Sunset after hiking Stone Mountain. Photo courtesy of Mark Larson via Flickr.
Gazing at the Atlanta skyline, you might gaze at the urban bustle and forget that there are opportunities explore lush forests, scenic rivers and creeks within an easy drive of downtown Atlanta. However, hiking is one of the locals’ favorite things to do in summer in Atlanta. Whether you’re yearning for taste of the famed Appalachian Trail or want to discover the cool beauty of the Chattahoochee River, there are plenty of opportunities to get into the great outdoors by hiking around Atlanta.
Perhaps the most popular places to hike around Atlanta is Stone Mountain Park. Located about 30 minutes east of downtown Atlanta, the eponymous gray granite outcropping affords spectacular views of Atlanta and the nearby Appalachian Mountains. There are several trails to choose from, varying by length and difficulty. The walk-up trail is a one-mile (1.6 km) trail to the top of the mountain which starts at the Confederate Hall Historical & Environmental Education Center; the Cherokee Trail is a 5 mile (8 km) trail that explores the base of Stone Mountain; the Muscogee Trail offers a moderate, 1.5 mile (2.4 km) loop within the park.
To experience the diversity of Georgia’s ecology and geology, head to Davidson Arabia Nature Preserve, located about 30 minutes from Atlanta. Arabia Mountain is just a small part of the more than 2500-acre preserve, but the eight miles (12.9 km) of trails wind through a wild, granite ecosystem as well as lush wetlands. Arabia Mountain used to be a granite quarry and the signs are still evident, but nature is reclaiming the mountain with new forests and an abundance of lichen and other small plant life. For the best experience, take the Mountaintop Trail after a rain to see the juxtaposition of hard and soft that exists here.
Though a bit further afield, it’s worth the hour and a half drive to Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville, GA. Located in the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains, “amicalola” is Cherokee for “rushing water.” Considering that Amicalola is the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River, the name makes sense. Tumbling 729 feet (222 meters) over a sharp bluff, Amicalola Falls is perhaps the most popular hiking spot for Atlantans. The hiking trail is a short and scenic 2.1 miles (3.38 km). Also of note is the fact that to start the trail, you’ll pass under a stone arch marking the beginning of the 10-mile (16 km) approach trail leading to the start of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of hiking in and around Atlanta. Kennesaw Mountain, located northwest of downtown, has stunning views and a history drenched in the Civil War. The Vickery Creek trail is a popular loop in Roswell, a suburb of Atlanta and the Palisades are perhaps one of the most scenic sections of the Chattahoochee River, often dotted with kayakers looking to “shoot the Hooch.”
Wherever you decide to hike in Atlanta, be sure to dress in layers, drink plenty of water and wear appropriate footwear. Want to explore open space within Atlanta? Check out these three suggested itineraries.
–Katie Coakley
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