Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in Georgia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Chattahoochee River the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:43 AM | 8:20 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:51 PM | 245° | 10h 08m |
| February | 7:23 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:22 PM | 255° | 10h 59m |
| March | 7:49 AM | 8:22 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:45 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 7:07 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:09 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 6:37 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:32 PM | 294° | 13h 55m |
| June | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:14 PM | 8:51 PM | 299° | 14h 24m |
| July | 6:38 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:14 PM | 8:50 PM | 297° | 14h 12m |
| August | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:26 PM | 288° | 13h 26m |
| September | 7:21 AM | 7:54 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:45 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:43 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:04 PM | 260° | 11h 22m |
| November | 7:11 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:35 PM | 248° | 10h 24m |
| December | 7:36 AM | 8:14 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:30 PM | 242° | 9h 54m |
Computed for the park's reference point (33.9970, -84.2895); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Chattahoochee River, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:15 AM – 5:55 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 4:28 AM – 6:18 AM | 1.8 | 24° |
| April | 2:26 AM – 5:36 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 12:29 AM – 4:49 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 10:35 PM – 4:35 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 10:31 PM – 3:11 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:57 PM – 1:07 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 9:10 PM – 11:10 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 8:27 PM – 9:07 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers typically consist of long spells of warm, humid weather. Average highs are in the lower 90's and overnight lows range from the upper 60's to lower 70's. Winters are more variable with highs averaging from the mid 50's to lower 60's while the lows average in the mid 30's. Oftentimes, stretches of mild weather will alternate with cold spells. Spring and Autumn seasons are characterized by much variability from day to day and from year to year.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (59%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $5.00 |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $5.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $5.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
To find the Island Ford Visitor Center enter the physical address, 8800 Roberts Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, into your GPS unit or your favorite map software. Once you have arrived at the park entrance turn onto Island Ford Parkway and follow the signs to the park headquarters.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Whitewater Rafting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Tubing
- River Tubing
- Swimming
- Freshwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
GA
GA
AL
GA/TN
GA
AL