Mountain Day Hikes in the Atlanta Metro
Hikers looking to escape Atlanta's traffic and smog need only drive north for a couple of hours to access hundreds of miles of Blue Ridge mountain trails, including the Appalachian Trail. Of course, for those interested in a short excursion the round-trip drive to the north Georgia mountains will eat up a good chunk of the day. Fortunately, Atlanta residents and visitors with a free afternoon and a yen for mountain terrain can find solace at several locations within 40 miles of the capitol's gilded dome.
Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain is an imposing 825-foot quartz and granite dome located 20 miles northeast of Atlanta in DeKalb County. The mountain is best known as the home of the world's largest bas relief sculpture - a three-acre confederate memorial carving of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The mountain and surrounding Stone Mountain Park also offer a few trails for folks looking to get in a short hike without driving too far from the city.
The most popular trail in the park is the short but sometimes steep Walk-Up Trail, a 1.3-mile steady climb to the top of the mountain. The trail provides dramatic views and pleasant breezes, but hikers should be prepared to do a little rock hopping. At the top of the mountain, hikers can find many small vernal ponds containing fairy shrimp. Hikers who don't have the energy left to trek back down the mountain can ride a high-speed Swiss cable car to the base.
The 5.5-mile Cherokee Trail is an easy loop that circles the base of the mountain and takes hikers past many of the park's attractions. The trail is mostly forested, and also follows the shoreline of the park's two main lakes. Trail features include a covered bridge and an historic grist mill. Other trails in the park include the .75-mile Nature Garden Trail and two 1-mile Songbird Habitat trails.
Kennesaw Mountain
Kennesaw Mountain is an 800-foot high-running ridge located 25 miles northeast of Atlanta in Cobb County. The mountain was the site of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain during the Civil War's 1864 Atlanta Campaign, and is now the centerpiece of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The park offers visitors 17 miles of well-maintained hiking trails.
The park's most heavily hiked trail is the Kennesaw Mountain Trail, which climbs from the park's visitor center to the mountain's summit. The trail is short at just over a mile, but it is difficult due to the rocky terrain and rapid elevation gain of nearly 100 feet per tenth of a mile. Points of interest along the trail include scenic overlooks and mountain springs, as well as Civil War-era gun embankments and rifle pits.
The park's other trails include the 5.6-mile Kolb's Farm Loop, the 5-mile Burnt Hickory Loop, and the 2.6-mile Cheatham Hill Connector. All of the park's trails connect, so hikers desiring a longer hike can customize their route.
Arabia Mountain
Arabia Mountain is a 180-foot migmatite formation located 20 miles east of Atlanta in DeKalb County. The mountain is located in the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, and actually consists of two connected peaks, Arabia Mountain and Bradley Mountain. The Arabia Mountain Trail is a 2.3-mile moderate loop featuring large rock outcroppings, streams, waterfalls, wildflowers, and brilliant panoramic views. Other walking trails in the preserve include the Forest, Fern, and South Lake trails.
Panola Mountain
Panola Mountain is a 260-foot granite outcrop located 18 miles southeast of Atlanta in Rockdale County. Because of its sensitive natural environment, access to the mountain is restricted. However, Panola Mountain State Park staff offers 3.5-mile guided hikes to the top of the mountain Wednesday through Saturday. The park's 1.25-mile Watershed Trail and .75-mile Rock Outcrop Trail are open for hikers to explore independently. Both are easy trails, and can be combined with the park's 1-mile fitness trail to form a 3-mile double loop.
Red Top Mountain
Red Top Mountain is an iron-rich peninsular peak that juts into Lake Allatoona, located 35 miles northwest of Atlanta in Bartow County. Red Top Mountain State Park features 15 miles of hiking trails. The park's most scenic and diverse trail is the Homestead Trail, a moderate 5.5-mile loop that begins at the park's visitor center. The trail guides the hiker through forests, fields, and along the lakeshore. Other Red Top trails include the 3.5-mile Sweetgum Lodge Loop Trail, the .75-mile Lakeside Trail, and the .5-mile Whitetail Trail.
Atlanta is not considered a mountainous city, but there are several high ridges and monadnocks scattered throughout the metropolitan area that feature hiking trails. The isolated mountains of the Georgia Piedmont are not as high as many of the mountains in the Blue Ridge farther north, but day hikers will find several hikes of varying difficulty and terrain on and around the summits near the city. Five mountain hiking areas are less than a 45-minute drive from downtown.
Index of trails:
Stone Mountain
Trail Guide
- Cherokee Trail, 5.5 mi.
- Nature Garden Trail, .75 mi.
- Songbird Habitat Trails, 2 mi.
- Walk-Up Trail, 1.3 mi.
Kennesaw Mountain
Trail Guide
- Cheatham Hill Connector, 2.6 mi.
- Kennesaw Mountain Trail, 1.1 mi.
- Kolb's Farm Loop, 5.6 mi.
Arabia Mountain
Trail Guide
- Arabia Mountain Trail, 2.3 mi.
- Fern Trail, .4 mi.
- Forest Trail, 1.8 mi.
- South Lake Trail, 2 mi.
Panola Mountain
Trail Guide
- Rock Outcrop Trail, .75 mi.
- Watershed Trail, 1.25 mi.
Red Top Mountain
Trail Guide
- Homestead Trail, 5.5 mi.
- Lakeside Trail, .75 mi.
- Sweetgum Lodge Loop Trail, 3.5 mi.
- Whitetail Trail, .5 mi.
