Kennesaw Morning Hike: You Can Do It

For those of you who have been hesitant to tackle Kennesaw Mountain....now is your time to do it! We will get to the top maintaining a moderate pace and will stop a few times on the way for one minute to allow everyone to catch their breath.

The hike will start at 8:30 AM, so please plan on meeting a few minutes before to sign in. If you're lucky, you can get a spot at the visitor's center otherwise there is a new parking lot on Old 41. It appears as if they are no longer allowing parking along the side of the road on Old 41. Please allow yourself time to park and possibly walk (about 1/4 mile) from the Old 41 center lot.

We will meet at the cannon in front of the visitor's center.  We will take a short warm up trail that runs beside the visitor's center and then cross the road and meet the main trial up the mountain. This will make the first 1/4 of the hike a little bit more gradual. We'll hike the remainder of the main trail to the top of Kennesaw Mountain. We will pause at the outlook of rocks with a nice view of the city, then again once we reach the top parking lot and once again at the very top of the big mountain. We'll stop to catch our breath, but no more than a minute. From the top, we will head across Little Kennesaw Mountain, across Pigeon Hill, and cross Burnt Hickory Road for a short rest break, then follow the fire road back to the Visitor's center.

Please be a solid D2 hiker and not afraid of a D3. We'll pause to catch our breath on the serious inclines but during the more moderate parts of the hike we will be moving at a moderate pace. If you know where you are going, feel free to hike at your own pace. Just either meet us back at the visitor's center or shoot me a text when you return.

Please be prepared to carry and be responsible for your own keys, beverages, snacks and any other items you may need on the hike. We are all adults and it should not be anyone elses responsibility to carry your items on the hike.

We'll allow up to three dogs on this hike. I would like to continue to allow dogs on my hikes so please cooperate with the posted rules. AOC is very visible and it is important we portray a good image. Off leash dogs have been known to chase animals, injure animals and stir up bees resulting in other members being stung. Also, please keep in mind that not everyone enjoys a wet, dirty, and often smelly dog shaking in front of them and running between them. A leashed dog allows the owner to better control it and makes the hike more comfortable for all involved. Please carefully read the excerpt from nps.gov regarding dogs at KM:

Dogs are welcome on the battlefield grounds but they must be on a leash no more than 6 feet in length and under the owners physical restraint at all times. Please be mindful of where dogs stop, curb your dog to help keep Kennesaw Mountain clean for ALL visitors. Please pick up anything they leave behind with mutt mits that are free and in dispensers in all parking areas.

Directions and Parking:

1) I-75 North to exit 267B Hwy 5 Canton Road Connector

2) If you are not heading west after getting off of the Interstate you are going the wrong way. You should be heading towards US 41 and downtown Marietta after getting off of I-75 onto the Canton Road Connector and see Kennesaw Mountain on your right.

3) You will be tempted to take the first exit off of the Canton Road Connector which is US 41, but do not take it. Proceed over US 41 on a bridge staying on the Canton Road Connector.

4) After crossing US 41 take a right at the first redlight which is Church Street Extension.

5) You should cross railroad tracks soon.

6) Take a left onto Old 41 at the second redlight. If you get to US 41 again, you have missed the turn onto Old 41 so turn around.

7) Stay on Old US 41 until you pass in front of the mountain and park on the right-hand side of the road (or in the new parking lot on the left) after passing the redlight for Stilesboro Road.

FYI: The new parking lot - approximately 270 spaces is now open. Park in the visitor's center lot or in this new parking lot. It looks as if parking on Old 41 is coming to a halt.

8) Last resort / panic mode / all available parking spaces have been taken: When this happens, here is where to park - Turn around and head back in front of the mountain on Old 41. Take the first left which is White Circle Road. Take the first right which is White Road Court. Park on the side of the road.