sweetwater creek state park

Enjoyed hiking around and seeing the mill ruins and the waterfalls. Very enjoyable park to spend a day.

Been here twice once with my family for fishing and enjoying outdoors the second tiime for the trails. Its good place outdoor activity.

This place is great for the whole family . EVERYTHING from Feeding the ducks and geese that will eat out of your or your childrens hand to Hiking nature trails . Rented a Paddleboat and cruised around the lake then went fishing for a while.

20 miles west of Atlanta this state park is very and nice for a day trip with only $5 for parking. We did the 'Red Trail' (2 mile round-trip with moderate difficulty). It was a little slippery at some places on the trails as we just had tennis shoes and not true hiking shoes due to the rain and the fallen leaves.The view of the mill ruins was beautiful and the water looked dirty brown due to the rain th'e earlier day. The 2 hour hike was nice and our next trip will be to do the 5.2 round trip hike on the "White Trail".

Though this park is close to the city, it is quiet and a great escape. The nature center has a great museum about the history of the area. The trails are little used (except for the short jaunt to the old mill); the reservoir is fabulous for kayaking. I hear the geocaching is great as well. Though busy on weekends, the place is relatively deserted during the week. Just watch out for the aggressive geese...they're not pets!

My daughter and I hit the 5 mile, white blazed trail. We were both impressed. The trail is well marked so there is little chance of getting lost. Plenty of diversity in the terrain, from open fields to rock scrambling to creek-side meandering. And 5 miles is a perfect length for a kid...long enough to feel meaningful, yet short enough to avoid complaining. We will return in the spring.

Last week I traveled to this place. It has 3 hiking paths. 1 small (2 miles), 1 Medium (3 Miles) and a 5 Mile hike. We can choose as per our convenience. It was good hiking trip even in winter. I started with small and then medium. There was s small falls and a old mill which dates back to 1800's along the trial which goes along the lake. Park staffs are good and helpful. Overall a good short trip if you are in Atlanta and near by places.

After several long flights this was a great place to get out and about stretch the legs etc. It did get a bit hard going for the un acclimatised. The main office and the displays were really good.The decorated stones leading the way to a wedding gave the kids something to look out for and count.

Hubby and I love to take weekend getaways and for his birthday I planned a romantic long weekend in Atlanta. We hike everywhere we go and just happened to find this park was on the way home, according to all trails dot com so we decided to hike the red trail on a lovely Monday holiday afternoon. We wanted to hike the entire white loop trail but it was starting to look like rain so we just did the red scenic trail and then turned back where it meets up with the white trail.Please be careful if you attempt to swim or ford the river here, as these are CLASS FOUR rapids here, in spots. When I say be careful, I'm not exaggerating. While we were here, we watched a man nearly drown trying to swim and saw the ems workers save him!!!! I slipped once on the rocks, even in my merrel Moab boots. Wear sturdy shoes! Past the mill, the trail becomes rocky and has heavy amounts of exposed tree roots and slippery rocks, especially after rain. Moderate hike. Watch for wildlife. We saw ducks, cranes, turtles, lizards and a little, baby green grass snake. Insanely enjoyable! One of my new favorite hiking spots. :) wear proper clothing, be careful, be aware of your surroundings and enjoy!!!

Welp, I had no clue this state park was in my own backyard as an native Atlantan! All things include various spots to fish (so you won't be cramped by a neighbor trying to catch the same fish), picnic tables, several hiking trails to see the big creek and climb the rocks as well as the mill ruins from the 19th century. Up to 9 miles of hiking but can make an adventure out of 2 miles. There is a $5 parking fee only for the trails. Little fun fact: General Sherman ordered to burn down this mill and take the works captive. Go see the remains as there are only a few historic pieces left in Atlanta after the fire. Truly a gem in Atlanta's backyard and perfect for a Saturday morning hike or run.

This park is located only a few miles from my office and is accessible during lunch hours or after work. A true paradise hidden away just outside of Atlanta. With numerous nature trails, historical buildings that include an old mill from the turn of the century, a beautiful lake, and lots of untouched nature! Easy to find and well worth a day with family or friends.

