Sweetwater Creek State Park

About Sweetwater Creek State Park

Sweetwater Creek is one of the most popular trails in Atlanta's bustling downtown. The trail leads from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) to Sweetwater State Park, which provides easy access to a variety of trails and trails along the creek and its tributaries. Most of the routes (in red) follow the free-flowing stream through a textile factory that was burned down during the civil war.

The 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir is popular with anglers and provides a pretty backdrop for duck feeding and canoeing. Fishing equipment, hiking maps, snacks and gift items are available along the way.

Cancellations must be made 30 days in advance and a $10 cancellation fee will be charged. If cancellation is made within 30 days of arrival, the deposit will be retained and the sink dried, but cancellations will not be forfeited.

The Red Trail is a one-mile walk and is a recommended walk for first-time visitors. New Manchester was one of the first cities in the New England region to experience decline after the Civil War.

The Interpretive Centre offers a history guide for the Red Trail, which is the most frequently used and the shortest route to the ruins of the mill. This is much more strenuous due to the very rocky terrain, but follows the rapids into the area of Sweetwater Falls.

The Blue Trail crosses the Red Trail at the end of the trail, north of Sweetwater Falls and south of a small stream.

The trail follows a ridge overlooking Sweetwater Creek and is designed to highlight the wildlife, plants and community of the park. There are two hiking trails, the Red and the Blue Trail, which cover the entire length of this 2.5 kilometre trail from the entrance of the stream.

The Blue Trail is a quieter alternative to the Red Trail and allows hikers to return to this path instead of retreating. The White Trail runs through the heart of Sweetwater Creek State Park, a popular destination for hikers of all ages.

This path then turns west and follows Jack and joins the Red Trail, a red and blue path that follows a rapids until it flows into a stream.

This former farming community is now known as an open meadow popular with birdwatchers, and the brook community has a wide variety of spring flowers. If you turn from the bottom corner of the parking lot onto the Red Trail, you will reach the Yellow Trail by turning left, about 150 meters. This trail takes you into Lake Valley and past Jack, and hikers can hike to the top of Jack's Hill, a popular spot for picnics and hikes in spring.

If you want to climb the ridge more slowly, we recommend to take the path to the left for a clockwise loop, then fall into the stream valley and walk upstream to the bridge over Sweetwater Creek. Once you cross this bridge, you can turn left on this path and find a fork in the road, which is just below the wooden bridge.

This path has a height difference of about 200 meters and leads to some of the most beautiful deciduous forests in the park. When the path descends into the gorge on the south side of this loop, look for a large overhang on the left. Archaeologists estimate that this shelter has been used by the Indians as a shelter for several thousand years.

When the path leaves the gorge and becomes flat, walk along the edge of the stream when it is in bloom. In this protected area, do not climb the slopes or rocks, but after flowering on the meadow, go right and then down the hill again.

This is also where the bricks for the New Manchester Mill were made in the late 1840s, and the pit is visible from the footpath in winter. Take I-20 to West Atlanta, take Exit 44 on Thornton Road, turn left on Mount Vernon Road and travel one mile. Turn right onto Blairs Bridge Road, go two miles, then right onto Mt. Vernon Drive and continue for another three miles before turning left.