When my hiking club suggested hiking Kennesaw Mountain trails, I said yes without any research. I don’t regret that decision, but I did not have any real idea what I was getting myself into. Nonetheless, I packed my Camelbak with water, a Kind bar, and salted watermelon Gu.
I was told to bring hiking poles and to wear sturdy hiking shoes. Rain was expected later in the day and it was 27 degrees when I left my house, so I bundled up and made my way to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
Kennesaw Mountain Parking
My trip through Atlanta highways and byways was uneventful. On my route, a slow down to stop and go traffic occurred right AFTER my exit. Once I exited into Kennesaw, there were signs leading me to the park and it was very easy to locate the visitor center, where I met my group.
The Kennesaw Mountain website warns visitors to wait and pay for parking upon arrival because parking in the visitor center is limited. I can confirm that the visitor center had maybe 25-40 parking spaces, but I was able to find a spot with no issue. I parked and easily paid for parking on my phone by inputting my tag and payment information.
I found the parking experience simple, and at $5, very inexpensive compared to most parking in the Atlanta metro area. Though I found a spot in the visitor center, an overflow parking lot was just across the street with ample empty spots. Visitors can also pay for parking in the visitor center, where bathrooms and more information about hiking the trails are located.
Hiking Little Kennesaw
The park houses 19 miles of trails for hiking at various levels. Our group leader made the decision to lead us through trails that would take us up Little Kennesaw, then over Big Kennesaw, and quickly back down.
Boy am I glad she did.
I am not a very experienced hiker, though my introduction to hiking was in the mountains of Colorado at 10k feet, so I wouldn’t call myself a novice either. When we set out, the weather had warmed up to around 39 degrees and it was quite dry.
Now, I recognize how much I am used to humid weather, so I did not take the instructions around hiking in dry weather too seriously. It’s not like we were hiking in Colorado!
My mistake.
We began on a pretty flat even ascent up to Little Kennesaw peak. About 1.5 hours into the trail, I realized that the dry air is not something I should take lightly and I began to hydrate accordingly. The route we took started to get rocky about half of the way through, so it was smooth sailing for our crew at a 21 min/mile clip.
Along the way, we ran into other people hiking and running. Every time we crossed paths with anyone, we were easily able to move aside or pause in our path to pass or let others pass. The trails are very clearly marked and clear of debris.
Plus, all along the park, there are markers for hikers to easily access assistance if needed. There are also several benches along the trails to rest and a few spots for a good picture (I obviously didn’t take advantage of those photographic moments ?).
Big Kennesaw
Once you reach the top of Little Kennesaw, hikers have the choice to continue climbing a shorter rocky path to the top, take a slightly longer paved path to the top, or a short path down to the visitors center.
Before continuing to the top via the rocky path, and subsequently back down to the visitors center, my crew stopped to eat a snack and hydrate. The climb up to the peak of Big Kennesaw was short with a few turns before reaching the top. Then, we began a steady flat hike down the mountain.
No muss, no fuss.
Kennesaw Mountain Hike Difficulty
I would characterize our hike as novice-friendly, but you should be in some kind of decent shape. Make sure to bring a few hiking poles for stability, and hydration to prevent cramping. Choosing the opposite path, going up to Big Kennesaw and down Little Kennesaw would provide a good challenge for the more experienced hiker.
Either way, the challenge is doable for those in shape. If you still want to experience the park but not climb rocks, you can take the paved roads through the park. The paved paths are friendly for all.
Would I Do It Again? Should You?
I would definitely hike Kennesaw Mountain trails again. We took a few paths, but there is so much more to explore and I will do so in the future. Though the hike was difficult, I want to go back more prepared so I can fully enjoy the experience.
If you are a beginner, the hike through Red Top Mountain park that I wrote about last month is a good place to start. Then, be sure to tackle Kennesaw Mountain for a bit of a challenge well worth the views!
