Indian Seats At Sawnee

‍If you love hiking, the Indian Seats At Sawnee Mountain Preserve offers an incredible trail system with over 11 miles of hiking trails. It is located at 2500 Bettis Tribble Gap Rd, Cumming, GA 30040. One of the most popular trails, Indian Seats Trail, leads up to a viewpoint at the top of Sawnee Mountain, and offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hikers can hike a half-mile out-and-back loop, or continue on to more challenging hiking trails. There are also several trails that can be combined into an all-day adventure.  More

The Indian Seats Trail, which is more popular than the Bettis Tribble Gap Trail, offers solitude and tranquility. Visitors can listen to the birds sing and enjoy the breeze through the trees. You can access Indian Seats Trail off of Bettis Tribble Gap Road, which is located at 4075 Spot Road. You can also visit the immersive visitor center, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:00.

To begin your hike, start at the Spot Road visitor center, and turn left to begin the counter-clockwise loop trail. The trail quickly gains elevation and winds through wide switchbacks. At 2.4 miles, you'll reach the southern visitor center and another mine entrance. Then, turn northward on the Indian Seats Trail and ascend a small knob. At 3.4 miles, you'll reach the Spot Road trailhead.

The Indian Seats trail winds through a secondary growth forest, which is often shaded. Along the way, you'll see remnants of gold mining. While the trail itself is largely shaded, it does present some exposed tree roots and cliffs. Hikers will appreciate the switchbacks that help navigate the ascent. At the top, a wooden overlook provides a spectacular westward view.

There are also three indentions on the granite slab near the summit of Sawnee Mountain that are believed to be Indian Seats. During the prehistoric period, Native American tribes would have used these indentions to worship. The archaeological evidence suggests that the site was used as early as 500 B.C. by the Woodland Indians. Today, visitors can find a few other historic sites that detail the region's gold mining history.

Native Americans used the natural clearing at the Indian Seats for ceremonial purposes. It is also possible that the ruins were used by the Cherokee for ceremony. In fact, the Cherokees helped the white settlers settle in the area by providing them with tools and resources to help them adjust to their new surroundings. The Sawnee Mountain Range is a well-known landmark throughout the region. And a major gold strike occurred in the nearby town of Auraria in 1829.

The Sawnee Mountain Preserve protects 963 acres of the mountain. It is managed by the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department and includes a visitor center and resource library. The center also runs summer camps for children, as well as environmental education programs. Next article