A Visit to the Center Offers

  • Touch TableInteractive Discovery Areas

  • Fossilized Mosasaur Skeletons

  • Local Archaeology & History Exhibits

  • Live Animal Exhibit

  • The Nature Shop

  • 13 Miles of Hiking Trails

  • 1,500 acres of Woodland Preserve

 

Hours of Operation

children at ElacheeMuseum Hours

Monday – Saturday 10am-5pm
Closed Sundays

Special Event Hours Vary:
Check the Calendar of Events for more information

 

Museum Admission

Adults: $5, Children 2-12: $3, Under age 2: Free, Members: Free

Hiking Trails Hours

Monday - Sunday 8am - Dusk, Free- Donations Welcome!

Dogs

Must be leashed, not permitted: Mon - Fri 9am-3pm (our busiest time with students)

Discover Nature Packs

Discovering NatureVisitors interested in learning more about the native plants and animals of the Chicopee Woods can check out a Discover Nature Pack in the museum lobby. These backpacks, which are free to check out for the day, contain a wealth of information, nature guides and fun activities to help you explore the woods using Leave No Trace guidelines. Geared towards youth in grades K-8, pack themes include animals, plants, and GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation. A combined animal/plant backpack is available in Spanish. These packs can help you create a memorable fun learning experience with your child as you explore nature together. Sponsored by a grant from REI.

Our Facilities

The 1,500 acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve is one of the largest protected greenspaces in the state of Georgia featuring rolling topography and four diverse habitats - woodland, lake, stream and wetland. 13 miles of hiking trails lace through the Preserve offering a view of the beautiful flora and fauna that reside within. As a protected area, all plants, animals, and natural materials must not be disturbed or taken from the Preserve but are here to be enjoyed by all visitors now and in the future.

Elachee Main CampusOur main Visitor Center off Atlanta Highway includes a museum complex, Nature Shop, administrative building, outdoor classrooms, pavilions, native gardens, butterfly garden, rain garden, compost demonstration site, and access to hiking trails.

Visitors interested in learning more about the native plants and animals of the Chicopee Woods can check out a Discover Nature Pack in the museum lobby. These backpacks, which are free to check out for the day, contain a wealth of information, nature guides and fun activities to help you explore the woods using Leave No Trace guidelines. Geared towards youth in grades K-8, pack themes include animals, plants, and GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation. A combined animal/plant backpack is available in Spanish. These packs can help you create a memorable fun learning experience with your child as you explore nature together. Sponsored by a grant from REI.

Chicopee Lake
Across the Preserve from the main complex is the Chicopee Woods Aquatic Studies Center and Chicopee Lake, accessed by a 2.5 mile hike or a 10 minute car ride around the perimeter of the preserve. The lake and surrounding wetland provide a perfect spot for the study of pond life, wetland inhabitants, and birds, who favor this site as home or a stop on their migration route.

 

These facilities are also available for rent for weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats and family events.