Sawnee Mt. Preserve in Cumming
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Cumming, Forsyth County, Georgia, US
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Site: https://parks.forsythco.com/Sawn...
- Monday:6AM–9:30PM
- Tuesday:6AM–9:30PM
- Wednesday:6AM–9:30PM
- Thursday:6AM–9:30PM
- Friday:6AM–9:30PM
- Saturday:6AM–9:30PM
- Sunday:6AM–9:30PM
It is a great place to go on some hiking trails and be at peace and get some excercise. They are moderate to slighlty strenuous to hike with the hills if you are not used to hiking. Trails are well kept. If you plan on hiking make sure to have a good pair of hiking boots to wear. Its is not dangerous but the ankle support is a good idea. It is one of the more refreshing hiking trails I have done lately. There is not a view like other mountains but if you are looking to get away and be in a peaceful place for a bit, this is the place. I strongly recommend giving the hiking trails a go.
This is an excellent nature park to visit. It has some great outdoor architecture with the picnic tables, followed by the deck and the gazebo facing the the creek.Their is a activity/guest center right up front. Theres a creative FAIR TALE trail with beautiful little homes create most likely by younger kids (please forgive me if it was done by the staff)...Very relaxing, and if you just need some YOU time, this is the perfect place....
I was told that there was a trail close to my house I was kinda shocked, and took some time out of the next weekend to check it out.Im certainly glad that I did! It was pretty, and lightly strenuous hike for a Saturday morning. I took a friend and we didnt do the full trail, because she had something to do after, but Im definitely interested in going back and finishing the whole thing.For those with kids, the Fairy Trail is neat because people have made a bunch of little fairy homes that they placed alongside the trail. Its funny and provides a bit of whimsy to the hike.All in all, I would definitely suggest heading over on a Saturday or Sunday day trip.
Beautiful place to go hiking and to take fresh air, and watch a beautiful sunset. Easy access to the trails ,I really like that they have a lots of signs to guide you up to the top , bathrooms are very clean . I took the 30 min hiking trail round trip and I enjoyed so much the abundance of nature. I really recommend you to come to this place and explore.
I would recommend. Great quiet and clean place to take a hike. Trees provide plenty of shade. Different areas of terrain; gravel, flat, rough, smooth, steep incline/decline, straight and winding trails, etc. All trails have markers every couple hundred paces or so (give or take). I would recommend for a great workout. Or for a great time in the outdoors. I dont think the trails are good for kids though. There were several times where me and my husband slipped on the gravel areas or tripped on rocks or thick roots. I personally think the hike is for adults only. They do have a very nice playground for kids. Good size covered tables area. Well kept bathrooms. And they have water fountains at the play area. No dogs allowed. We enjoyed the hike very much and had a great time here. We did a 3 mile hike starting on ridgline, cutting through mountainside and going across hilltop. Which took us about an hour and a half. We plan to go back and do the 5 mile loop next time. Be sure to bring a bottle of water and perhaps a light snack. Even though there was plenty of shade you still sweat and get thirsty from hiking through the trails. Great place to hike. Definitely recommend.
This hike was great. The view at the top is amazing. We went on a holiday so it was a little crowded on the trails but didnt feel rushed by people or irritated by slow goers. Picnic lunch up at the Indian Seats was picturesque. The bathrooms were clean. The playground was great but could really use some shade! As other people say, the trails could be marked a little better at the crossings!
COVID-19 update: Great place to get some fresh air. About 30% of people on trail were wearing masks, if youre at high risk you should wear one because there are areas in the trail where you will pass within 6ft of other people. Reasonably crowded at the top actually, but there is enough place to spread out. Awesome view. Bring bug spray, sunscreen, and water. There are two entrances to the trails so make sure you mark on your google maps which of the two locations you start from and make sure you take the right path at the fork in the road. There are longer, winding paths but also steeper shortcut ones for more of a challenge.
Great place with some history. Indians, gold and a great view. Trail is heavily traveled and full of weekend warriors. A lot of small candy wrappers and trash if you look off past the trail. It is a fine trail if you just want a quick loop but wait until winter to enjoy it alone or at least with less of a crowd. I was able to get some of the trash left behind but I couldn’t get it all. Clocked the loop at just over 3.8 miles.
Not far from the suburbs, the preserve offers various trails. The longest one being 3.5 miles the rest are a sneeze away. Fall and winter are the best time to check it out.If youre into running the Indian trail really helps warm up.The summit offers a fabulous view, based on the cloud cover.Wish there was an observatory close by to check the night sky.
