• The natural beauty of Georgia is preserved in its state parks.Chattahoochee River, Georgia image by StylezInk from Fotolia.com
  
  Woodstock is a fast-growing bedroom community of Atlanta, Georgia. Although it is quickly becoming a part of the largest city in Georgia, Woodstock is within an hour's drive of many state parks and wilderness areas.
  
  

Sweetwater Creek State Park

• Sweetwater Creek State Park is a peaceful wilderness area located less than an hour from downtown Woodstock. The 2,500-acre park has a 215-acre lake that is popular with anglers as well as campsites, picnicking areas and the historic Civil War-era ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, which burned down in the 19th century. Hiking trails climb the bluffs and hills, providing views of the white-water rapids. A bait shop, visitor center and gift shop are open year-round to serve visitors.
  
  Sweetwater Creek State Park
  1750 Mt. Vernon Road
  Lithia Springs, GA 30122
  770-732-5871
  gastateparks.org/Sweetwater
  
  

Red Top Mountain State Park

• Named for the red rock and soil found in the region, Red Top Mountain State Park is a nearly 2,000-acre state park located 20 miles from the city of Woodstock. The park is home to Lake Allatoona, a 12,000-acre lake popular with swimmers, fishermen and boating enthusiasts. Activities in the park range from hiking and biking to historic presentations at the reconstructed 1860s homestead. For campers, the park offers 92 tent, RV and trailer sites, as well as 18 cabins and a 33-room hotel lodge.
  
  Red Top Mountain State Park
  50 Lodge Rd SE
  Cartersville, GA 30121
  770-975-4226
  redtopmountain.com
  
  

Fort Mountain State Park

• Fort Mountain State Park is named for the 855-foot-long rock wall that stands on the highest point in the park. The wall is thought to have been constructed by the native people as protection against hostile tribes, or for ceremonial purposes. The park is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest and offers many activities for outdoor enthusiasts, such as biking, swimming, hiking, horseback riding trails and nature trails through the hardwood forests. The park has a sandy beach at the edge of a small mountain lake that is popular with families and sunbathers.
  
  Fort Mountain State Park
  181 Fort Mountain Park Rd
  Chatsworth, GA 30705
  706-422-1932
  gastateparks.org/FortMt
  
  

Panola Mountain State Park

• Panola Mountain State Park was designated to protect a 100-acre "monadnock," or mountain, which is home to some rare endemic plant species. The area is minimally developed and caters mainly to joggers, hikers and fishermen. Only minimally invasive outdoor activities are allowed in order to preserve the rare ecosystem that is found within the 1,300-acre park. The park has four picnic shelters, a conference facility, playground and two fishing lakes.
  
  Panola Mountain State Park
  2600 Ga. Hwy. 155, SW
  Stockbridge, GA 30281
  770-389-7801
  gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain