# Sweetwater Creek State Park: Civil War Mill Ruins & Rapids Winter Hike > Place to go for families in the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell area (GA). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Daily 7:00 AM–Dark; Visitor Center open 9:00 AM–5:00 PM - Dates: Sun, Nov 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: Sweetwater Creek State Park, 1750 Mount Vernon Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122 - Ages: All ages; Red Trail (2-mile loop) is rugged near ruins; visitor center exhibits and lakeside picnic grounds are stroller friendly - Price: $10 daily Georgia State ParkPass per vehicle (free with Georgia State Parks Annual Pass) - Schedule: Daily 7:00 AM–Dark; Visitor Center open 9:00 AM–5:00 PM - Organizer: Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Official page: https://gastateparks.org - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/sweetwater-creek-state-park-civil-war-mill-ruins-and-rapids-winter-hik--listing-4272649d0140ba650b802361 ## About Located just 20 minutes west of downtown Atlanta in Lithia Springs, Sweetwater Creek State Park offers one of Georgia's most scenic and historic winter hikes. The park's famous Red Trail (2 miles round-trip) winds along the churning whitewater rapids of Sweetwater Creek, leading hikers directly to the towering, five-story brick ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company mill, burned during the Civil War in 1864. Winter is the ideal time to explore Sweetwater Creek: bare hardwood canopies unveil dramatic canyon vistas and churning Class IV rapids that are hidden by dense foliage in summer. The LEED-certified visitor center features an interactive museum with Civil War artifacts and wildlife displays, and wide boardwalks and picnic lawns offer relaxing post-hike spaces for families. ## Similar picks in Atlanta - [Stone Mountain Christmas & Winter Summit: 2 Million Lights & Scenic Skyride](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/stone-mountain-christmas-and-winter-summit-2-million-lights-and-scenic--listing-e2e36a4c15980e2f509d4f27) — Nov 7 – Jan 3 · 2:00 PM – 9:30 PM · Stone Mountain Park · All ages · From $40 · checked Nov 4. Stone Mountain Park's signature winter season combines high-altitude mountain hiking with an extraordinary holiday festival. 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