Top 10 Hiking Trails In Metro-Atlanta Area for Hikers and Photographers.
As an ATLien, when I first moved to Atlanta I was blown away by Atlanta’s outdoor beauty, paths, and hiking. As I have explored much of Atlanta, I figured I’d make my top 10 Atlanta hiking & walking trails within 40 miles of the city. These hikes explore gorgeously, forest, scenic rivers, historical remains and catch the best, most stunning mountaintop views near Atlanta that you can see the skyline.
As it may come as a surprise to some, Georgia is filled with a wide variety of photogenic locations. From the spectacular hikes of the Blur Ridge Mountains to the coastal plains of the Savannah region, to Atlanta's famous hip-hop, trap, and rap urban life.
Another surprise is the most popular Georgia hiking trails are less than two hours from Atlanta, including the famous Appalachian Trail start and the beautiful waterfalls at Panther Creek Falls.
However, if you are too busy to leave the city proper, no worries, Atlanta is filled with small trails and hikes that I will cover in a later blog. Atlanta is the most forested city in America, so it allows for lots of hidden and cool hidden gems.
Below are my top six favorite Atlanta hiking trails. All are within a 40-mile drive of Midtown Atlanta – and a few are even within the I-285 Perimeter loop. After my list, I have another list of honorable mentions, these locations I can not vouge for, but I have heard A LOT about them and figured I’d allow other people to hear about them as well.
Powers Island Trail at the Chattahoochee River
2.4 MILES
This path is my favorite and one of the most underrated trails along the Chattahoochee. The Powers Island Park is so much more than overflow parking for its popular neighbor, the Cochran Shoals Trail. Hike across the park’s bridge to trek through an old-growth riverine forest on Powers Island and loop down the Chattahoochee River for views from its boulder-filled banks.
Sweetwater Creek State Park
2 – 4 MILES
Explore rugged outdoor beauty minutes from Atlanta on the rocky, boulder-lined banks of Sweetwater Creek State Park. Hike our favorite Sweetwater Creek trails through sun-dappled forest, and then follow the sandy and bluff-filled banks of Sweetwater Creek to explore Civil War mill ruins, tumbling whitewater, and small waterfalls. (I didn’t get any good shots this day. The sun was blaring as I went middle of the day. However, it is still a great hike).
3. Kennesaw Mountain Trails
1.3 – 11 MILES
Hike the enormous trail network at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield to explore stunning Atlanta skyline views and terrain drenched in Civil War history. Climb the double peaks of Kennesaw Mountain, explore the grassy expanses and rocky terrain at Pigeon Hill and Cheatham Hill, and hike through a stream-filled forest. Civil War artifacts and monuments pepper the trails’ length, offering an Atlanta history lesson alongside abundant natural beauty.
4. East Palisades Trail at the Chattahoochee River
3.4 MILES
Hike the East Palisades Trail at Indian Trail and Whitewater Creek to some the most scenic Chattahoochee River views in the Atlanta area. The East Palisades Trail follows the banks of the shoaling Chattahoochee River, hikes through a bamboo forest, and scales several large bluffs to stunning overlook views of the river.
5. Vickery Creek Trail at Roswell Mill
3 MILES
Hike the Vickery Creek Trail to the historic mill ruins at Roswell Mill in Atlanta’s Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The trail also visits a covered bridge and a rushing, cascading waterfall at the historic Vickery Creek dam.
6. Vaughters’ Farm Meadow Loop
An amazing spot for an early morning/late afternoon photoshoot and walk in nature.
Honorable mentions
Arabia Mountain Top Trail
1.3 MILES
Explore a beautiful, diverse landscape at Arabia Mountain, located just 30 minutes from Midtown Atlanta. Explore Arabia Mountain’s scenic summit on this beginner- and kid-friendly adventure, catching views of Arabia Lake and abundant natural beauty. You’ll be close to Atlanta’s perimeter – but will feel seemingly worlds away.
VIEW TRAIL INFO & MAPS
Sawnee Mountain Indian Seats Trail
4 MILES
The Indian Seats Trail climbs the summit of Sawnee Mountain, catching beautiful summit views of the North Georgia mountains. The hike climbs to a lofty, view-packed summit, offering far-reaching views to the southern Blue Ridge range on the far horizon.
Sweetwater Creek State Park
2 – 4 MILES
Explore rugged outdoor beauty minutes from Atlanta on the rocky, boulder-lined banks of Sweetwater Creek State Park. Hike our favorite Sweetwater Creek trails through sun-dappled forest, and then follow the sandy and bluff-filled banks of Sweetwater Creek to explore Civil War mill ruins, tumbling whitewater, and small waterfalls.
Pine Mountain Trail near Allatoona Lake
4.5 MILES
Hike the Pine Mountain Trail near Cartersville through a rocky coniferous forest to views at the Pine Mountain summit, grabbing stunning long-range views of Lake Allatoona and the Atlanta skyline on a clear day.
Stone Mountain Cherokee
7 MILES
Combine Stone Mountain’s Cherokee and Walk-Up Trails for a hike through the most popular, scenic, and serene sections of Stone Mountain Park. This hike summits the mountain, catching stunning Atlanta skyline views before climbing over, down, and around the circumference of Stone Mountain’s massive granite face.
