Island Ford's revamped trails make a favorite hike even better

• The new trails are also the first in the recreation area to have names.

Zoom in: By realigning the park's trail, park officials managed to add more than 2 miles to the path network, bringing the total to 6.4 miles, according to the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy. Updates also include two new pedestrian bridges and better wayfinding and signage.

• In addition, crews turned a well-worn downhill trail leading to the river into a set of concrete stairs designed to prevent stormwater erosion and handle heavy use.
• The end result: a more resilient trail network that protects natural resources.

The project is the product of a public-private partnership between the conservancy and the National Park Service.

Fun fact: Park staff operate from the Hewlett Lodge, which was built as a summer getaway for Samuel Dunbar Hewlett, the former chief of staff for Gov. Eugene Talmadge and (for a brief time) a Georgia Supreme Court justice.