Great Escape: Sweetwater Creek State Park

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it.

Each week, we’ll tell you about great ideas to give you a much-deserved break and make your life a little easier—maybe a whole lot easier.

A relaxing way to spend a day or part of a day is at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs.

While no swimming is allowed in the 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir, many can be seen fishing, picnicking, hiking on 9 miles of trails, feeding the ducks and boating at this state park at 1750 Mount Vernon Road off Interstate 20 and Thornton Road. 

Park hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The most popular trail follows the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill that was burned during the Civil War. Then the trail follows rocky bluffs to provide views of the mile-long stretch of whitewater rapids below.

Around 2,500 acres comprise the park, which also has a meeting room that seats 40, 11 picnic shelters and a group shelter that seats 150—all with rental fees. There are two fishing docks, a bait shop and playgrounds.

Boating costs are:

• Pedal boats for 4-5 people—$3 a person for 30 minutes.
• Jon boats for 2-3 people—$10 an hour, $20 for four hours, $30 for eight hours.
• Canoes for 2-3 people—$5 an hour, $15 for four hours, $25 for eight hours.

Life preservers are supplied.

No one younger than 3 is allowed on these boats. Boaters must be at least 16 to ride either alone or with another 16-year-old. Anyone younger than 16 must have someone who is 18 or above accompanying them.

Photo ID is required to reserve boats.

Personal boats are allowed but only with electric motors.

Beginning this weekend, many summertime activities at the park include:

Junior Ranger Day Camp / Friday and July 8 and 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Introduction to Flyfishing / Saturday, July 23 and Aug. 13 and 27, 1 to 3 p.m.

Skins and Skulls Wildlife ID Class / Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Family Fun Day: An Outdoor Nation Summit Event / July 9, 1 to 5 p.m.

"Ruins to Rapids" Full Moon Hike / July 15 and Aug. 13, 8 to 10 p.m.

Atlanta Audubon Society Intro to Birdwatching Hike / July 16 and Aug. 20, 8 to 10 a.m.

Geology Hike / July 23, Aug. 13 and Sept. 24, 9 to 11 a.m. 

Introduction to Wilderness Survival / July 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hunting 101 Class / Aug. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Butterfly Safari / Aug. 7 and 28 and Sept. 10, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wild Edibles / Aug. 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Contacts: Reservations, 1-800-864-7275; park, 770-732-5871.