Things to do in… Cumming, Georgia
Sawnee Mountain Preserve
Now that the winter cold is making its way out and the weather is warming up, I want to highlight an amazing outdoor spot located in Cumming, GA off of Bettis-Tribble Gap Road. Sawnee Mountain Preserve is an expansive 963-acre public park that is home to the Sawnee Mountain trails. That’s about 3 times the size of Atlanta’s Piedmont Park! Sawnee Mountain features two distinct trail systems that cover a little over 11 miles, Indian Seats Trail and Mountainside Trail. These trails can be taken alone or combined to create unique hiking experiences during each visit to the preserve. The Visitor Center, located on 4075 Spot Road, has information about the mountain such as the plants and animals on the mountain, Native American artifacts, and the history of the preserve.
It is believed that Sawnee Mountain, specifically Indian Seats, was used during Native American ceremonies. A Cherokee man named Sawnee, the mountain’s namesake, helped the white settlers adapt to the area of Cumming in its native state. The Native Americans were pushed out of the area in the late 1820s, due to the Gold Rush. It is said that Sawnee unfortunately passed during his travels on the Trail of Tears.
Sawnee Mountain Preserve is an expansive 963-acre public park that is home to the Sawnee Mountain trails. That’s about 3 times the size of Atlanta’s Piedmont Park! Sawnee Mountain features two distinct trail systems that cover a little over 11 miles, Indian Seats Trail and Mountainside Trail. These trails can be taken alone or combined to create unique hiking experiences during each visit to the preserve. The Visitor Center, located on 4075 Spot Road, has information about the mountain such as the plants and animals on the mountain, Native American artifacts, and the history of the preserve.
Indian Seats Overlook
Indian Seats Trail System is a 3.5 mile loop with about 500 feet of elevation gain that features a spectacular view of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains from an observation deck. The path into Indian Seats Overlook features a Fairy Trail created by local Girl Scout Troop 13730. This whimsical path has mini houses that have been decorated with natural elements, such as sticks and moss. Along the trail, you’ll also see abandoned gold mines from the Gold Rush.
Indian Seats Trail
Mountainside Trail System Map
The Mountainside Trail System is a 5 mile loop on the opposite side of Bettis-Tribble Gap Road. This trail has about an 800-foot elevation gain! There are three trails in this system: 1.4-mile Hilltop Trail, 2.7-mile Mountainside Trail, and 0.9-mile Ridgeline Trail. These three trails can be combined to complete as little as 2.8 miles, or as much as 5 miles. The parking lot of the Mountainside Trail System also has a playground area and a Little Free Library!
The Indian Seats Trail System and the Mountainside Trail System are connected at the Hilltop Trail and Ridgeline Trail trailheads. The two systems can be combined to complete an 11-mile loop.
Sawnee Mountain experiences all four seasons, so be sure to visit often to witness nature change! From March to October, the trails are open from 6:00AM to 9:30PM; the trails hours November to February are 6:00AM to 7:00PM. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM.
There are no bikes or pets allowed on these trails.
