Kennesaw Mountain

If your new to Atlanta and don’t want to drive and pay for parking at stone mountain then come here! Kennesaw Mtn battlefield Park is a great experience, filled with various trails that range from beginner to experienced. There’s the main Kennesaw Mtn trail that begins with the museum and a small parking lot. I’ve never ventured inside, but that’s usually not what I’m here for anyways LOL. The trails are well maintained, my favorite being the Pigeon Trail.
there are huge boulders toward the middle range of the hike, and great outlooks and views of downtown Atlanta and the entire metro area. I usually go on a Friday morning around 11 and end my hike around 2 – 3. You can spend hours exploring and loosing yourself to nature up here. Bring a friend or yourself, and plenty of water to stay hydrated. I like that you can get a full body workout if you pace yourself up Pigeon trail and end towards the end of The main outlook near the large parking area by the stairs. It’s very quiet here, not crowded and people are extremely friendly and welcoming. Most people said good morning, and moved way when I was passing and such…
COME HERE, don’t pass up peace of mind in 2016
5 STARS

We love Kennesaw Mountain. It’s accessible and fun to climb. Also, I marked the photo of the tortoise as «helpful».

Popular mountain to hike evening during the week. Great for dogs (they have to be leashed.) but it’s clean and has beautiful views.

We took a drive this weekend to venture over to Kennesaw Mountain. It was the first time I’ve ever hiked in this area. It was a nice Saturday and the place was packed. That’s cool, except that there were very little parking options – even the overflow parking lot was jam packed with people parking on hills, the side of the road, etc. As we walked on the trail that leads from the overflow parking lot to the gift shop area, we had to watch our footing to avoid stepping in dog poop. Tons and tons of dog poop. Maybe the park should consider installing one of those doggie bag containers on this part of the trail.
The hike up the mountain was pleasant, but if you wanna chill on the big lawn beside the gift shop, forget it – there are signs forbidding activities such as «sun-​bathing,» even though it seems like a great spot to spread a blanket or throw a ball for your pet.
So, yeah, my first impressions of my first visit to Kennesaw Mountain was that I wasn’t very impressed at all. Bummer.

Beautiful views, loved it! There is a shuttle available if you would like to ride it to the top of the mountain instead of climb. Plenty of spots to sit down and enjoy the views. Very dog friendly.

Since moving to the area about one year ago, this has become one of my favorite places to go to hike, relax, and take in some nature. However, today I had an experience that may have completely spoiled this place for me. After sitting in line for a parking spot for almost 30 minutes, two people decided it’d be perfectly alright to go AROUND me, cut to the front of the line, and take the first available spots. RUDE, terrible, unbelievable. Where are peoples manners?! Time to avoid this beautiful mountain and find another hiking spot, sadly.

Always clean & well cared for, I love that there are several different trails depending on how challenging of a hike you want. I’ve been many times but wanted to wait to review it until I had experienced more of the mountain but it’s officially, It’s awesome no matter what hike you take. Some are easier and allow you to stay on the road (that they have blocked off) while others are very uphill and had us (& the pups) breathing hard and working out I also love that there are doggie bags at the beginning of the trail and a water fountain (doggie fountain too) at the visitor center

This park is full of people. Most of them appear to be in the road. People in groups, people on bikes, people with strollers, people with dogs, people with dogs in strollers. People in the right lane, people in the wrong lane, people on both sides, people walking the center line, people on blind curves. Screw every one of these people. Going to any other park.

I love hiking here. There are so many beautiful trails to choose from and most are Dog friendly. Some are even Horse friendly ! You can walk up the mountain or at times they let you drive your car up. There is a breathtaking view from up there. On a clear day you can see the Tennessee Blue Ridge Mts,
I am a Civil War buff so I find the battlefield’s history fascinating.
Come to Kennesaw Mountain — you won’t be disappointed.

SATURDAY LECTURE SERIES!
I never thought that I would celebrate the idea of yet another lecture, but this one was great. Apparently, the park has an on-​going lecture series that occurs on a monthly basis, the next one, (Cherokee in the Confederacy) will be presented by Robert Jones on September 12^th, (from 2pm until 3pm). These lectures are free and there is free designated parking for your convenience. If you have an interest in Civil War History, you may want to mark your calendar now.
Today’s lecture, (Carolinas Campaign) was presented by Michael Shaffer, a KSU professor and historian. It detailed Sherman’s march into South Carolina from Georgia and although we got a late start, there was still time for questions at the end. The lecture was so well attended that it exceeded capacity and had to be moved into the auditorium.
When it comes to social events, I usually arrive 30 to 40 minutes early just to avoid being late and this time, it paid off because I had plenty of time to check out the books in the gift shop. They have an extensive selection of books on Civil War history, especially as it relates to Georgia. In addition, you can also find games, shirts, hats, snacks, and commemorative items related to the battle at Kennesaw Mountain.
Although he initially tried to weasel out of this lecture, my husband enjoyed it and we are both looking forward to attending others in the future.

