Fun Flows Freely at Etowah River Park
Canton offers an exciting blend of nature, entertainment, and recreation because of its unique location on the edge of the Appalachian mountains and the cusp of metro Atlanta.
With a growing trail network and beautiful parks, the city has plenty for those seeking to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors.
![](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f6a9ddcd2df5c9eec7b70c841d2d9c82 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=32058cac3440853d773b503184d54a37 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5b2cebc407b07376ce7bc046211971c1 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=dd78b44e4921adfc91c2479dfe62b3b7 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=620f18c99905c0415f18f2995b2c9f76 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=848bff168defb70460f7979f63a8e689 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=196117a267a6348e0b943c6b68837204 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=19b6cf6af9396a6fe9ba2271bda49cd3 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/logos/ERP_Bridge_Walmart_Side2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=885ad6d7b7c4487efdd453ee261d23a1 3840w)
Canton’s Etowah River Park has become a hub where community entertainment, sporting events, and everyday recreation has come together since its opening in 2015, giving you an exceptional place to enjoy all the area offers.
Nestled along the Etowah riverbed, it is named for and tucked away behind the Brown Industrial Park. Etowah River Park is fifty-eight acres of green grass and nature trails. A large greenspace in the main area of the park is surrounded by a quarter-mile loop perfect for walking, running, and biking. The trail also expands west with a half-mile shaded route which passes over the Etowah and connects to Heritage Park.
![Etowah River Park Entrance in Canton Georgia](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e01a215ea014e5eeeee7130c2b109ce3 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b09f5031bf298daa45742a91bbb6fd39 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=25ec4ecee3a24d1a9646a2516304e6c7 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=79c53db1e6290446b35248350f23bd52 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=604576c4c0458bcc6948fedb505b3527 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=e471553201dbacd29011dc9102b936a8 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=ca2e843deb89c514e89ee69b9f60854b 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=f186412aa644df4085721c7eaeb9b94c 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99644.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=adecdce7e8b2fce60351c7bde2bceb55 3840w)
An expansion that started in January 2020 allows visitors to walk an additional one-and-three-quartermiles under Interstate 575, and along the river’s natural scenery. The park is dog-friendly, and an afternoon stroll at the Etowah River Park will surely introduce you to some new canine friends. An inclusive playground offers options for children.
![Walking Dog at Etowah River Park in Canton Georgia](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=936fcd4061067efb0eac5da9de478875 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=42fc7dbba1533e6fe5fa02fe59ef67b6 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=c47e1cca9c6db296691dd753f83efa62 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=6eb0083d9f44930e054af65f3c74d326 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=af09ab7d7e96055c930c978ca459cd17 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=9262327222fde0c83ec3b4e56ffa7545 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=c56b9b993b2a74eaae42f3475d1d9f2a 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=590fb679ccbf87c41f32d1c9b959b6d6 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowha-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=944f70cb4c861767e6f57409abf19b24 3840w)
A new project slated to be completed by the end of the summer is the trail expansion that will connect Heritage Park to Boling Park, allowing pedestrians to walk along the Etowah River for another one-and-a-half miles. The city is planning a potential connection to The Mill on Etowah along the walking path as well. With the connectivity and open space, visitors have almost four miles of walking trails that branch out from Etowah River Park.
The park has also become a hub for entertainment. The amphitheater serves as a gathering area for thousands of patrons during popular events like Riverfest, several annual charity 5K’s, and the city’s own River Rock Concert Series. This summer, the River Rock Series returned as a two-day weekend event on July 21-22. Community members were able to enjoy craft booths, food and drink vendors, local musicians, and three well-known ‘90s country artists headlining the event: Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin, and Collin Raye. It’s a music festival right here in our own community.
![Aaron Tippin performing at River Rock Concert in Canton, Georgia as part of the Roots and Boots Tour](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b7a4763ceacb67685a5b6d3e8306c4e2 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=4b962806ed9b7bc836ba110fd7e78def 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=b6ece78738642c36d4e3facaaf9f1a84 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=aed9cbf3cf606c89e8dbe490796fc974 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=33949d98ff8efee81d58b6c956a2c847 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b5a16a5c2d4a9387c24cee241defb930 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=3920943f40756456882dd2987cc21a04 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/ThreeHeadliners-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=8a12fa4a7bb7506dfa6601cf6914af2b 2048w)
For families, the Etowah River Park offers many opportunities to spend quality time outside in a safe environment. A canoe and kayak launch along the river provides easy access for water play during spring and summer.
The park's large, inclusive playground allows children of all abilities to play together. The inclusive additions include a wheelchair accessible ramp onto the playset, ADA-compliant swings, including two generational swings that allow a parent or caregiver to swing with their child. A rubber surface around the swings allows easier access for wheelchairs. Sign language and braille panels on the playground also make it an experience for children with vision or hearing impairments.
![Family at Etowah River Park in Canton Georgia](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d7200634bcceebfb9b666873bd98f5ee 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2c1dab22b923a4129308b44fe3e18a12 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=ea6120e00cf5119b4850c3d149608870 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=8dd14f01d8edd242ae4da8f524795ad1 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=a890e00e7a62c42c2009e656716e3627 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=41f5dd1e37d65cb0e8190aab5af210a9 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=ab845e089d8620f4e1585f05c8771d91 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=924e8566f7d842c1d9f3ea7570c4cd09 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Etowah-Park_20230420-HistoricCanton-99682.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=dbb43f324d3bbb8f49f69373551b3390 3840w)
The Etowah River Park is Canton’s hub for all things recreation and entertainment. Bring the family for a picnic or come enjoy the scenic Etowah River.
This article was featured in the Historic Canton magazine. Read more.