Top 15 Activities in Sugar Hill, Georgia You Can’t Miss

Sugar Hill, Georgia, is situated in the northern part of Gwinnett County, marking one of the northernmost points of the Atlanta metropolitan area, and is in proximity to the shores of Lake Sidney Lanier.

The town, which later gained city status, was established in 1939, although the area has been a significant trade route long prior to this date.

Named after a significant sugar spill, the city is home to approximately 20,000 residents who have convenient access to a diverse array of attractions both within the urban landscape and the picturesque countryside of northern Georgia.

Here are the 15 premier activities to engage in and around Sugar Hill, Georgia.

1. Settles Bridge Park

Settles Bridge Park is positioned four miles west of downtown Sugar Hill. Situated adjacent to the Chattahoochee River, it encompasses over 250 acres of land.

The park derives its name from the remnants of an old bridge that spans a tributary of the Chattahoochee, which now exists as a metal frame resting on stone piers, providing an appealing setting for a picnic.

Within the park, visitors can find an accessible multi-purpose paved trail along with a longer natural surface pathway.

The outdoor basketball courts and skate park are consistently favored by local residents, and the public grill attracts many visitors on pleasant days.

2. Lake Sidney Lanier

For individuals seeking more outdoor space than Settles Bridge Park can provide, Lake Sidney Lanier is an ideal destination.

While its name does not derive from a local geographical feature, it honors a notable poet. This lake was created in the 1950s to furnish the Atlanta metropolitan area with a drinking water supply, following the damming of the Chattahoochee River by the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

The resulting shoreline spans almost 1,200 kilometers, featuring a beach-style resort on the lake’s islands, along with a water park that collectively attracts approximately 10 million visitors annually.

The islands are reachable in roughly 25 minutes, while the shore is just a few minutes north of Sugar Hill.

3. Sawnee Mountain Park

Travel west along the southern shores of Lake Sidney Lanier, and you will arrive at Sawnee Mountain Park in approximately half an hour.

This park is four times the size of Settles Bridge Park and boasts numerous attractions.

A commendable starting point for visitors is the dedicated visitor center, which provides information on the area’s natural habitats, flora, and fauna.

At the summit of the preserve’s trail system, adventurous individuals should visit Indian Seats, which offers breathtaking views of the North Georgia Mountains.

4. Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center

Located approximately south in Johns Creek is Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center.

This site offers explorers an opportunity to delve into the history of settlement in northern Georgia and the Atlanta area by examining the remains of a historic maize grinding mill.

The mill is situated charmingly by a stream, which historically served as its power source, and flows through several hectares of woodland.

This site also features Summerour House, a Victorian farmhouse dating back to the 1880s, an earlier structure used as a visitor center, and a small farm museum.

5. Southeastern Railway Museum

On the route to Autrey Mill, an additional stop can be made in Duluth, home to the Southeastern Railway Museum among other notable landmarks.

As Georgia’s official transportation museum, its 14-hectare site hosts one of the finest collections of railway and roadway artifacts found in the southeastern United States.

The museum’s collection includes close to 100 items of rolling stock that date back nearly a century, which features the private rail carriage used by President Warren G. Harding in the early 1920s, along with Pullman carriages and steam locomotives.

6. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

The Chattahoochee River meanders from its outlet at Lake Sidney Lanier through the northern region of Atlanta, situated a short distance from Sugar Hill.

This river serves as a critical water source, with its 75-kilometer length comprising several designated units that collectively establish this National Recreation Area.

Five such units can be found in proximity to Sugar Hill, allowing visitors and residents to fully appreciate what the river offers.

Canoeing and kayaking are popular activities here, as there are ample locations for easy access to the water. Fishing and hiking also remain favored pastimes.

7. Gwinnett History Museum

The Gwinnett History Museum is located in Lawrenceville, which serves as the county seat, and is less than 30 minutes south of Sugar Hill by car.

This museum is housed within a Victorian seminary building that dates back to around 1830. Prior to its transformation into the county’s history museum, it functioned as a finishing school for the children of the region’s elite.

Beyond its historical significance, the museum also explores the early days of Gwinnett County, featuring exhibits on the rural economy of the area and displaying typical textiles crafted by the wives and daughters of Gwinnett’s men.

8. Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain is among the various summits that rise from the Georgia woodlands, located a mere 45 minutes from Sugar Hill.