I love hiking here. Trails are always clean and clear, and I have never once felt unsafe, despite frequently hiking alone. Lots of families and friendly fellow hikers on the trail. The main parking lot tends to fill up pretty quickly, especially on weekends, but you can always count on the overflow lot (only about ¹⁄₃ of a mile or less away).
There are several handicap spaces in the main lot, so accessibility should rarely be an issue. Ramp access is also available into the visitor’s center and restrooms, etc. The main hiking trail itself is not wheelchair accessible but there is a shuttle available ($ 2) to take you up the mountain, and some of the small trails are paved for accessibility.
If you’re looking for a nice spot for a picnic, short hike, or to see a little Civil War history in the Kennesaw area, this is a must see. Check their schedules: The park hosts Civil War cannon firings by professional reenactors several times per year (FREE!). Bring your earplugs!
Also, note to hikers: Watch for deer on the Kennesaw Mountain Trail. I see at least one almost every time I go! :)

Kennesaw Mountain is less than an hour northeast of Atlanta, and it is well worth the trek. The park is almost 3,000 acres and contains a variety of trails. O climbed to the top of «Big Kennesaw» than went on to «Little Kennesaw.».
It is quite a vigorous hike, but it is made more entertaining by the informational placards located along the trails. You can even see the cannons that the Confederate soldiers pulled up the mountain. Not only can you experience the wonderful views and wildlife but you can also become immersed in the history.
The museum is pretty interesting as well. It provides a great synopsis of the Civil War and really gives you a better idea of the positions and struggles of both sides.
I wasn’t able to get to Cheatham’s Hill, but that is definitely next on my list. It looks hauntingly beautiful.

Great trails for running or walking. Every one on this trail is super friendly, the day I hiking thru a group of volunteers were cleaning up the trail. Great history and marking all over the place. Highly recommend for history buffs.

When deciding between Stone Mountain or Kennesaw Mountain for a hike, I never thought I’d prefer Kennesaw, but I do for several reasons:
1) Parking is free, and even when it’s busy, the parking situation is controlled & organized (unlike the hectic Stone Mountain)
2) The entire hike is shaded.
3) Great food options nearby-​ish
4) History!
5) They allow dogs, and while I don’t have any of my own, I get to admire and dote on other owner’s pups throughout the hike.
And just like Stone Mountain, at the end of the hike you are rewarded with an excellent view of the city. I always enjoy my hikes here.

Free, clean, friendly. Usually busy with joggers, walkers, hikers, dogs. Parking seems to be challenging at times.
The scenery is beautiful and well shaded. It rained today and we hardly got wet because of the tree canopy.
Many trails to explore– deer and their fawn get close– really close. I usually always see between 6 – 10 on each trip. Chipmunks and other wildlife are abundant.
There is nothing poor to say about this Kennesaw Gem!

Note that there is a shuttle that can take you near the top.
I enjoyed the hike up though. Although it was a bit challenging at times on the unpaved road up, it was worth the slow walk up. We saw 3 deers along the way. There were some benches scattered but there were big rocks that one can sit on as well.
The view is pretty. You can almost see 360 degrees on the top as there were trees covering the view in some area.
On the way down, we took a different path. This one had more paved roads and is where the shuttle goes up/​down.
I liked to pass by the diversity of hikers. There were single hikers, family of hikers, hikers with dogs, hikers with babies on their backs.
There is a parking lot in the visitor area. However, on a nice morning, it filled quickly. There are plenty more parking in the overflow lot. It is just a few minutes walk from the lot to the visitor center. Brownie points for it being free.

I had such a great time at Kennesaw Mountain. My friend hit me up on Sunday and asked me about going to Stone Mountain. Call it what you want but ever since I moved from the east side, I haven’t really felt like driving all the way over there to get my exercise on. I decided to hop on Unilocal because I remembered my coworker telling me about a mountain. I looked it up and it was 10 minutes closer to me than Stone Mountain.
We left from my house and headed over there. It took about 25 minutes to get there from Sandy Springs. We arrived and parking was a little tight but fortunately people were constantly arriving and leaving so we were able to park pretty quickly. We parked and headed to the path. So many great views here! Some people say that Stone Mountain is tougher but I find both climbs to be pretty challenging. We made it to the top and then we also went to little Kennesaw mountain. Overall it was a great time with awesome views and I def will be back.

