Locate It: Waleska

Waleska, Georgia, home to Reinhardt University, has a wealth of outdoor opportunities that include horse riding and hiking trails, a shooting sports facility and a duck hunting preserve.

Reinhardt University has created a seven-mile mountain biking and hiking trail system on its campus in Waleska that takes full advantage of the beautiful views and varied terrain in northwestern Cherokee County. The inter-connected loop trails are open year-round for mountain bikers, hikers and runners. The trails can be quite rugged, so experience is recommended particularly for mountain bikers. The trailhead and parking are on Grady Street beside the James & Sis Brown Athletic Center.

Cherokee County parks in Waleska include Cline Park and Waleska Park. Twelve-acre Cline Park includes two tennis courts, an outdoor basketball court, a wooded ¼-mile walking trail, playground, seasonal splash pad, and a pavilion for picnicking. Waleska Park, located across the street from the Reinhardt University campus, offers three youth baseball/softball diamonds and a playground. East of Waleska in the community of Clayton, Weatherby Park offers opportunities for youth athletics with one athletic field and three baseball/softball diamonds, walking/jogging on a 4/10-mile track, a playground, and family fun under the pavilion.

Just north of Waleska at Garland Mountain are 19.7 miles of marked horse and hiking trails. There are picnic shelters, parking for horse trailers, horse playground structures, and a horse mounting platform.

Garland Mountain is also home to Garland Mountain Sporting Clays. Whether you’re an experienced clay shooter or have never handled a shotgun, the two mountain-view courses provide a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the day with friends and family, age 13 and older. If you haven’t experienced sporting clays, instructors at the facility can accommodate any level of shotgun skill and offer reasonably priced one-on-one or group lessons. Shotguns are available to rent.

Wiley Creek Duck Preserve is in Waleska, specializing in hunting mallards. Seasonal waterfowl hunters and novices alike will thrill to the fast shooting of the hard-flying mallards. Hunting or preserve license is required. Additional activities on the property include skeet and trap shooting, hiking, fishing, game room, and more.

Those who want to test or develop their outdoor survival skills may want to check out SARCRAFT, an outdoor skills school specializing in wilderness survival, bushcraft, and search & rescue training/consulting. SARCRAFT offers courses in wilderness survival, bushcraft, navigation, and outdoor recreation for civilian outdoor enthusiasts, as well as a variety of training courses specifically for search & rescue, EMS, and law enforcement field personnel.

If you rent a home or condo in the gated Lake Arrowhead community, you’ll have access not only to the beautiful lake, but also to the community’s two outdoor pools, 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, eight miles of walking trails,  and a 40-acre outdoor recreation park. Enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, and sailing on Lake Arrowhead’s clean blue waters.

Learn more in the Destination Cherokee Visitors Guide.