12 Miles of Christmas - Farewell to 2026 - Thu, Dec 31 2026

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



12 Miles of Christmas - Farewell to 2026


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Kennesaw Mountain National Park   Hike: 12 Miles of Christmas - Farewell to 2026  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Thu, Dec 31 2026  8:00 am >> Thu, Dec 31 2026 12:30 pm
Registration Opens: Fri, Dec 18 2026 7:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Tue, Dec 29 2026 4:00 pm
Event Duration:4 Hours 30 Minutes
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Distance:11 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Kip
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:15
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 1 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

Join us for the last Kennesaw hike of 2026!

This is our standard 11 miler with a holiday flair!

We will start at the Visitor Center and hike over Big and Little Kennesaw Mountains to Burnt Hickory Road.  

We will hike south from Burnt Hickory, turn right on the Hardage Trail and hike to the end at Dallas Highway.  We will cross Whitlock Avenue and take a restroom break at the facilities in the parking area behind the Illinois Monument. We will cross back over Whitlock and turn north on Noses Creek Trail and return to Hardage Trail at the bridge over Noses Creek, hiking Hardage in the opposite direction.  We will hike the Salem Church trail  and stop for a short lunch/snack break. After our break we will cross hike over the mountain again, back to the Visitor Center.  

The average pace of this hike will be  2.7+ mph.

Due to the length of the hike we will stay together as a group throughout the hike.

Attendees should have recent D4 experience and sufficient endurance for a 10+ mile hike. 

**Optional post-hike lunch at 3 Amigos**


Required Items to Bring:

Hiking shoes or boots

Layered clothing

Water (enough for a 4 hr hike)

Snacks or lunch

Hiking poles (optional)

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Holiday attire optional but recommended!


Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.