Sweetwater Creek State Park Has Civil War Ruins

Fifteen miles west of downtown. The Red Trail is 2.2 miles out-and-back along the creek to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company — a Civil War-era textile mill that Sherman's troops burned in 1864. The workers, mostly women and children, were arrested and shipped north. Most never returned.

The trail starts through loblolly pines, the creek appearing on your left, tumbling over granite. In April the dogwoods bloom and the understory becomes white blossoms against dark trunks. The path narrows near the ruins and gets rocky — watch your footing on exposed roots. Then the trees open and there's the red brick shell, roofless, empty windows framing rushing water. Scorch marks still on the bricks.

Rated moderate. Five-dollar parking fee. Come early on weekends — by noon it's a procession. At eight in the morning it's a meditation.