Wednesday After Work Hike: Back Trails of Sweetwater Creek, Part I

From the parking lot we will walk on a trail to the spillway that drains the George H. Sparks Reservoir into Sweetwater Creek. After crossing it we will walk on top of the earthen dam that created the reservoir and then descend to Sweetwater Creek. We will then walk on a trail downstream along the right bank of the creek until a Bailey bridge, which we shall cross. At this time of the year the spillway is usually dry. If we cannot cross over it, we will walk back to our cars and drive to the other side of the lake, where we will park our cars and walk to the bridge along an unpaved road. (This option would shorten the hike by about half a mile). After crossing the bridge we will walk east along an old road to the park boundary. We will then walk along the boundary on an unpaved road and a power line easement and then reenter the park and walk on another unpaved road that ends at a television tower. From there a trail leads to the left bank of the creek, at Sweetwater Falls. After lunch we will walk upstream on an abandoned trail until we reach the Yellow Trail, which will lead us to the Bailey bridge. From there we will retrace our steps back to the parking lot. The total walking distance is around 7 miles.

From Atlanta proceed West on I 20 to Exit 44. (From the intersection of I 20 and I 75/85 it is about 12.5 miles), and follow the signs to the park. In case you get lost here is a route description: At the top of the ramp turn left and proceed about 0.5 miles to the second traffic light. Turn right on S. Blairs Bridge Rd. and proceed 2.1 miles to Mt. Vernon Rd. Turn left and proceed 0.5 miles to the park entrance. The parking area is 0.1 miles inside the park, on the left.

Sunset is at 8:20 PM. Twilight ends at 8:466 PM.

The parking fee is $3.00 per car.