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Guide To The Best Hiking Near Atlanta
When you think of Atlanta, the first thing you think of is a sprawling city with every amenity you could want from a urban environment. You may not have realized all of the wonderful places to get outdoors and go hiking near Atlanta. Here we will share the best hiking near Atlanta.
Its no wonder that Atlanta was affectionately known as, “a city in a forest.” Hiking in the shade is a wonderful way to avoid the 217 average days of sun per year.
In this guide, all of the wonderful hiking destinations near Atlanta will be illustrated with locations, difficulties and practical tips.
Map of the Best Hiking Trails Near Atlanta
Birmingham Park Trail
This park entrances is behind the Milton Fire Station. The outer loop of the trail is a little more than 1.2 miles long, with opportunity to extend the hike a little.
Location: 750 Hickory Flat Road Milton, GA 30004
Trail Length: 1.2 miles +
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Birmingham Park
Cascade Springs Nature Preserve Trail
This park features 120 acres of green space to wonder through. Explore a waterfall, small creeks and a historic spring house.
Location: 2852 Cascade Rd SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
Trail Length: 1.9 Miles
Trail Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Website: Cascade Springs Nature Preserve
Cochran Shoals Trail
This trail is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and features a gravel pathway along the scenic banks of the Chattahoochee River. This trail is an excellent location for trail running.
Location: 1956-2068 Eugene Gunby Rd, Marietta, GA 30067
Trail Length: 3.1 miles outer loop
Trail Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
East Palisades Trail
This trail is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and is one of the best places to view the Chattahoochee River.
Location: 1425 Indian Trail NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30327
Trail Length: 4 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
Gold Branch Trail
This trail is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and features a loop trail that wonders along the banks of the Chatttahoochee River. There are some moderate hills to traverse.
Location: 6156 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068
Trail Length: 3.2 miles outer loop
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
Island Ford Park Trails
The Island Ford Park is a fantastic hiking trail near Atlanta. It located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
The trails are sectioned into the Hewitt area, South Island Ford and North Island Ford. They are loop trails that extend to over 5 miles if you choose to hike it all.
This trail has a lot to offer, and is one of the prettiest sections of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
Location: 978 Island Ford Pkwy, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Trail Length: 5 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
Jones Bridge Park Trail
This trail is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and follows the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
Location: 4901 E Jones Bridge Rd, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Trail Length: 4.6 miles
Trail Type: out and back
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
Medlock Bridge Park Trail
The Medlock Bridge Park is located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Duluth, Georgia. It is one of the parks near Atlanta that makes up a large group of parks and trails that are known as the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
While this is not a huge park, it has a lot to offer. There is plenty a river access for fishing, a boat ramp and a short hiking trail.
Location: The park is located off of Medlock Bridge Rd, right next to the intersection with the Chattahoochee River
Trail Length: 1.3 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
Laurel Ridge Trail
This relatively flat trail hugs Lake Lanier, which provides for some scenic views.
Location: Lower Overlook Rd, Buford, GA 30518
Trail Length: 4 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: N/A
Pine Mountain Trail, West & East Loop
The Pine Mountain trail is broken up into the west and east loop. As a hiker, you can to the west loop only, or add the east loop for a longer hike.
Location: Komatsu Dr SE, Cartersville, GA 30121
Trail Length: 4.5 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Pine Mountain Trail
Powers Island Trail
This trail is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and is one of the least trafficked trails along the Chattahoochee River.
Location: Unnamed Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Trail Length: 2.6 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
Providence Park Trail
The outer loop of Milton Providence Park Trail is just over 1 mile. The trail length can be extended by walking interior trail connections. This trail features multiple bridges over a creek and a lake. This trail was renovated in 2021 to include paved access to the lake and also a covered fishing pier on the lake.
Location: 13440 Providence Park Dr, Milton, GA 30009
Trail Length: 1 mile
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Providence Park
Sope Creek Trail
This trail is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and is a popular spot thanks to a paper mill ruins
Location: 3760 Paper Mill Rd, Marietta Ga 30067
Trail Length: 1.5 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Chattahoochee National Recreation Area
Sawnee Mountain Indian Seats Trail
The Indian Seats trail at Sawnee Mountain is an elevation gaining, mountain hike near Atlanta. It is located about 45 miles north of Atlanta in Cumming, Georgia. The trail is part of a pair of trails in the Sawnee Nature Preserve, that also includes the Sawnee Mountainside Trail.
Location: 4075 Spot Rd, Cumming, GA 30040 or 2500 Bettis Tribble Gap Rd, Cumming, GA 30040
Trail length: 3.5 to 4 miles depending on extensions
Trail Type: Loop
Vickery Creek Trail
The Vickery Creek Trail is part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and located in historic Roswell Ga. The trail features an old mill, a waterfall and miles of shady hiking. It is no wonder that this trail gets a lot of foot traffic, especially on the weekends.
