Mar. 2—The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, stretching along the river for 48 miles through metro Atlanta, posted its highest ever number of visitors in 2022, the National Park Service announced last Thursday.

Some 3.5 million people are estimated to have visited the recreation area last year, representing an increase of about 9% from 2021.

That outpaces the river's park service neighbor in Cobb, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, which had about 1.3 million visitors in 2022.

"We encourage visitors to plan their visit to CRNRA as the park offers a variety of recreational activities along the Chattahoochee River," Superintendent Ann Honious said in a news release. "You might want to stroll along the trails of Bowmans Island in the solitude of nature; run on the multi-use trail between Columns Drive and Interstate North or float the river between Powers Island and Paces Mill."

Among all National Park Service units nationwide, the Chattahoochee ranked 21st in attendance.

The park service said to avoid crowds, visitors are advised to visit www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/plan-like-a-park-ranger.htm.