About Ben Burton Park

Ben Burton Park is a quiet, 32-acre wooded park on the Middle Oconee River in west Athens, with a 1.4-mile walking trail through the woods and along the river shoals, riverbank fishing, a small-boat launch and a picnic pavilion. A hydroelectric plant stood here from 1896 to 1964; the land became a park in 1971.

Size
32 acres
Trail
1.4 miles, natural surface (orange blazes)
Hours
Sunrise to sunset
Cost
Free
Open to
Walking; dogs on a 6-foot leash; no bikes on the trail

Along the way

What you’ll pass

  • Middle Oconee River shoals
  • Riverbank fishing
  • Canoe and kayak launch
  • Pavilion and picnic tables

Getting there

Entrances and parking

Park entrance615 Mitchell Bridge Rd., Athensfalse · falseDirections →

Map

Ben Burton Park and homes nearby.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

    The green area is the park as mapped on OpenStreetMap. Walk times follow real sidewalks, paths and streets at an easy 3 mph.

    For sale now

    Homes within a 20-minute walk of the park

    Measured on real sidewalks, paths and streets at an easy 3 mph, to the nearest place you can actually get onto the park. A creek, fence or highway in the way counts against a home, so straight-line distance isn’t used.

    600 Mitchell Bridge Road #151 min walk$225,000600 Mitchell Bridge Road #15Athens, GA2 bd · 3 ba · 1,275 sq ftListing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty
    180 Chalfont Lane #1-62 min walk$825,000180 Chalfont Lane #1-6Athens, GAListing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty
    38 River Shoals Drive2 min walk$1,750,00038 River Shoals DriveAthens, GA6 bd · 6 ba · 5,240 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living
    275 Westchester Circle2 min walk$179,000275 Westchester CircleAthens, GA4 bd · 3 ba · 1,524 sq ftListing courtesy of Heritage Realty
    119 William Drive15 min walk$235,000119 William DriveAthens, GA2 bd · 2 ba · 988 sq ftListing courtesy of Anchor Home Realty
    137 Lucy Lane17 min walk$325,000137 Lucy LaneAthens, GA3 bd · 2 ba · 1,233 sq ftListing courtesy of Corcoran Classic Living

    Memorial Park → All trails & parks → Walkable neighborhoods →

    Sources

    Facts about Ben Burton Park come from the sources below, checked October 2026. Hours, fees and trail closures change; check with them before you go.

    Listings from Georgia MLS as of October 22, 2026; homes and condos only. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Map, trail and walking routes from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors).