Settles Bridge Unit (Chattahoochee National Recreation Area)

Looking for an isolated and picturesque running experience in Suwanee?  Try the trails of the Settles Bridge Unit of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area.  The park is located on the Gwinnett County side of the Chattahoochee River at the intersection of Johnson and Settles Bridge Roads near Riverside Elementary School.  One parking option is Riverside Elementary (during non-school hours) where you can run the dirt/gravel road downhill one mile to the trail-head.  Alternatively, you can drive the dirt/gravel road to the trailhead near the river. 

Once you reach the trailhead, the best trails run north from the parking lot along the Chattahoochee River.  The large boulders mark the beginning of the trail.  From there, the single-track trail crosses several small streams that flow into the Chattahoochee.  These stream crossing aren't difficult to negotiate, however, caution should be exercised climbing down the large rocks that protect the stream beds. 

The trail is quite narrow and generally flat as it meanders north.  The main part of this trail runs along an underground sewer line.  The river frequently comes into view on your left.  Several spur trails run along the left towards the river.  Take these spurs when you can.  While these trails sometimes dead-end, more frequently they travel right along the river and then rejoin the main trail.  By taking the spur trails, you are afforded beautiful views of the Chattahoochee.  The footing on the spur trails is also far superior to the main sewer line trail.  The better trails are found behind the Wild Timber subdivision running north to Georgia State Route 20.  When you see the GA 20 bridge crossing the river, you'll know that your run is just about finished. 

From the Settles Bridge trailhead to GA 20 and back is about four miles round-trip.  To increase your run to six miles, park at Riverside Elementary and include the dirt/gravel road.  About a half mile of trails run adjacent to the river near the remains of Settles Bridge traveling south from the trailhead. 

For history buffs, Settles Bridge was completed in 1896 and was constructed with iron and wood.  The bridge was built to replace a ferry across the Chattahoochee River operated by the Settles family.  The bridge was abandoned in the 1950's after the wood rotted and other nearby bridges were built to cross the river. 

The trails in Settles Bridge are extremely isolated and you're likely to see deer and other wildlife who normally have the area to themselves.  If running alone at Settles Bridge, always tell family or friends where you are going.  The Park
Service patrols the area but the trails are largely undeveloped so ankle sprains and falls remain a possibility.  While these trails are hardly perfect, they can make for a nice change of pace and terrain.  The park opens at dawn and closes at dusk. 

Additional running trails at the Settles Bridge Unit are expected in the coming years.  In 1999, Gwinnett Country, the National Park Service, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources agreed to preserve 340 acres along the Chattahoochee River.  A future park is planned for the intersection of Settles Bridge and Johnson Roads, adjacent to Riverside Elementary School.  This should be a welcome addition to Suwanee's already impressive network of parks and green spaces.  For more information about Settles Bridge (including specific directions), follow these links to the National Park Service or Gwinnett County Parks.