Sawnee Mountain Indian Seats Trail

Please join us for a beautiful hike at Sawnee Mountain Preserve. We will be hiking at a moderate but steady pace through an oak/birch forest at lower levels, switching to pine near the top.  If you have hiked D2s in the past and are ready for elevation this is the hike for you. Indian Seats climbs to 1,696 foot elevation of Sawnee Mountain Ridge, a gain of 628 feet from our start.

If you are looking for a faster fitness hike then this is not the hike for you. 

We will begin our hike at the Visitors Center on Spot Road and make our way clockwise to the Indian Seats and observation deck passing the north gold mine shaft.  There is one long elevated climb but it is not too steep. For those of you that have never hiked Sawnee Mountain, you are in for a real treat because the view from the top has gorgeous views of the North Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountain Range. After a short visit on the observation deck, we will make our way back down passing the 2nd gold mine shaft. 

Please arrive 10 minutes early to use the restroom, do our introductions and to learn a little history about Sawnee Mountain as we will be leaving on time.

Dogs are not allowed on these trails.

 Sawnee Mountain Preserve is 963 acres and offers 11 miles of wooded trails for walkers, runners and hikers to explore the mountain. Trail options range from easy to difficult. Along with the trails and Indian Seats, the preserve also offers a tree canopy classroom, playground, two picnic pavilions, climbing area, amphitheater and visitor center. The Visitor Center features interactive exhibits on the natural and cultural histories of Sawnee Mountain and a resource library/lounge for visitors to relax and read.

The creation of Sawnee Moutain preserved the 963 acres of green space. Sawnee Moutain Preserve is Forsyth County's largest passive park. It first opened to the public as a county park in 2005 with 3 miles of trails. Phase II of the park, which features a 5,600 square foot vistor center and access to Sawnee Mountain trails, opened in 2008. The newest phase III (Mountainside Trail System) of Forsyth County’s Sawnee Mountain Preserve opened Friday, Jan. 29, 2016.

Sawnee Mountain is a low mountain between the piedmont and Appalachian foothills.. The name Sawnee Mountain actually refers to the entire ridge of approximately five miles (8 km) in length. At its summit, the elevation is 1,946 feet (593 m) above mean sea level, and is roughly 750 feet (230 m) above the surrounding terrain The Sawnee Mountain range runs southwest to northeast, and consists of five knollss and three gaps (Chamblee, Sawnee, and Bettes). Located only a few miles north of Cumming, GA, the mountain is easily the highest point in Forsyth county. One of the highest peaks of metro Atlanta, it nudges out its prominently known neighbors Stone Mountina and Kennesaw Mountain by a hundred or so feet each. However, Sawnee is in the far northern exurbs, putting it in third place behind Bear Mounting and Pine Log Mountain to the west. ~ Wikepedia

Sawnee Mountain Preserve Park Visitor Center

4075 Spot Rd.                                                         GPS Coordinates ~

Cumming GA    30040                                             34.2548471, -84.13860849999998

Take GA-400 North

Take EXIT 17 towards Gainsville

Turn LEFT onto GA-306 West & go 0.5 miles

Turn RIGHT onto State Barn Road & go 0.6 miles

Turn RIGHT onto GA-9 North & go 0.4 miles

Turn LEFT onto Spot Road & go 2.0 miles

Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center will be on your left