Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield • Southern Loops • ~10.5 miles • ~1100 ft elevation
Overview
Despite the wonderful trails down here in Butts County, sometimes I get the itch for something a little different. This specific weekend, I traveled up to, and through, Atlanta to the trails of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield. While this route doesn’t include the actual climb up the mountain (but could easily incorporate it), it does explore the southern trails that are far less populated and offer similar solitude to my home trails.
The vert profile is just slightly more aggressive than trails in Jackson, offering between an average of 100 and 150ish feet of climbing per mile, depending on the exact trails you take. It also has a few more perks than Jackson, with multiple water fountains and a visitor center stocked with snacks.
Specs
- Distance: ~10.5 Miles
- Elevation Gain: ~1100 ft. Handful of steep-ish climbs make up a majority of the elevation gain
- Terrain Breakdown: 15% Gravel / 85% Trail; trails are a mix of double and single track with varying technicality
- Difficulty: Moderate – a few steep climbs
- Ideal Gear: 1L of water carrying capacity; a few hours-worth of calories
Logistics & Resupply
- Parking/Start Point: Pigeon Hill Parking Lot. Very safe lot with $5 fee (payable electronically).
- Water & Fuel: Water fountain at Pigeon Hill Parking Lot (start) and at the veeeery bottom of the southern loop (~5.8 miles if you follow this exact route). Also a water fountain at the Visitor Center (which sells carbs/snacks)
- Cell Service: Great! Basically in the city.
- Bathrooms: Bathrooms exist at the Visitor Center, which is not on this route, but are nearby. Otherwise, you’re free to pick a suitable spot in the woods.
Breakdown
- Middle Loop (Miles 0 – 2 and 9 – 10.5): Shorter loop with punchier climbs
- Bottom Loop (Miles 2 – 10.5): Longer loop with less people
GPX Route/File