Locate It: Canton

Canton, Georgia, in Cherokee County, is loaded with outdoor recreational opportunities, including water activities on the Etowah River and Lake Allatoona, and some of the region’s best mountain biking trails.

Canton’s 81-acre Etowah River Park features three full-size athletic fields, a canoe launch, an amphitheater, a footbridge over the Etowah River and a trail connecting it to the existing Heritage Park. Heritage Park connects to the G. Cecil Pruitt YMCA which offers recreational and healthy options for its members.

The Etowah River, a portion of the most biologically diverse river system in North America – the Coosa River Basin – attracts paddlers to the 163-mile Etowah River Water Trail. The Etowah River Park canoe launch provides a suitable take out for a 13-mile trip from East Cherokee Drive upstream and a short 2-mile trip to Boling Park downstream. The river is rated Class I, with flatwater occasionally interrupted by small shoals and rapids, suitable for novice paddlers.

Canton is close to the north end of Lake Allatoona, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake that is one of the most popular lakes in the country. Day passes and campsite rentals through the U.S. Army Corps gives access to the lake’s 270 miles of shoreline, parks and pavilions, campsites, convenient launching ramps for fishing, boating, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking. Cherokee County Recreation & Parks Agency maintains the following parks on Lake Allatoona:

• Blankets Creek Bike Trails (Holly Springs)
• Cherokee Mills Park (Holly Springs)
• Fields Landing Park (Canton)
• Lewis Park (Woodstock)

Blankets Creek Mountain Bike Trail System near Canton attracts 90,000+ visitors each

year to its six trails on 363 acres that vary in degree of difficulty and skill level required. These trails are also available to hikers (bikes have right of way at all times) and are pet-friendly (dogs must be leashed). Boling Park in Canton is another recreational oasis with biking and hiking trails as well as access to the Etowah River.

Canton is also home to the Cherokee County Aquatic Center complete with two indoor pools and one outdoor leisure pool. The aquatic center offers instructional, fitness, therapeutic, competitive and recreational swimming opportunities. The outdoor leisure pool, called the Oasis, includes a water playground, two water slides, play features, beach entry, pavilions, Funbrella, family restrooms, locker rooms and the Oasis Café.

Swimmers will also appreciate the previously mentioned G. Cecil Pruitt YMCA, a full-service facility with wellness center, indoor pool, outdoor family leisure pools, gymnasium, game room, indoor walking track, playground, and group exercise classes. Guest passes are available.

There are horse trails in Waleska at Garland Mountain. In addition to the 19.7 miles of marked trails, there are picnic shelters, parking for horse trailers, horse playground structures, and a horse mounting platform. Trail riders can also find a mount at Georgia Frontiers in Canton, which offers western-style horseback riding for all ability levels.

Golfers are covered, too, in Canton, with several fine 18-hole courses. There is nothing like playing a round within view of the beautiful North Georgia Mountains.

Learn more in the Destination Cherokee Visitors Guide.