Sandy Creek Park

Park Overview

Nestled just 10 minutes from downtown Athens, Sandy Creek Park spreads across 782 acres of natural beauty. At its heart lies the sparkling Lake Chapman, covering 260 acres and functioning as the centerpiece for this outdoor haven. The park offers a good balance between maintained facilities and natural areas, providing a nice escape when you need a break from city life.

Trails and Nature

Lace up your hiking boots and explore over 20 miles of foot trails that meander through diverse landscapes. From hardwood forests to open fields and lakeside paths, these trails accommodate everyone from casual strollers to more serious hikers.

Horse enthusiasts will appreciate that some trails accommodate horseback riding, featuring gentle hills, shallow water crossings, and bridges - excellent for training less experienced horses. If you're looking for a substantial hike, the Lakeside Trail offers a well-marked 7.5-mile loop around Lake Chapman that most hikers can tackle comfortably.

Water Activities

Lake Chapman offers more than just scenic views. Cool off with a swim at the designated beach area during warmer months, or try your luck fishing for large-mouth bass, bream, and catfish that call these waters home.

The lake maintains its peaceful atmosphere thanks to a no gas-powered boats policy - only electric and non-motorized watercraft are allowed here. Don't have your own kayak or canoe? No problem. Rentals go for about $8-10 per hour, including life vests and paddles, making for an affordable adventure on the water.

Sports and Recreation

The park includes various recreational facilities for active visitors. Shoot some hoops at the basketball courts, practice your serve at the tennis courts, or gather friends for a game at the ballfields.

The 29-hole disc golf course winding through the forest is popular with locals and welcomes players of all skill levels. There are volleyball courts too if that's more your speed, giving you plenty of options to stay active while enjoying the outdoors.

Family-Friendly Amenities

Children can enjoy the park's playgrounds, including the newly constructed accessible playground designed for all abilities. This thoughtfully designed play area features modern equipment with slides, swings, and climbing structures within a gated perimeter - giving parents peace of mind while the little ones play.

When hunger strikes, you'll find plenty of picnic areas scattered within the park, many tucked under shady trees. These spots come equipped with tables and grills, ideal for everything from impromptu lunches to planned gatherings. For larger celebrations, several pavilions are available for reservation.

Dog-Friendly Facilities

Sandy Creek Park has good facilities for dogs. The public dog park offers both open spaces and wooded areas, giving pups a chance to explore varied terrain rather than just romping in an open field under the blazing sun.

What makes this park especially unique is the option to rent private dog areas for just $1 per dog per hour - a fantastic solution if your dog is reactive or still working on their social skills. Throughout the rest of the park, dogs are welcome on trails but need to stay leashed outside of designated dog areas.

Admission Information

Access to all this outdoor goodness comes at a reasonable price - just $2 per person for ages 4-64, while the very young and seniors get in free. If you find yourself returning regularly, consider an annual pass for significant savings over the daily rate.

The park welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 8AM to 7:30PM, but takes a breather on Mondays except during select holidays.