Sweetwater Creek and the Burned Mill

Fifteen miles west of Atlanta. The Red Trail is 2.2 miles following the creek to the ruins of New Manchester Manufacturing Company — a textile mill Sherman's troops burned in 1864. The workers, mostly women and children, were arrested and shipped north. Most never returned. The scorch marks are still on the bricks.

April is the month — dogwoods bloom white against dark trunks. The trail starts through loblolly pines, creek appearing on your left, tumbling over granite. Near the ruins the path gets rocky and narrow. Then the trees open and there's the red brick shell, roofless, empty windows framing rushing water. A great blue heron downstream, motionless.

$5 parking. Come before eight on weekends — by noon it's a procession. The moderate rating is honest, not flattering.