Kennesaw Mountain is a good place to get in a quick hike. I’ve been here twice and both times i’ve hiked the short trail to the top of the mountain. It is about at 2 mile hike that has a nice grade to it at times but not absurd. The hike is not too strenuous, but can be a workout depending on pace. If you do need a rest while heading up the mountain there are a couple benches on the way up. Once at the top you get rewarded with a view of the Atlanta skyline.
Be warned there is not a whole lot of parking at the lot by the visitors center but there is an overflow lot that is close by.
Overall 4 stars for a quick hike and a good view.

Many people make the hike up to the top of Kennesaw Mountain proper, but far fewer continue on towards Little Kennesaw Mountain. You should — the character of the trail shifts from heavily trafficked and partly paved to one more like a national park, particularly on the eastern side of the mountain where the terrain changes from typical Georgia woodland to granite boulders and gnarly trees.
The loop across the top of the two mountains and then back around to the visitor center is about five and half miles. The last couple of miles — after you come down in elevation and are walking along a popular running path — can be a bit less interesting but still pleasant.

Admission is free. I really enjoyed touring Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. It is an unbelievable Civil War Park with several monuments, markers, and tablets that state a point in history that can never be forgotten. The park is open daily from 9am to 5pm and has on average about 2 million visitors a year. The fighting took place here over the course of 5 days between June 22, 1864 and June 27, 1864.
There are 7 points that can be seen in the Park. You can drive up to 6 if these points. The self guided auto tour starts at Kennesaw Mountain which is point one and is the only one where you can’t drive up to but instead have to use a shuttle or walk up to the point.
Kennesaw Mountain is 1800 feet high and two miles long. Likewise, as you drive to these seven points, you find yourself leaving and entering The National Park several times in visiting these seven historical land marks or points.
First of all, I recommend visiting the visitor center first. There is a museum and a gift shop in the visitors center along with a 35 minute film (to watch first thing before heading up the mountain) which begins at a quarter pass every hour. For example, 2:15 and 3:15 and so forth. You can find additional parking down the road on the left if you can’t find parking in front of the visitors center.
Next, take a shuttle up to point number one (Kennesaw Mountain) which costs $ 3 and then walk down the mountain to really enjoy outdoor activities sort to speak. When you get back to the visitors center you can buy bottled water or lemonade to quench your thirst. It took me about a little over an hour to ride the shuttle up and walk down.
The second point is 24 hour gun battery which is undeveloped, only a hiking trail and only has enough parking space for one or two vehicles and is a dirt road only wide enough for one vehicle. So, I didn’t even get out of the car as I just drove up to point #3.
The third point is the Wallis House which is also undeveloped. The Wallis House was built about 1836 and at one point was used as a Confederate Hospital. It was used as the headquarters for both Union and Confederate troops at different times of course. The Wallis House was actually slated for demolition in 2002 but was saved by the Parks Superintendent. There is a proposal to move the House closer to the Park as it is really about mile outside park headquarters.
The fourth point is is Pigeon Hill which is a foot hiking trail that leads up to confederate entrenchments after parking in the big parking lot.
The fifth point is highly recommended as it is Cheatham Hill. After parking, be sure to do the short walk up to the monument. One feature of Cheatham Hill is the Illinois Monument which was dedicated on June 27^th, 1914. This is where the fiercest fighting of the battle took place. You will see Confederate trenches and Confederate earthworks that can still be seen after 150 years. There are confederate canons to be seen also.
Point number 6 is the Sherman /​Thomas headquarters where General Sherman and General Thomas met here to plan their next attack on Confederates.
The final point is number 7 which is Kolb’s House and it still stands today. The house can be seen as well as Kolb’s cemetery. The house at one time belonged to 600 acres of farmland. It is the only Civil War era structure that is within Park boundaries. It was built between 1826 and 1836. It belongs to the Park and houses visitors, employees and park guests
It is the simple truth: General William T Sherman said «You can not qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty and you can not refine it». The Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield is otherwise known as –The Fall of Atlanta– and it ended here on June 27, 1864 at Cheatham Hill.
One feature of Kennesaw Mountain is that there is a Confederate trench that goes all the way up the mountain. So be on the lookout for this at all times while visiting.
In summary, I advise anyone to visit this park as it represents enjoyment, entertainment, inspiration and most of all education for all generations. The most important place to see are the visitor center. While there watch the film, then take a shuttle up the Kennesaw Mountain, then walk back down to the visitor center for refreshments. Next, drive to the other historical points like Wallis House and Kolb’s House and especially visit Cheatham Hill.