Sweetwater Creek Evening Hike (Douglas County, Georgia)

It's been a busy day. Having run a 5k this morning and then attending a beer festival in the afternoon, I could easily just relax this evening, but instead I had made plans to join the Atlanta Outdoor Club for an evening hike through one of my favorite Georgia State Parks, Sweetwater Creek. The club organized this with the park service and we will be lead on the trails by one of the park's long-time rangers.

We met near the visitors center and were asked to move our cars to the staff parking lot, as the park closes to visitors at dusk and we've been allowed to stay a bit later than that as a part of this organized hike. We started the hike by heading towards the ruins of the New Manchester Mill, which sit along the rapids of the large creek. The mill was torched by Union Troops only a few years after it's construction, as Sherman marched towards Atlanta. It was a massive factory though as can be seen by what remains. We were also allowed a rare treat, which is to go beyond the locked fences into the remains of the structure itself.

After leaving the ruins, we headed north along the creek, while our ranger guide stopped occasionally to share information about various things of interest like plants or historical notes. Soon, we reached the sturdy bridge and crossed over the wide creek. This new bridge was only completed a couple of years ago and in the creek below, the ranger pointed out the remains of an older bridge, which was actually a portable army bridge that was brought here for use after the Vietnam War. That one was wiped out in the flood of 2009.

Now on the eastern side of the creek, we make a long path south over hills and into hollows. As evening creeps in, we see several creatures of the forest, including a few deer, a box tortoise, and a couple of toads. It's always great to see the life that resides here in the woods. 

With darkness approaching, we start to head back towards the visitors center. All along the way, we enjoy some nice conversation. We arrive back at our cars long after the sun has set. It's nearly 10:00 pm, but it was well worth the effort. The only downside was the thick humidity. We're all drenched, but that's life in Atlanta. In total, we hiked about 6.4 miles of the park's terrific trail system. It was a fun experience and I thank the club and the ranger for allowing us this experience.