Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is the event location for the Middle and Long Champs. It is located 42 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and 25 miles from the University of West Georgia campus in Carrollton.

Purchased less than a decade ago, the first phase of Georgia's newest passive recreation facility was developed with support from Coweta County with $7 million in bonds approved by the state in 2006. The park opened in August 2011. The 2012 U.S. Champs will be the first orienteering event at this park.

Terrain

Chattahoochee Bend occupies 2,900 acres of varied natural land in western Coweta County, with seven miles of river frontage along the Chattahoochee River. The terrain features open forest, farmlands, planted trees, granite outcroppings, large boulder fields, and complex terrain. These features, along with the significant acreage of the park, make it an ideal venue for the U.S. Championships. It also features a well-established trail system and the Chattahoochee River, which can be used as linear features for the lower-level competitive courses.

Facilities

The park has a visitor’s center, picnic area, camping area and primitive camping, boat ramp, restroom facilities, and paved roads.

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University of West Georgia

University West Georgia is a public institution that was founded in 1906. It has a total enrollment of more than 10,000, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 645 acres.

Just seven years after West Georgia received university status, fall enrollment topped 10,000. To accommodate university growth, a multi-million dollar building program has increased the value of the university’s physical facilities to nearly $154 million.

Terrain

The campus spans over several city blocks and now crosses a major road; however, the interior loop of the campus is ideal for the Sprint Champs. The terrain features some wooded areas, gentle sloping landscape, shallow reentrants, and water features. Additionally, there are many paved pathways, over and under ground passages that connect the buildings, and other structural features that will add to the challenge. The paved pathways and terrain features are also ideal for the Trail-O Champs.

Facilities

The University Center offers a food court and restrooms, which will be available to event participants.

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