Forsyth Approves $191,659 for Sawnee Mountain Trail Repairs

Forsyth County has approved $191,659 for trail rehabilitation at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, where hikers face changes to the route up to the Indian Seats overlook.

Steele & Associates will carry out the work under the county’s existing trail-repair agreement. Commissioners approved the project at their October 6 work session and included it among the actions ratified October 15.

The main trail to the summit will close for rehabilitation, Forsyth County News reported this week. North Atlanta Star has not independently confirmed the closure dates or replacement route. Hikers should check with the preserve before setting out for the Indian Seats.

Planning a visit

Sawnee Mountain Preserve has more than 11 miles of hiking trails, with access points at 4075 Spot Road and 2500 and 2505 Bettis Tribble Gap Road. The Indian Seats are natural rock formations overlooking the North Georgia mountains.

The visitor center at 4075 Spot Road can be reached at 770-781-2217. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can ask which routes are accessible during the work and check the county’s preserve page before traveling.

Seasonal trail hours change November 1: the preserve’s trails are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. through February, compared with a 9:30 p.m. closing time from March through October.

Another overlook is under construction

Separately, construction continues on Barker Overlook, a new destination within the preserve. The county expects that project to be completed in early 2027, weather permitting. Its construction site remains closed to the public.

Barker Overlook will be reached on foot and will include a picnic plaza with a pavilion, an observation patio, sidewalks and a viewing plaza. The approximately $1.5 million project is funded through SPLOST IX, the county’s special-purpose sales tax.

The new overlook’s construction timeline is separate from the Indian Seats trail-repair schedule.