River Bottoms Road

Dogs Leashed

Features Historical Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

During periods of extended rain, the River Bottoms Trail could have standing water and/or mud in certain sections.

Easy running trail for all skill levels, minimally maintained so pay attention to roots, rocks, and other natural debris along the trail.

This is an existing point-to-point walkable roadbed with accessible points along the WHITE or GREEN trails.

The River Bottoms Road originally provided access to the fertile bottom land along the river once utilized by early settlers for agricultural purposes following the removal of the Cherokee from the area in the infamous Trail of Tears process. It provides access to the Etowah River in an otherwise inaccessible area. It is currently within the Allatoona Reservoir floodplain owned and under the control of the US Corps of Engineers, and is beginning to become reforested.

This area may have been once utilized by the Cherokee as a part of the historic Red Bank Village (Town) reported to have been located on both sides of the Etowah River, two miles below Hickory Log Village (Town) known to have been located at the Current Walmart site. This location is believed to be within the current vicinity of Boling Park. To what extent the village may have utilized this land for dwellings or agriculture is currently unknown. The actual village center is speculated to have been located closer to Boling Park and within the Fairgrounds across the river, and may have utilized both Town Creek and Puckett Creek for water of a cleaner nature than the river might have typically provided.

The village name "Red Bank" would indicate the appearance and nature of the riverbank within the village area, perhaps most evident alongside Boling Park. This unmarked roadbed, emergency access is a point-to-point, with access starting at either the WHITE or GREEN. Most of the roadbed is flat with several rolling hills, the entrance at WHITE does have a steeper short climb that is uneven and rocky. Please note that this is a floodplain and a river bottom that can have standing water or mud in certain areas after inclement weather.

The reason this is not a marked designated trail and has minimal maintenance by the Sutallee Trace Stewards is the US Army Corps of Engineers controls the floodplain. The Corps strictly regulates any enhancements made to the land they control. The Corps forbids the creation of blazed trails, construction of foot bridges, and posting of signage. The Corps does permit the existence of unmarked trails, however.