic Gateway project on Atlanta Street?
The City says the Historic Gateway covers SR 9/South Atlanta Street between Marietta Highway (SR 120) and the Chattahoochee River bridge, replacing the reversible lanes with a four-lane street. Council approved the design in 2012 and GDOT began buying right of way in April 2018. In January 2026 the National Park Service approved related Vickery Creek work.
Source: Roswell Connections (City of Roswell news): Historic Gateway Project (Apr. 4, 2025)
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Roswell