Great little mountain hike, not too far from Atlanta. No waterfalls or other water features to speak of, but there are two old mineshaft entrances along the trails as points of interest. From a platform built near the summit, youll have a beautiful panorama view of several mountains to the north. While there is ample parking at both the north and south entrances, the Spot Road entrance has only Porta-Potties for facilities. The entrance from Bettis Tribble Gap Road boasts adequate restroom facilities with running water.
A beautiful trail that is very very well maintained. Its not a state park like I originally thought. It was very very crowded on the day we went which I usually dont see in state parks or equal size. Either way the trails were easy to moderate more on the easy side. The view at the top at the Indian Seats is worth every step. There is a cool Earth Cache at the top if geocaching is your thing.
Lots of hikers but a great spot! Visitor center had very helpful staff, clean restrooms, a kids library and toys, and even a few reptiles. Behind the visitors center, the trail splits after a few tenths of a mile. Left is about a 4 mile round trip hike and right is sub-2 mile round trip. They both end in the same location at a great overlook (pictured). You could easily pack a lunch and eat at the top. We took the 4 mile loop. Hike was a little steep so maybe not great for small children or those that have trouble with an incline but overall a very easy hike.
We have hiked the Sawnee Moutain so many times and every time feels like a new experience. We use both sides of the preserve to train for upcoming hiking trips and/or to get in a good day hike. The trails are maintained and the preserve area is peaceful and serene. We are blessed this area is so close to where we live.
The hiking trails here are amazing and easily done with our experienced 8 year old and 3 year old. We started off at the visitors center, which was wonderful. The staff was friendly, informative, and the displays were interactive. There is a sweet fairy garden trail as you hike up to Indian Seats, which our daughter loved. This will definitely become one of regular weekend trips!
Beautiful area well maintained! Climbing wall! Decently easy hike even with small children. I took my 6 year old daughter and 3 year old son. They both made it to the top. There are benches along the way if you need to take a break. Easy marked and easy to follow pathways.
Beautiful hike. My fitbit clocked 31 flights but we did get lost ended up doing 5.9 miles. Pay attention to where you parked. There are 2 parking lots, on your descent you have a choice to go to the visitor center or to the other parking lot. No dogs allowed, dont feel bad, they are really trying hard to save some species, there are other places that allow pets.
This is such a nice place to take a short hike. There is also the option to take a longer excursion. The welcome center is very nice. There are bathrooms at all of the hiking trailheads. The directions on Sawnee Mountain are a little confusing but youll eventually find the viewing area. Im greatfull dogs arent allowed. There are some historical gold mining areas on the mountain which have been preserved. The staff keeps the trails clean. Hammocks are not allowed a certain distance from the trailheads but people ignore that rule. And the last time I was there some younger people had to play their music for all of us to enjoy while they sat in their hammocks near the viewing deck. Its too bad they didnt get the idea of being quiet in the woods. Parts of the trails are very rocky other parts smooth. It takes forty minutes to the top from the welcome center and twenty from the other parking area. The back country trail I believe is five miles and it took me about an hour and forty minutes. All the trails can be overcrowded on the weekend. There is a native garden at one of the trailheads and a playground across the street. Water is available at the trailheads. Im glad the area was saved and opened to the public.
This is a good place to hike. There is plenty of flat trails as well as enough ups for a good hike. Not too far from Suwanee can be a good place to spend a day during weekend. We went during January but it should be a good place to hike during summer as there are enough trees for shade. The top of the mountain is rocky and has a good view. may need to be careful with kids as there are rocks and no rails.
Park in the visitor area and check out the visitor center before going up or when you return. Four mile hike, two miles up. Some areas are a little bit of a climb but not very difficult, some areas are a little flatter. The trail is narrow but enough for people to pass. Mostly shaded over because of the tree canopy. Trail is decently defined and easy to follow. The view at the top is beautiful and there is a guide to which north Georgia mountains you are viewing. No dogs allowed. Good family walk.
We took the Indian Seats trail on a Saturday morning, along with quite a few others. It is quite the popular place! The trail can be steep in some places, with a lot of roots and rocks. There was some confusion about the trail in some places because there are not a lot of signs or blazes. We took a little shortcut coming down and ended up making our trip back to the Spot Road parking area a little longer. 😊 The views from the summit were very pretty but it was far from peaceful because of some noisy groups. We were able to find a nice spot to sit on some rocks and have a snack before heading back down. It took us about 3 hours round trip including our rest at the top.
