Sweetwater Creek State Park
(Lithia Springs, GA)
To the west of Atlanta is Sweetwater Creek State Park, a large area where you can rent boats and canoes to go on the reservoir lake on one side or walk down multiple trails along the creek on the other. Along the way on the trail, you find the remains of an old Confederate cotton mill that was destroyed during the war.
Fort Yargo State Park
(Winder, GA)
Fort Yargo State Park is an enjoyable area in Winder, GA that I’ve been able to go to with friends several times for a nice barbecue picnic out on the lake. It has a beach area, kayaks and paddleboats to rent, fishing spots, and of course the old historic fort that gives the park its name.
Red Top Mountain State Park
(Acworth, GA)
On the northwestern side of metro-Atlanta is the huge reservoir of Lake Allatoona. Red Top Mountain State Park is a sprawling state park that takes full advantage of the great location for wonderful lake views, trails that run along the lakeside, fishing, swimming areas, numerous camping areas, and perhaps most significantly several large marina ports such that you always see a number of large boats out on the lake during the summer. The area has a long pre-Civil War iron mining history and the park maintains and old reconstructed cabin from the height of that period as well.
Panola Mountain State Park
(Stockbridge, GA)
Connected to and part of the larger Arabia Mountain National Heritage area, Panola Mountain state park has trails both on the mountain (some restricted to guiding only due to the delicate nature of the ecosystem) and a paved PATH trail leading to the larger heritage site. There’s also an archery range and an entry to the dam at Lake Alexander.
