Kennesaw Mountain Work Out Hike

Come join us at the best place in Atlanta to keep your lungs toned for those weekend D4 and D5 hikes. 

If everyone is there early, we will move on out.  After introductions (if you are new) and a quick briefing (go to the other side of Burnt Hickory Rd and back, stay right at forks in the path on the way there) we will ascend 1.2 m to the 1808ft top of Big Kennesaw, a climb of 657 ft.  From there we will drop down about 500 ft to the gap between Little and Big Kennesaw mountains, up and over the hump in the middle, then down about 300 ft to the base of Little Kennesaw, then up to the top of Little Kennesaw at 1601 ft. Then we'll descend down to Burnt Hickory Rd on the other side of Little Kennesaw for a short break.  Then we'll come back the same way to the Visitor Center.  Total distance is a little under 6 miles. 

You should be familiar with this mountain, as there may be times when the group will hike at different speeds and separate.  We will NOT re-group at trail junctions throughout this hike.  If you are new, study the map.  We will be hiking on the West trail, which goes over the mountains.  The East trail goes around the mountains on the east side. 

This will be a moderately fast paced hike, with a target of 3 mph.  The goal is to have everyone off the mountain by the 2 hour mark.  There are water fountains at both the Visitor Center and Burnt Hickory Rd for you and your dog if you bring one. 

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 then turn left at the redlight and park in the main visitor center lot if you can.  If full head back out to Old 41, take a left and park in the overflow parking lot farther down the road on the left.  If running late, you may want to head here initially as the main parking area is usually full.

Meet prior to 6:00 PM at the cannon outside the main entrance of the visitor's center or just inside the lobby.  Call the trip leader if you are running late, but please note that we won't wait on you.  You will have to try and catch up with the group if you arrive late.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTES:

The visitor center parking lot is almost always full. I don't even attempt to look for parking there most of the time, once you are in the lot, you usually get stuck behind a line of cars waiting for that perfect spot.  The overflow parking lot is usually the better option.  Allow for a few extra minutes for the added walk to the visitor center.

Traffic will be a mess too.  There is ALWAYS standstill traffic the last mile or so before the park.  Please allow for this extra time when figuring out your driving time.

No cost.