A fun family place to hike. Good outdoor COVID activity. They have a nice playground and bathroom and lots of spaced out picnic tables. Make sure you check out both sides of the mountain hike. The drive out there is very scenic passing cows and you can see mountains out in the distance.
I love walking the approximate 5 mile loop. The starting point near the bathroom/playground is uphill for about a mile but once you cross the paved road it is more up and down. Theres really nice scenery and the trails are usually filled with people but not overly busy. They do have wooden benches spread throughout the trail (not many though) for you take take a seat on if you get tired and need a seat. A great trail to hike if you have a few hours to kill and want to hike about 5 miles.
The hike is very nice with two options, a smaller loop that is 3 miles and a longer one that it is 5 miles. We decided to go for the shorter one, got lost, and ended up walking 6 miles, but it was totally worth it. It is a bit hilly, but nothing too difficult with plenty to see. Definitely going back.
Very pretty mountain preserve. The welcome center is nice and the staff is friendly and helpful.The hike to the top is not too strenuous and in most places is smooth. There are occasional rocky parts that are kind of difficult for little kids to walk over.The real gem is the view from the top. There is a nice bench area with a great view, well worth the hike. Its a great place to relax and have lunch.
The trails were beautiful! The markers on trails were very easy to follow. It had rest seats along the trails for anyone that got tired out. Parking was big enough. They do provide restrooms at the beginning of trails. These trails are considered medium level. When you reach top it truly is breath taking to see the wonder of the land. They provide seating at the top as well.
Only did the Indian Seats trail to the peak. The view was amazing. Wish we could have hiked a little farther but started to late in the day. Wasnt bad for a 3yr & 7yr old to do. They even enjoyed playing in the park after our little hike. Side note as a mom of smaller children was impressed with the cleanliness of the bathrooms. Not something that is seen especially in outdoor places but is so appreciated!!
Hike up and back down! Do it in 30 mins or hours, depending on which trails. 2 starting points, like 20 min hike away from the bottom of mtn. Signs are helpful: if you know you started at tribble gap rd or post rd, its easy to find your way back (the 2 starting points). Very well maintained. Smooth after renovated last year.
Great place to hike for families. Trail is clearly marked and multiple benches throughout as well. Taking the shortest hike 2.8 miles does not show you any hilltop views though if your hiking up to say the view was all worth it.😉 Nice to enjoy the natural outdoors and good exercise.
Very nice trail that doesnt have very many difficult parts to traverse. We did the Indian seats trail and it took us about an hour or so to get to the peak and that was with 2 kiddos 5 and under wandering with us. The view was very rewarding. Would highly recommend on a cool Saturday morning with the family!
Great place to go for a day. The trails are easy to walk and plenty of shade and places to stop. Did not have a bunch of bugs all in your face as the trail we took up to the Indian seat is dry and well drained and maintained. I would recommend to anyone, there are some flat trail around the parking areas or some rather steep trail to the top
Very big park & wonderful scenery. Great place to hike but map isnt that helpful. Definitely set aside a good chunk of your day if you plan to explore the full trails. Mild hiking gear is recommended. Visitors seem to get lost often so be aware. Also, parking/entry is free. Another plus. I would visit again but likely morning hours.
Great hike, wonderful view and mostly shaded. We loved this hike. Id rate it more difficult than moderate due to the elevation, rocks and roots on trail. We are already planning another visit. Make sure you use the restroom before starting and dont bring your fur babies. Hiking boots or tough sole shoes are recommended .
One of the best hiking spots in the area. It can get a bit crowded on nice days though, I recommend leaving from the Visitors Center if going to the Indian Seats as that hike is considerably longer meaning less people usually. The views from the top are outstanding and the laurels along the trails are amazing when in bloom. Its a hike Ive done many times and will do many more.
A wonderful place to visit if you love trails. We done a hiking today after a long gap. We took the Indian Seat Trails loop outer and is of length 3.41 miles per Apple Watch. Gained a total elevation of 501 ft. I can tell that this is a moderate one and have some rough path in between. The valley view from the top is awesome
Very nice trails. Wish I wouldve found map resources before I started hiking. Not to say that the park didnt have any, I simply didnt look. Other than that great trails, well maintained, nice elevation changes, kids playground mid hike, etc etc. Highly recommend. Not a difficult hike. Completely covered/shaded and great views. Remember: no dogs, no bikes, etc.
