SANDY SPRINGS, GA · FULTON COUNTY
Chattahoochee River NRA – Island Ford Unit
National Park Service rules let dogs in the river, but only on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times, including in the water. Dogs are welcome on all park trails.
💦 Swimming🌳 Shady🥾 Trail
GOLDEN SCORE
62
Great for goldens
#92 of 150 Georgia parks
Is Chattahoochee River NRA – Island Ford Unit good for golden retrievers?
It scores 62 out of 100, which makes it great for goldens (#92 of 150 in Georgia). It has water for dogs to swim or splash in, which is the biggest thing a golden wants from a park.
Tips for golden owners
👂 Dry those ears
Floppy ears plus water is the classic recipe for an ear infection. Dry them after every swim.
🌳 Good summer pick
Plenty of shade makes this one of the better summer options for a double coat.
⚠️ Water note
USGS/NPS BacteriALERT posts E. coli health advisories when estimated levels exceed the EPA 235 cfu/100 mL threshold (often after rain). Check ga.water.usgs.gov/bacteria before letting dogs in.
Park details
💦 WATER TO SWIM IN
Yes
🔒 FENCED
Open water access
🏃 SIZE
Not listed
🌳 SHADE
Lots
🐕 BIG-DOG AREA
No
🐶 SMALL-DOG AREA
No
🚰 DRINKING WATER
Not listed
🌱 GROUND
Dirt
🏅 AGILITY
No
🥾 WALKING TRAIL
Yes
🚿 RINSE STATION
Not listed
💡 LIGHTS
No
💵 COST
$5 daily parking pass or $40 annual NPS pass
🕐 HOURS
Not listed
🅿️ PARKING
Yes
📍 ADDRESS
8800 Roberts Dr, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
How the Golden Score adds up
We score what we can confirm. Here’s how Chattahoochee River NRA – Island Ford Unit does on each detail we know, out of the points it’s worth.
Water to swim in 24 / 24
Shade 6 / 6
Fenced 9 / 13
Ground 3 / 8
Big-dog area 0 / 5
Trail to walk 3 / 3
Lights 0 / 2
Free entry 1 / 3
Puppy area 0 / 2
Details we couldn’t confirm count as average, so a park isn’t punished for a thin official page. See how every Georgia park ranks.
Other dog parks near Chattahoochee River NRA – Island Ford Unit
50
#140 East Roswell Park Dog Park
Roswell · 2.2 mi away · Good spot
🔒 Fenced🚰 Water🥾 Trail
Single all-sizes off-leash enclosure a short climb off the park’s walking trail, with grass and dirt and some tree shade.
70
#41 Morgan Falls Dog Park
Sandy Springs · 3.4 mi away · Great for goldens
🏃 3.4 acres🔒 Fenced🐕 Big-dog area🚿 Rinse station
A 3.4-acre city dog park with fenced small and large dog areas.
90
#1 Newtown Dream Dog Park
Johns Creek · 4.3 mi away · Prime golden park
💦 Swimming🏃 1 acre🔒 Fenced🐕 Big-dog area
Nationally ranked city dog park with large, small and wooded enclosures, artificial turf, agility obstacles, and sprinklers plus a spraying hydrant that water-loving goldens enjoy.
63
#85 Brook Run Dog Park
Dunwoody · 4.7 mi away · Great for goldens
🌳 Shady🔒 Fenced🐕 Big-dog area🚿 Rinse station
Fully fenced, wooded off-leash area at the back of 110-acre Brook Run Park with double-gated entries and a dog wash area.
THE GOLDEN HOUR APP · FREE ON IPHONE
See who’s at Chattahoochee River NRA – Island Ford Unit right now
This guide is built from the same data as the app. The app adds everything a web page can’t do.
Ranked, near you
Sorted by Golden Score or distance
Every park, scored
Live heat check and who’s there
Meetups
RSVP in a tap
Ask the pack
Real golden owners
🗺️
Every park on a map
Gold paws mark the prime spots.
🐕
Who’s here now
Check in and nearby goldens see a friend to play with.
🌡️
Heat checks
Feels-like temperature at every park before you go.
📅
Meetups
Swim days and puppy socials, with reminders.
🚨
Lost golden alerts
Every member within 25 miles helps look.
💬
Ask the pack
Answers from people who live with goldens.
Official page: www.nps.gov
Park details change. We researched these from official city and county pages in 2026. Check the park’s official page for current hours, fees and rules before you go.
