Copperhead sightings are climbing during summer 2026 at the Island Ford unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Sandy Springs, prompting rangers to issue safety guidance for trail users.

The Island Ford unit, at 1978 Island Ford Parkway, serves as the recreation area's headquarters and visitor center. It draws a share of the more than 3 million people who visit the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) each year, according to the National Park Service.

Rangers are urging hikers to stick to marked trails, wear closed-toe shoes and keep a close eye on brushy riverbanks and transition zones where copperheads tend to rest, Patch reported, summarizing a report that named Island Ford among six Georgia locations seeing elevated copperhead activity in summer 2026. The guidance stresses that giving snakes space and taking simple precautions keep most encounters uneventful.

The warning comes as Island Ford's trail system has grown. The park reopened the trails July 1 after a restoration project that added roughly 2 miles of new paths, expanding the network from 4.8 miles to nearly 7 miles. The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC) raised more than $400,000 from donors to fund the work.

The CRNRA is home to more than 40 reptile species, according to the National Park Service.

Superintendent K. Lynn Berry, who took over the recreation area June 1, called the trails "a cornerstone of the visitor experience" at the recreation area in the July 1 reopening announcement. She said the restoration was "strengthening the foundation of this park for years to come."

Dog owners should take extra care. The park service notes that leashing pets protects them from venomous snakes, coyotes, poisonous plants and unsafe water. The B.A.R.K. Ranger program is available daily at the Island Ford Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A park pass is required for all CRNRA units. Daily passes cost $5, annual passes $40 and senior annual passes $20.