While it may not hold the title for the tallest mountain, it remains one of the highest points in the Atlanta region, thus providing remarkable views across northern Georgia.

A network of well-marked trails encircles the mountain, designed to accommodate individuals of all skill levels, enabling everyone to enjoy this natural wonder.

Notably, Stone Mountain is renowned for housing the world’s largest bas-relief sculpture, depicting three Confederate generals from the American Civil War era.

9. Splash Park

Both visually appealing and functional during the summer, Splash Park is located in the heart of Sugar Hill, behind the impressive structure of Sugar Hill City Hall and The Bowl at Sugar Hill, a notable outdoor music venue.

A large expanse of lawn leads to a hard surface area featuring a series of water jets cleverly integrated into the design.

Approximately 50 jets intermittently spray and retract, providing enjoyment for the city’s younger residents who delight in cooling off during the hot summer days.

This venue serves as an excellent opportunity to explore Sugar Hill, whether traveling with children or not, as it promises to bring joy to all who visit.

10. XtremeHopp

Located back in Johns Creek, XtremeHopp provides a family-friendly retreat regardless of the weather conditions outside.

This facility features an expansive area of wall-to-wall trampolines, ideal for those eager to replicate Neil Armstrong’s moonwalking, along with a trampoline-based dodgeball court.

For those who seek alternative challenges, the venue includes a ninja warrior course and a warped wall for free runners.

Additional amenities encompass a splatter room for creative endeavors in a Picasso-inspired style, and an escape room for those interested in mental challenges.

11. Dahlonega Gold Museum

Situated approximately an hour north of Sugar Hill, whether circumnavigating Lake Sidney Lanier to the east or west, lies the Dahlonega Gold Museum.

This museum occupies a prominent location on the main square in Dahlonega, housed within an 1830s red brick building that claims to be the oldest surviving county courthouse in the state of Georgia.

As a museum, it chronicles what is recognized as America’s first gold rush, showcasing artifacts that include panning equipment, unrefined gold nuggets, and the precious coins derived from the metal.

While exploring this historical site, guests should not overlook the original deliberation chamber, courthouse, and jury room.

12. Southern Beer Tours

Participating in a Southern Beer Tour offers an excellent opportunity to uncover Gwinnett County’s hidden gems, enhance cultural understanding, and explore the local craft beer scene.

These small group tours encompass all necessary transport arrangements, allowing participants to focus solely on identifying beers worthy of attention.

Spanning much of the afternoon, these tours feature visits to three of the county’s leading small-scale breweries, ensuring guests receive an insightful behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process in at least one of them.

13. Gold Mine Park

While Dahlonega may be known for its gold museum and mining heritage, evidence of America’s first gold rush can also be found in Sugar Hill.

Although the gold may have vanished from the hills, remnants persist and will constitute the centerpiece of Sugar Hill’s newest park.

This 9.2-acre park will serve as the trailhead for a 16-mile greenway that will encircle the city, providing an alternative route to the existing road network.

14. Georgia Museum of Art

Alongside Georgia’s official transportation museum, the designated art gallery is conveniently located near Sugar Hill.

Part of the University of Georgia, the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens boasts an impressive collection of 12,000 works, ranging from traditional artworks from Southeast Asia to the masterpieces of Renaissance-era Italy.

This is a significant transformation from the museum’s inception in 1945 when only 100 paintings adorned its walls.

Since its establishment, substantial efforts have been made to curate an exemplary collection of American paintings from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, particularly highlighting works by Georgia O’Keeffe.

Athens is located a little over an hour east of Sugar Hill.

15. Downtown Alpharetta Historic District

Located half an hour west of Sugar Hill is Alpharetta, where the heart of the city features a historic district comprised of buildings dating back to the city’s establishment in the 1850s. This area offers insights into the architecture and lifestyle of the region prior to the founding of Sugar Hill.

Many structures in downtown Alpharetta are representative of the area’s architectural styles, blending southern clapboard homes with exterior verandas and unadorned brick buildings.

Notably, the Dodd Hotel, constructed in the 1870s, operated as a boarding house until the 1940s.

Additionally, nearby is the Skeleton-Teasley House, designed in the Greek Revival style that was popular at the time, built in the 1850s for a local cotton trader.