Such a BEAUTIFUL place!! At the top of the trail, you have a 180 degree view where you can see for MILES! Theres a map that explains what every ridge is and how far away it is. Theres so much beauty up there. The butterflies are gorgeous... The view was gorgeous... The carved out Native American seats were amazing.... I can go on. Absolutely worth the hike. You dont even have to be a expert hiker to get up this mountain. Its the best! 💖
While the trail consists of a gradual incline the whole way up, the trail is very rocky and can trip you up if youre not careful. However, this park well cared for. Upon this recent trip, I noticed that the panorama display on the overlook was gone. I hope they replace it with a new one, because it was a cool way to identify the mountains off in the distance. One of the best views of the North GA mountains is here at Indian Seats!
For someone who rarely hikes, this trail was quite an experience. The ability to work hard on a difficult mountain and get to the top to see all your hard work pay off is definitely a feeling everyone should experience.The view from the top is about the most beautiful scenery I think Ive ever seen. Wouldnt hesitate to recommend this to anyone who isnt blind.
Great hike with the kids. We parked at the visitor center which we didnt realize is a little longer of a hike to get to the top. The trails werent too steep and the total distance is about 4 miles. With a 5 and 8 year old, and a three year old in a backpack (the type for a kid, not a jansport), we spent about 3 hours there. It was a good time and we will be back.
Great location to hike and get some exercise. Ended up burning about 1k calories per round trip from the nearest visitor center to the top. Just flat enough to bring kids too, my one year old walked about half way up (then slept amazing that night!) Would def recommend for a cheap day, water and snacks and youre good to go.
Great hiking trails. They now have a 5 mile loop and a 3 mile loop. Beautiful in every season. For the 3 mile loop- The sunset from the overlook is very nice. On clear days you can see the mountains very well from the overlook. The section going through tall deciduous trees near the visitor center is my favorite. For the 5 mile loop- there is a lot of up and down. My GPS tracker notes 1,000 feet of elevation change. But the trail is beautiful, especially the more northern portion of the loop. The visitor center is quite nice too.
This place is amazing! Great views, nice facilities, a moderately-easy two-mile hile, and no dogs allowed make this a place to truly enjoy nature in its true form. Not too far from Atlanta, and you can see the mountains in the distance; truly a wonderful view! I would highly suggest this preserve for people who want to get some good exercise and be rewarded with gorgeous views!
A loop hike that goes uphill to Indian Seats, a spot where you can sit and enjoy a nice view. The uphill is well graded, so its not super strenuous (medium difficulty). A nice place to do a half-day. Theres a spot in front of the visitors center with a picnic table. And the visitors center has a covered porch that overlooks a pond - really peaceful spot to hang out.
The park is very good for young children. There is a playscape for your children and a bigger one for older grade schoolers. There is a car track for hot wheels sized cars on the small scape and small caves under the bigger playscape. There are picnic tables under a roof, and a vending machine for water, green tea and Gatorade.
Fantastic hike to the top of the mountain. Pretty easy hike that is shaded by tree cover. Path is well marked. wear hiking boots it will save your ankles. there is another path that has fairy houses all along it that is maintained by a local girl scout troop. Great for the littles.
This is great hidden spot near Atlanta. Once you start hiking and get to the top, it feels like hundreds of miles away from the city. The hike is short (4.5 miles) and most people should be able to complete it. The different trails lead to the same spots so, there is no way to get lost. Great place for a short family hike. There are clean restrooms on the visitors center, and the parking lot is never full.
This is my favorite place to hike in Forsyth County hands down. I went early in the morning to hike up for sunrise. It was beyond beautiful to say the least! The best part is I didn’t see anyone on the trail until 8:30am, so I had the whole mountain to myself for 2 hours
Nice trail. Steep in several places and much longer than it seems. No dogs permitted. Wish they had better signage with realistic distances. (One made it seem like we were close but we were still about 3/4 mile away. )View from top is worth it if you plan accordingly.
Great scenery! Definitely see wildlife! Be careful during the beginning of fall when hiking. Theres 2 sides. If you go to the left that will take you to the Indian Seats. Going to the right will take to a nice hiking path, but hikers and walkers beware of bears during the fall time. Me, my mother, and my 2 babies were hiking and came across a bear last year in October. Never saw the bear, but it sure saw us! Only heard it and it was close!!! Just something to keep in mind. I do feel there should be signs posted about bears for everyones safety. If there already is, I didnt see them. Honestly, the most terrifying experience in my life! Otherwise, I love going there! Very beautiful! Lol!