Location: Vickery Creek Trail, Roswell, GA 30075
Trail Length: 3.4 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Website: Vickery Creek Trail
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Many of the hikes above are part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. This area spans over 48 miles along the Chattahoochee River. Many of the “units” or parks within the recreation area feature some of the best hiking in Atlanta.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Trails
The full Kennesaw mountain loop offers a long 17 mile loop. The hike can be broken up into multiple smaller loop hikes as depicted in the table above. The must do hike is the Kennesaw Mt. summit. It is one mile straight up to the summit. It is a bit strenuous, however my 4 year old made it to the top with only moderate complaining.
Location: 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30152
Trial Length: Varies, see table above
Trail Type: Varies, see table above
Website: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Red Top Mountain State Park Trails
Red Top Mountain hikes provide wonderful views of Lake Allatoona. There are three trails to choose from. The Iron Hill Trail is a bike friendly trial with gravel surface. The other trails are accessible on foot only.
Location: 50 Lodge Rd SE, Acworth, GA 30102
Trail Length: Varies, see table above.
Trail Type: Varies, see table above
Difficuty: Moderate
Website: Red Top Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park Trails
This park features 6 different trails of varying lengths and difficulties. The 5 mile loop on the Cherokee trail wraps around the mountain. The Walk Up trail is a favorite and on clear days will provide a fantastic view of Atlanta.
Location: 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Trail Length: Varies, see table above.
Trail Type: Varies, see table above
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate depending on trail
Website: Stone Mountain Park
Sweetwater Creek State Park
Location: 1750 Mt Vernon Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122
Trail Length: Varies, see table above
Trail Type: Varies, see table above
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Website: Sweetwater Creek State Park
Summary of the Best Hiking Trails near Atlanta
| Trail Name | Location | Trail Length | Trail Type | Difficulty | Dogs | Cost |
| Birmingham Park Trail | Milton | 1.2 + miles | Loop | Easy | Leashed | Free |
| Cascade Springs Nature Preserve | Atlanta | 1.9 miles | Loop | Easy to Mod | Leashed | Free |
| Laurel Ridge Trail | Buford | 4 miles | Loop | Easy to Mod | No | Free |
| Olde Rope Mill Park | Woodstock | 14 Miles | Loop | Strenuous | Leashed | Free |
| Pine Mt. Trail, West | Cartersville | 4.5 miles | Loop | Strenuous | Leashed | 5$ parking |
| Providence Park Trail | Milton | 1+ mile | Loop | Easy to Mod | Leashed | Free |
| Sawnee Mountain Indian Seats Trail | Cumming | 3.5 miles | Loop | Easy to Mod | No | Free |
| Chattahoochee National Recreation Area | daily pass or annual | |||||
| Cochran Shoals Trail | Marietta | 3.1 miles | Loop | Easy | Leashed | $5 parking |
| East Palisades Trail | Sandy Springs | 4 miles | Loop | Easy to Mod | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Gold Branch Trail | Marietta | 3.2 miles | Loop | Easy to Mod | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Island Ford Trail | Sandy Springs | 5 miles | Loop | Easy to Mod | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Jones Bridge Park Trail | John’s Creek | 4.6 miles | out and back | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Medlock Bridge Park Trail | Duluth | 1.3 miles | Loop | Easy | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Powers Island Trail | Sandy Springs | 2.6 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Sope Creek Trail | Marietta | 1.5 miles | Loop | Easy to Mod | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Vickery Creek Trail | Roswell | 3.4 Miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | Free |
| Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park | ||||||
| Kennesaw Mt. Summit Trail | Kennesaw | 2 miles | out and back | Strenuous | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Kennesaw Mt. Loop | Kennesaw | 5.8 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Nose Creek Loop | Kennesaw | 3.6 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Kolb Farm Loop | Kennesaw | 5 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| 24 Gun Trail | Kennesaw | 2.8 miles | out and back | easy | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Red Top Mountain Park Trails | ||||||
| Homestead Trail | Acworth | 5.5 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Iron Hill Trail | Acworth | 3.9 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Sweetgum Trail | Acworth | 3.5 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
| Stone Mountain Trails | ||||||
| Cherokee Trail | Stone Mountain | 5 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $20 parking |
| Kings Trail at Indian Island | Stone Mountain | 1 mile | Loop | Easy | Leashed | $20 parking |
| Nature Garden Trail | Stone Mountain | .75 miles | Loop | Easy | Leashed | $20 parking |
| Song Bird Habitat | Stone Mountain | 2 miles | Loop | Easy | No | $20 parking |
| Trail of the Muscogee | Stone Mountain | 1.5 miles | Loop | Moderate | Leashed | $20 parking |
| Walk up Trail | Stone Mountain | 1 mile | Out and back | Moderate | No | $20 parking |
| Sweetwater Creek State Park | ||||||
| Red Trail | Lithia Springs | 1 mile | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking | |
| White Trail | Lithia Springs | 5.2 miles | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking | |
| Yellow Trail | Lithia Springs | 3 miles | Moderate | Leashed | $5 parking |
Now that we’ve shared a comprehensive guide to hiking near Atlanta, it is your turn to check it out! Have you found a hiking spot you love near Atlanta, but it didn’t make it here? Please leave a comment and it will be added to this comprehensive list of hiking near Atlanta.