Of course this isn't really just. A 100 acre woods its more like 2500 acres but let me tell you it's beauty and charm are renewing! Sweetwater Creek State Park is the closest State Park to the city of Atlanta. I couldn't believe how peaceful and serene it was. The old textile ruins are magnificent! They have preserved every relic they could and told the story beautifully. The trails have recently been re-marked so now the blue and white trail are much the same, although there is still a part of the blue that is seperate. When following the white trail it is very important to remember when you get to the dead end bridge that you stay on the trail that follows the water. This is the white trail. The markers are a little confusing there. You will have two boulder scrambles and a lovely view of the water. Then back into the woods. We saw armadillo, deer and snakes. Simply nature at its best! The park staff were kind and helpful. And the most exciting part to us is they are building Yurts next year (2015)! And soon to follow will be tent camping and maybe, let's cross our fingers and toes, RV spots. This is a much needed addition to this lovely park. There are several picnic pavillions and areas and a lovely beach / swim area. You will not be dissapointed visiting Sweetwater Cereek State Park!

We love this park and have been going for several years. It's a perfect day hike, place for kids to cool off in shallow water and dogs to get a lot of exercise. Our last visit included several snake sightings- 3 copperheads and a king snake- watch dogs and kids on the trail and near the edge of the water.

Wow, what a great place to hike and so close to Atlanta. A mere 15 minutes outside of the perimeter (I-285) of Atlanta on the west side of town.Great state park site, plenty of parking, picnic pavilions and BBQ grills to use. The trails all begin around the Visitor Center and are very well marked blazes throughout the trails. The Red trail will take you closest to the water and the mill ruins. Once you reach the mill (as long as you have study shoes, NO SANDALS or FLIP-FLOPS) head down the stairs to the waters edge and then continue to follow the trail close to the water. There are some large boulders and steep climbs, so having the right footwear is critical to being safe. Follow the river for another 1/2 mile to the falls area and overlook, take a break and soak in the view. Hard to imagine this wilderness is so close to Atlanta.After your rest break, oh and that reminds me BRING PLENTY OF WATER with you. There are no places for water and on the hot summer days in GA, you'll be wanting it to prevent dehydration. Remember the rule: When you stop sweating, you are at the point of dehydration. So as long as you're sweating and taking in fluids of water, you'll be fine. Although the Red Trail is only 2 miles (out and back) it is a bit strenuous as I mentioned. The other way you can hike is taking the WHITE trail to the left as you come up the stairs from the RED Trail lookout at the falls. This trail will take you around and is 4 miles and follows up and down the ridge. This is a nature trail where you'll see deer and birds indigenous to the area. The hike is medium difficulty.If you want a very strenuous hike, the YELLOW loop trail is for you. Lots and steeps and rocks to bound over and can be difficult for some, so make sure that you are in shape for this trip. It's only 3 miles, but it will feel like 6 by the time you get back to the visitor center.I can't help but stress the need for proper hiking or trail running/walking shoes as well as water and energy bars if you are going to be out there for the day. You'll lose up to 1 quart of water in sweat per hour and with most people walking about 30-40 min per hiking mile, figure on a minimum of 2 quarts of water for any of the longer hikes. If you have never thought about investing in a Camelback Hydration pack, I highly recommend getting one. You can find some inexpensive models at any sporting goods store like REI or Dicks for less than $20.00, you'll find using them easier than carrying water bottles, especially if you're a trail runner like we are.There is also kayaking, fishing and sailing available on the larger portion of the river area. Life vests (PFD's) are required for all individuals on vessels regardless of age or vessel type. Park Rangers will fine you and will remove you from the water if you do not have one. So even if you're a great swimmer, you still need one. So pack up the car with some chairs, food, bikes, dogs (oh yes you can bring Fido to the trails here!) and the kids and head out to Sweetwater Creek for the day. Get there early as parking can fill up pretty quickly. And coming soon... YURTS! Yes you read that right Yurts for some weekend glamping so close to downtown Atlanta. Check the website for more details.Happy Travels!

If you love the outdoors & history this is a perfect day trip. You canoe the lake or fish or simply bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful landscape. There is a few different trails that you can hike or run and a walking trail that leads down to the historic mill along the river. The visitor center is state of the art and meets LEED standards for environmentally friendly. The center is packed full of history & artifacts of the region. I've been going to this park for 40 years and my dad came here before it was a state park. The improvements over the years have helped preserve history and provide a safe atmosphere for families and outdoor enthusiasts. There is the standard $5.00 parking fee to visit plus fees to any canoe rentals. This is a great summer time getaway closer to Atlanta.