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     Sweetwater Creek State Park

Reservations (800) 864-7275
Park (770) 732-5871

Sweetwater Creek is a peaceful tract of wilderness only minutes from bustling downtown Atlanta. The most popular trail (red) follows the free-flowing stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs rocky bluffs to provide views of the beautiful mile-long stretch of white-water rapids below. The 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir is popular with anglers and provides a pretty setting for feeding ducks and canoeing. Fishing supplies are available in the park’s bait shop, while wildlife and history displays, trail maps, snacks and gift items may be found in the Visitor Center -- the most environmentally responsible building in Georgia (LEED-NC PLATINUM).

Park Hours: 7AM-10PM
Office Hours: 8AM-5PM
Trails close at dark; other areas close at dark if not in use.
  • Sweetwater Creek School Program Brochure (pdf document)

    FACILITIES:
  • 2,549 Acres
  • 215-Acre Lake
  • Visitor Center and Gift Shop
  • Conference Room (seats 40, $100)
  • 11 Picnic Shelters ($60)
  • Group Shelter and BBQ Pit (seats 150, $115-$175)
  • 2 Fishing Docks
  • Playgrounds

    ACTIVITIES:
  • Hiking – 9 miles of trails
  • Lake and stream fishing–electric motors only ($2 boat ramp fee)
  • Canoe (seasonal) and Fishing Boat Rental
  • Picnicking
  • Ranger Programs

    NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:
  • Carrollton, Georgia
  • Georgia's Treasures Along I-20
  • Sandy Springs, Georgia
  • John Tanner State Park (camping)
  • Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Historic Douglasville, Georgia
  • Six Flags Over Georgia Theme Park

    Become a "Friend" of Sweetwater Creek State Park

    		•
      Make a reservation . . .
    		  

    Events
    Get Outdoors Georgia New Manchester History Hike
    Saturdays 1 PM - 3 PM until Mar 28, 2009 
    This mile-long hike (easy to moderate) will lead us to the ruins of the Civil War-era New Manchester textile mill and focus on the history of the Sweetwater Creek valley...  $1-$2 plus $3 parking. 770-732-5871.
    Green Building Tour
    Sunday, Oct 26, 2008 2 PM - 3:30 PM
    Handicapped AccessibleThe park's visitor center is one of the most environmentally friendly buildings anywhere. It is one of only 21 in the world to receive the highest LEED certification (platinum) from the U.S. Green Building Council. Learn about sustainability, green buildings and what makes this one so special.  $1-$2, plus $3 parking. 770-732-5876.
    Get Outdoors Georgia "Ruins to Rapids" Full Moon Hike
    Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 7 PM - 9 PM
    This 1.5-mile guided hike is moderately difficult and visits the Civil War-era textile mill ruins of New Manchester and follows the lovely rapids (up to class IV) of Sweetwater Creek. The hike will continue if it is overcast but will be cancelled if raining. Bring a flashlight and sturdy shoes...  $1-$2 plus $3 parking. 770-732-5876.
    Get Outdoors Georgia Geology Hike
    Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 1 PM - 3 PM
    Geologist and "Friends of Sweetwater Creek State Park" member John Johnston will lead a moderate 2-mile hike identifying rock types and explaining how they formed. There will also be a visit inside the ruins of the Civil War era New Manchester Mill alongside the beautiful rapids of Sweetwater Creek.  $1-$2 plus $3 parking. 770-732-5876.
    Get Outdoors Georgia Rivers Alive Cleanup
    Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 9 AM - 1 PM
    Join us for Rivers Alive, Georgia's Annual Volunteer Waterway Cleanup, as we clean the banks and trails of beautiful Sweetwater Creek. 770-732-5871.

      Address/Directions
    Sweetwater Creek State Park
    1750 Mt. Vernon Road
    Lithia Springs , GA 30122

    Mailing Address
    P. O. Box 816
    Lithia Springs, GA 30122

     Take I-20 west from Atlanta, exit #44 at Thornton Road, turn left and go 1/4 mile. Turn right on Blairs Bridge Road, go 2 miles and turn left on Mount Vernon Road.

    		 
     
    Make reservations using the options above or call 1-800-864-7275 (Monday-Friday, 8AM-8PM; Saturday-Sunday, 9AM-5PM EST).
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