A Sweetwater Holiday - Mon, Feb 16 2026

sponsor

Print-Friendly Version

Add this event to your calendar (Outlook, iCalendar)

Add REGISTRATION REMINDER to your calendar

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

A Sweetwater Holiday

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Sweetwater Creek State Park

Date(s) & Time:

Mon, Feb 16 2026 10:00 am >> Mon, Feb 16 2026 1:30 pm

Registration Opens:

Wed, Feb 11 2026 8:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Mon, Feb 16 2026 8:00 am

Event Duration:

3 Hours 30 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D3: Moderate

Distance:

8 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Joyce B.

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

3 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Enjoy President's Day at Sweetwater Creek State Park. With the Sunday rain the water should be flowing nicely.

Join me for a sampling of trails on both sides of the creek. We'll start on the White then do a hard left on the Brown for our first - and steepest - climb of the day. We will ramble along the Brown, Green, and finally return to the White for some creekside hiking. We'll get some more climbing in on the Yellow on the opposite side of the creek.

The White and Red trails will take us across some rocky terrain so if you’re not comfortable scrambling across rocks, you may want to sit this one out. We’ll need to stay fairly close together as there are a lot of turns on these trails; the pace will be a middling moderate of around 2.5-2.6 mph. This is a long D3 hike so please be ready with good hiking boots and enough water.

We'll meet in the parking area for the Visitor Center. Please arrive early to allow time for a pit stop if needed (there are restrooms that will be open) and introductions so we can be on the trail promptly at 10 a.m.

Distance: 8 miles (approximate)
Elevation gain: 1000-1100 feet
Pace: 2.5-2.6 mph (approximate)
Terrain: Rocky (very) in sections

Required Items to Bring:

Good hiking boots
1-2 L Water
GA State Parks pass (day or annual)

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Hiking poles
Suncreen
Snacks

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Directions to Sweetwater Creek State Park

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 1.6 miles and turn left on Lynch Rd, then left on Mount Vernon Rd.
After approximately a mile you'll cross over the George H. Sparks reservoir, take the next left onto Factory Shoals Rd (there are signs identifying the park entrance as well). The ticket booth is now located about half a mile down the road. Continue straight to the end of the road to the parking area for the Visitor's Center.

Notes:

$10 day pass or $70 annual pass. (50% discount on annual pass for hikers 62 and older!) Both can be purchased on site or online. Day pass can also be purchased at the kiosk in the parking area. You can also check out a Georgia State Parks pass at most public libraries. (But it's a good thing to support the parks and pay for a pass).

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.