Open daily to the public from 7 a.m. to sunset. Gate schedules vary by season.
*Not all indoor exhibits are available to the general public at all times. Please call ahead, 770-535-1976. Or, check in at the Elachee Visitor Center upon arrival.
**Special activities/programs may require registration and/or have a separate fee.
All vehicles entering and parking in the Chicopee Woods Conservation Area are subject to the Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission (CWAPC) parking fee.
Elachee Administrative Office Hours: 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday
Elachee Nature Science Center
2125 Elachee Drive
Gainesville, GA 30504
VIEW MAP / GOOGLE MAP
Important Note: enter the FULL Elachee address into your navigation app. Both Google and Apple want to auto-fill the address, however, these apps do not always pull up the correct location for Elachee Nature Science Center.
PHONE: 770-535-1976
FAX: 770-535-2302
EMAIL: elachee@elachee.org
Chicopee Woods Aquatic Studies Center at Chicopee Lake
2100 Calvary Church Road
Gainesville, GA 30507
Trailhead Parking and Portable Restrooms Available
Complete an Elachee Contact Form to help our team better understand how to assist you. We will quickly get in touch!
Elachee Visitor Center – Main Campus
2125 Elachee Drive
Gainesville, GA 30504
770-535-1976
From Atlanta:
Travel I-85 North to I-985 toward Gainesville. Take Exit 17. Turn left off the ramp onto SR-13 (Atlanta Highway). Continue North on SR-13 past Chicopee Woods Golf Course (on the right). Turn at the next right onto A Avenue and make an immediate sharp right onto Elachee Drive. Follow Elachee Drive for 1 mile through the golf course, across the bridge over I-985, then bear left around curve leading to the Elachee Visitor Center parking lot. Note: if you instead proceed straight when coming off the bridge, you will enter Elachee’s overflow parking lot.
From North Georgia Traveling South on I-985/SR-365:
Travel South on SR-365 and/or I-985 to Exit 17. Turn right off the ramp onto GA-13 (Atlanta Highway). Continue North on SR-13 past Chicopee Woods Golf Course (on the right). Turn at the next right onto A Avenue and make an immediate sharp right onto Elachee Drive. Follow Elachee Drive for 1 mile through the golf course, across the bridge over I-985, then bear left around curve leading to the Elachee Visitor Center parking lot. Note: if you instead proceed straight when coming off the bridge, you will enter Elachee’s overflow parking lot.
From Northeast Georgia Traveling South on I-85:
Take Exit 126 and turn right on SR-211 toward Gainesville. Road deadends at SR-53 (Winder Highway). Turn left and continue on SR-53. Turn onto SR-13 (Atlanta Highway). Continue North on SR-13 past Chicopee Woods Golf Course (on the right). Turn at the next right onto A Avenue and make an immediate sharp right onto Elachee Drive. Follow Elachee Drive for 1 mile through the golf course, across the bridge over I-985, then bear left around curve leading to the Elachee Visitor Center parking lot. Note: if you instead proceed straight when coming off the bridge, you will enter Elachee’s overflow parking lot.
From GA-400:
Take Exit 17 for Gainesville/SR-306. Turn East onto SR-306. At the second traffic signal turn right onto GA-369. Travel approximately 10+ miles toward Gainesville. Pass through the major intersection and traffic signal at McEver Road, and continue straight on GA-369. At next traffic signal turn right onto Memorial Park Drive. Road dead ends. Turn right (South) onto SR-13 (Atlanta Highway). Take the third left onto A Avenue and make an immediate sharp right onto Elachee Drive. Follow Elachee Drive for 1 mile through the golf course, across the bridge over I-985, then bear left around curve leading to the Elachee Visitor Center parking lot. Note: if you instead proceed straight when coming off the bridge, you will enter Elachee’s overflow parking lot.
Chicopee Woods Aquatic Studies Center at Chicopee Lake
2100 Calvary Church Road
Gainesville, GA 30507
770-535-1976
From Atlanta:
Travel I-85 North to I-985 toward Gainesville. Take Exit 16 (Oakwood). Turn right off the ramp on to SR-53 (Mundy Mill Road/Winder Highway). At second traffic signal turn left on SR-13 (Atlanta Highway). Turn right at first traffic signal onto Poplar Springs Road. Follow for 1.5 miles and then turn left onto Poplar Springs Church Road. Follow for approximately .5 miles and then turn left on Calvary Church Road. Follow for .25 miles and turn left into the gated entrance of the Aquatic Studies Center.
From North Georgia Traveling South on I-985/SR-365:
Travel South on I-985 to Exit 20 (Queen City Parkway/SR -60). Turn right off the ramp. At second traffic signal turn right on Calvary Church Road. Follow for approximately 2 miles and turn right into gated entrance to the Aquatic Studies Center.
From Northeast Georgia Traveling South on I-85:
Take Exit 129 (Braselton) and turn right on SR-53 (Winder Highway). Follow for approximately 10 miles and turn right onto SR-13 (Atlanta Highway). Turn right at first traffic signal onto Poplar Springs Road. Follow for 1.5 miles and turn left on to Poplar Springs Church Road. Follow for .5 miles and turn left onto Calvary Church Road. Follow for .25 miles and the gated entrance to the Aquatic Studies Center will be on the left.
From GA-400:
Take Exit 17 for Gainesville/SR-306. Turn right off the ramp onto SR-306. Follow 1.5 miles and turn right at the traffic signal onto GA-369 (Browns Bridge Road). Follow for approximately 12 miles and turn right at the traffic signal onto Memorial Park Road. Follow for approximately 1.5 miles and turn right at the traffic signal onto SR-13 (Atlanta Highway). Follow for 3 miles and turn left at the traffic signal onto Poplar Springs Road. Follow for 1.5 miles and then turn left onto Poplar Springs Church Road. Follow for approximately .5 miles and then turn left on Calvary Church Road. Follow for .25 miles and turn left into the gated entrance of the Aquatic Studies Center.
By law, Elachee cannot accept injured or orphaned wildlife.
Elachee Nature Science Center is not licensed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) to handle animal rehabilitation.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Elachee offers tips/advice for handling these situations:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Elachee is not a wildlife rescue or rehabilitation facility. In fact, by law Elachee cannot accept injured or orphaned wildlife. Elachee Nature Science Center is not licensed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) to handle animal rehabilitation.
ONLINE RESOURCE
https://georgiawildlife.com/sick-injured-or-orphaned-wildlife
Dogs and Pets are not permitted in the Chicopee Woods Conservation Area.
Prohibited areas:
Nearby Dog-Friendly Locations
The Hall County Highlands to Islands Trail System is dog-friendly. A section of this trail system runs parallel to Atlanta Highway at the Chicopee Village entrance.
Or, visit these other dog-friendly locations:
With volunteer and community partner help, Elachee has compiled the following resources of animals and plants found in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve.
Within the Chicopee Woods Conservation Area
Prohibited:
For the health of our community and to protect those most vulnerable in our lives, Elachee recommends that all visitors follow CDC guidance with regard to wearing masks.