Kennesaw Mountain 5.8-mile Red Trail Loop Hike

Weather Update for Sat AM (as of Fri night 2/15): The latest forecast for Kennesaw Mtn expects only a 20% chance of rain Saturday morning, with virtually no measurable accumulation during the hike, clearing skies, and comfortable temperatures in the 50s. We definitely intend to go ahead with the hike, rain or shine.  Consider carrying some lightweight rain gear in case we get a shower. - Charlie

Hike Plan:  We'll gather for this event a few minutes before 8:30 AM at the entrance of the Park's "Overflow Parking Lot" - see Directions & GPS Info below.   After introductions we'll walk together 1/4 mile eastward to the Park Visitor Center where we'll take a quick restroom break.  Our plan is then to hike the  5.4-mile "Red Trail Loop" in a counterclockwise direction - first up and over Big & Little Kennesaw Mountain, then down to "Pigeon Hill," and continuing back northward to the Visitor Center via the site of an old FDR-era "CCC" camp.  We'll take a moderate pace, stopping periodically to keep the group together, discuss some of the fascinating history of the Park, observe wildlife, etc.  The total of our uphill elevation gains will be about 1000 feet around the entire loop,   We expect to be back at our cars by about 11:00 AM.

Basic Park Info for First-Time Kennesaw Hikers: Conveniently located just a half-hour drive NW of downtown Atlanta, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park boasts more than 25 miles of trails that wind across its rugged mountaintops and through its 2900 acres of forests, meadows, creek banks and craggy rock outcrops.  .Since our Club's founding almost two decades ago this beautiful National Park has been one of our most popular AOC venues for dayhikes, volunteer trail maintenance projects and birding field trips. There's no visitor entrance fee and parking is also free.
There's much fascinating Civil War lore to experience while exploring the Park.  One of the bloodiest battles of the war took place here in June 1864 as the Union Army marched southward toward Atlanta and fought the heavily entrenched Confederate troops. Click here for the Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennesaw_Mountain_National_Battlefield_Park

RED Trail Loop Map + photos & info:  For more about this popular hiking route including excellent photos & trail notes, click here: https://npplan.com/parks-by-state/georgia/at-a-glance-kennesaw-mountain-national-battlefield-park/hiking-trails-kennesaw-mountain-national-battlefield-park/visitor-center-to-pigeon-hill-loop/ 

DIRECTIONS from I-75/ I-285 INTERCHANGE in NW ATLANTA to our "Overflow Parking Lot" Gathering Spot:   (For a zoomable color MAP and satellite view of this spot and its vicinity click the square blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article.)

1.  From the I-75/ I-285 Interchange take I-75 North about 8 miles and exit toward your right at Exit 267B ("US-41, GA-5 South" which will loop you clockwise onto the GA-5 "Canton Road Connector" toward Marietta).
2. After completing this I-75 exit loop, AVOID the rightward exit onto US-41 and continue straight ahead on the connector for about 1 mile toward the first traffic light at Church Street.
3. Just before you reach this traffic light bear hard Right onto the "Church Street Extension" and go just 0.6 mile to the second traffic light where "Old US-41" tees in from the left.
4. Turn Left onto Old US-41 and go 1.2 mile to the first stop light. Continue straight ahead about another quarter of a mile (beyond the Park Visitor Center) and look for the Overflow Parking Lot on the left.
5. After parking there we'll gather for the hike near the lot entrance.

GPS and MAPS.GOOGLE.com USERS:  Feel free to augment the above Directions by entering as your Destination Address the following concise "Lat/Lon" address of our gathering spot, being sure to include the comma and minus sign:  33.9855, -84.5819

Free Event with free parking and Park entrance!