Riverside Park Day Use Area (ga)

Riverside Park Day Use Area is situated along the Etowah River, a tributary of the Coosa River, downstream of the dam which impounds Allatoona Lake. The river and peaceful surroundings offer a relaxing getaway from the nearby city of Atlanta, just 35 miles south. Visitors enjoy various water sports, hiking, hunting and viewing wildlife. Boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming are popular along the 164-mile Etowah River waterway, which rises northwest of Dahlonega, Georgia, north of Atlanta. There are two open shelters within the park. Shelter A is on the left once you enter the park, located on the Etowah River, with a maximum seating capacity of 200 people; horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court and an open playing field are adjacent to it. Shelter B is further in the park in a wooded area along a creek, the smaller of the two, within walking distance of the river and with a maximum seating capacity of 50 people; a horseshoe pit is within 20 yards. Horseshoes and volleyball can be loaned out by the onsite Park Hosts. A restroom is within walking distance of both shelters, and there is a boat ramp in the park to access the river. The Vinyard Mountain Hiking Trail can be accessed from inside the park. The very scenic Etowah Disc Golf Course is located here at the base of the Allatoona Dam on the Etowah River; opening in late 2017, the course has become one of the most popular in North Georgia. Stunning rock features, a creek, other scenic landmarks, and views of the Etowah River from several holes enhance the experience with scenery not found at any other metro Atlanta course. The rolling hills around Allatoona Lake are thickly forested with lush oak, maple, blackgum, dogwood, magnolia, hickory and the occasional pine tree, and ferns and honeysuckle bushes make up the understory. The dense hardwood forests are home to raccoons, opossum, bobcats, red and gray fox, white tail deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. From time to time, visitors even spot black bears roaming the area. The City of Cartersville is nearby, offering the Tellus Science Museum, Etowah Indian Mounds, and Booth Western Art Museum. The City of Emerson is home to the Lakepoint Sports Complex. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield is located in Kennesaw, White Water Park is in Marietta, and the Georgia Aquarium is located in Atlanta.