Very nice park at the foothill of Sawnee mountain. You can safely park your car and take the kids to the attached park that has swings, jungle gym and a climbing pyramid. It also has a shed that you can use for your outdoor parties. You can also go hiking from this location as well. Overall a good park that can be used by everyone in the family.
Decent hike with moderate inclines. Trails are marked well. Seemed manageable by young children. View is great and the local BSA troop built a great observation deck. Park in general needs recyclable cans with the waste cans. See a lot of plastic water bottles not being recycled.
This is such a great park to have right here in Forsyth County. The trails are well maintained and the views from Indian Seats are impressive. I only wish that you could bring dogs. I dont get why theres a no pets rule.Another plus would be to allow bikes on the trails. They would be perfect for mountain biking.
Best view of Georgia I have seen yet. Its a loop, and if you go right, it is about .75 miles to the overlook. Go left, and it is about 2.5 miles, but easier terrain. I recommend the right side because then you get to see the gold mines on the way down. Either way, totally recommend this trail for some sunshine therapy and nature recharge.
My wife and I love visiting Sawnee Mountain. Its great that theres a trail head within 20 minutes of the top and another thats significantly longer if we have more time. The views at the top are always worth the work - its nice to have a bit of a hill to climb in our backyard!
I go up to Indian seats early in the morning most weekends when its nice and just sit listening to an audio book or praying and enjoying to gorgeous view. I bring my coffee with me and some portable breakfast items and is so relaxing and I get a little exercise since its about a mile walk to get up there. The walk is not steep and really pretty easy.
Total reviews rating 4.7
199 Reviews for Sawnee Mt. Preserve 2023:
Review №1
2022-03-28Beautiful place for a moderate hike to the Indian Seats on top. Lot of parking there with a visitor center. There are two other parking areas about a mile away, be careful about your parking place and the direction while coming back to your parking. Great views all around the top. There is plenty to keep kids busy like the huge treehouse, the turtles, and things in the visitor center. There are long and short trails, and are well maintained, with wonderful views. There are restrooms, some of them are not open on Sundays.
Review №2
2021-08-05Just beautiful. Thick lush greenery, great walking trails that arent too difficult to walk, bathrooms were clean and maintained and the awesome view as the payoff for your effort. Definitely off the beaten path for those who love closer to the city but worth it if you are looking for an awesome nature expereince.
Review №3
2022-05-20It has two hiking trails. The trails are somewhat confusing, make sure the direction’s along the route. Well maintained and free.
Review №4
2022-03-21Nice trails and parking area here. Nice view of the mountains at the top of Indian seats trail
Review №5
2021-12-03Nice trail, fairly easy walk up. Lovely views at the top. On a clear day you can see quite a distance. There is a nice observation deck that shows what some of the mountains in the distance and how far away. Really great weekday hike.
Review №6
2022-04-20Great place for a brief hike with a fantastic view with plenty of seating whether youre on the viewing deck or hanging out on the rocks.
Review №7
2022-06-15Much better than last year (2021) when they were regrowing a lot of their trees. Greener and fuller. Nice 15-20 minute walk to the top. Well-maintained trails. I would come back again because its one of the closer hikes from home and the parking is free!
Review №8
2021-06-16The view at the top is extraordinary. This is a public county park so is accessible to everyone - except pets. This is also a preservation area for an orchid that is on the Endangered Species List. At the same time there is a plaque that explains how the site was once used to pan for gold. So, take a breath and read the signs during your hike. Theres more to the area than sweat.
Review №9
2021-05-06Beautiful and fun park for all ages! Two colored pavilions with a lot of picnic tables, there are working whales out here by The pavilions, there are tons of trash cans for your convenience. The bathrooms are open and they are very clean. Playground is open. The only downfall is theres no swings for smaller children. Lots of parking, great walking trails. NO dogs allowed.And yes the water fountains behind the bathrooms do work!!
Review №10
2021-05-04Really quiet, not many people when I went. Very creative play area with lots for kids to do. Trails were awesome. What part i could handle i really enjoyed. My back wont allow as much as Id like yet. But great place to go for exercise and solitude in nature!