15 Can't Miss Mountain Hikes in Georgia

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Summary- The best mountain hikes in Georgia

I think Georgia is one of the most underrated states in the Southeast. It is so diverse in it’s landscape from it’s beaches, mountains, and waterfalls- its an adventurer’s dream.

If you’re looking to start exploring this beautiful state, I highly recommend checking out some mountain hikes on this list. This blog post breaks down the best ones to do and how to get to them. Happy hiking!

Table of Contents

What to Pack for Mountain Hikes in Georgia

Georgia, like any state, can have unpredictable weather sometimes. Case in point- I had a group camping trip in May this year up near Helen, GA and the day before our trip it was 90 degrees and sunny.

The day of our group hike however was 55 degrees and rainy and gloomy. Even though the weather channel said it was going to be 80 degrees and cloudy. You’ll find that the weather channel lies a lot when you’re in the mountains.

You just never know what you’re gonna get, so always better to be prepared. Here are my items I take on every hike:

Battery Pack
Water and snacks
Sunscreen
Bug Repellent
Head Lamps
First Aid Kit
Camera
Rain Jacket
All Trails App Pro Version

The Most Beautiful Mountain Hikes in Georgia

1) Pinnacle Knob

LENGTH: 8.6 miles via Bartham trail or 3.3 via Courthouse Gap
DIFFICULTY: moderate, out and back trail
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: none

Pinnacle Knob is fun and rewarding hike that leads to a beautiful 180 degree view of that shows of the endless layers of the North Georgia mountains.

This hike can be broken up into 2 trails- you can either take the 8.6 mile route via Bartham trail, or the 3.3 mile route via Courthouse Gap (the one we took).

If you take the longer route you will be rewarded by passing two beautiful waterfalls, while the shorter hike only offers the mountain view at the summit. The shorter route is for those looking for a huge pay off, without a full day of hiking.

PARKING: If you choose to park at the Courthouse Gap trailhead there is very limited parking, only about 3 spots, so its best to get there early. The Bartham trail offers more spots with about 20 available.

2) Preacher’s Rock Mountain Hike in Georgia

LENGTH: 2 miles
DIFFICULTY: moderate, out and back trail
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: none

This is my 2nd favorite hike in Georgia because I am a mountain girl at heart and this view just makes my heart sing and dance in circles.

I love taking in the view at Preachers Rock because it really shows off the beauty of North Georgia. The trail is mostly flat until you reach the last 0.3 miles of the hike. Then it becomes a steady uphill trail that gets your blood pumping. It is located along the Appalachian Trail (AT) so you will see at lot of people on this trail doing day hikes or backpacking.

I once met this guy who was backpacking from Georgia to Asheville,NC and was telling me all about his 9 day trek and I was so excited to hear about his incredible journey and cheered them on.

I can’t wait to start my backpacking journey next spring! Be sure to follow along on my IG stories for all the updates.

PARKING: The parking here is located at Woody’s Gap trailhead and there is parking on both sides of the street. On the weekends the spots tend to fill up really quickly so best to get there early. The address is GA-60, Dahlonega, GA 30533

3) Tray Mountain

LENGTH: 5 miles
DIFFICULTY: difficult, out and back trail
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: none

Tray Mountain is located up near Hiawassee, Georgia and offers expansive views of the North Georgia mountains. This trail is located on a portion of the Appalachian Trail and is beautiful during the summer because it takes you through a dense tunnel formed by the trees.

Once at the summit, you’ll be able to see Lake Chatuge and Yonah Mountain in the distance as you take in the rolling hills of the mountains.

PARKING: You will want to park at the Indian Grave Gap Trailhead and it is extremely recommended to have a high clearance vehicle with 4WD.

4) Tennessee Rock Trailhead (at Black Rock Mountain State Park)

LENGTH: 2.2 miles
DIFFICULTY: moderate, loop trail
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: none, if you drive up to the overlook it is a $5 parking fee unless you have a GA state pass

Tennessee Rock Trailhead is located at Black Rock Mountain State Park. Once you start the trail you quickly come across a crossroads where you can choose to go either left or right.

I highly recommend going counter clockwise because its less strenuous. The other direction is uphill for a long portion of the hike but you will reach the viewpoint much faster.

PARKING: The parking lot for this hike gets filled really quickly on the weekends, but can fit about 30 spots. If you arrive late, you may have to get creative with your parking and park on the sides of the road or park all the way at the top at the visitor center and walk down.

5) Yonah Mountain

LENGTH: 4.5 miles
DIFFICULTY: hard, out and back trail
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: none

Yonah Mountain is a challenging, constant uphill hike that leads to a bald summit with steep cliff drop offs with incredible views. I’m just thinking back to the last time I did this hike and it was chaos (completely my fault though).

Yonah Mountain is a 4.5 mile uphill battle that I decided to run in order to catch the sunset in time. I got to the trailhead late of course, but as an outdoor photographer and blogger I couldn’t miss out on an opportunity to catch the sunset.

Talk about a workout, I was drenched in sweat by the time I made it to the top, but so happy I put myself through the workout because the sky lit up so incredibly, it was unbelievable to watch. I love when the sky starts to look like a pink silky painting, don’t you?

The trail features long stretches of steep uphill paths (with an elevation gain of 1,400 feet you are sure to feel it when you get home) and a stunning view at the halfway point. Just what you need to encourage you to keep going!

PARKING: The parking lot here is large enough to hold multiple spots so you shouldn’t have any issues. The address is 1900 Chambers Road, Cleveland, GA

6) Fort Mountain State Park

LENGTH: 1.5 miles round trip
DIFFICULTY: Moderate, loop trail
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: $5 per car or GA state pass

Fort Mountain State Park is located in Chatsworth, Georgia where you can do the beginner-friendly distance Summit Trail. This trail is very rocky once you start and leads to a red platform that sits out amongst a beautiful overlook.

Once you finish taking in the view head back up the stairs to get on the trail to finish complete the loop. Just over a mile in you will come across a tower like building.

Towards the end of the hike you will reach a curved stone wall- till this day no one knows where this wall came from. Mysterious right? This trail will keep you entertained through out the short 1.5 miles making it an adventure from start to finish.

PARKING: Since this is located at a state park there are plenty of parking spaces and restroom facilities. The address is 181 Fort Mountain State Park Rd, Chatsworth, GA 30705.

7) Brasstown Bald

LENGTH: 1.1 miles round trip
DIFFICULTY: Moderate, out and back trail
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: $5 per person

Brasstown Bald is a short hike to a beautiful 360 view of the mountains, where you’ll be able to see 4 states (GA, NC, SC, and TN). Making it a rewarding mountain hike in Georgia.

Fair warning, this trail will have your calves burning a little bit. I like to think of it as a high intensity workout lol. It’s quick, but you feel it. It’s a 1 mile paved hike and is mostly uphill, but before you know it, it’s over!

The top can get very busy during sunset but there’s plenty of space to move around and find a perfect spot to watch the sun dip down behind the mountains.

There is an exhibit up there as well, only open during business hours, and you can walk around and see the popular animals found in Georgia.

PARKING: There are plenty of parking spots here and the address is 2941 GA-180 Spur, Hiawassee, GA 30546.

8) Blood Mountain Hike in Georgia

LENGTH: 5 miles round trip
DIFFICULTY: difficult
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: none

This is one of the most famous mountain hikes in North Georgia, the one and only, Blood Mountain. The trail is popular for backpackers a long with day hikers who come enjoy the peaceful views at the top.

It is a gradual steep hike up to the summit filled with many switchbacks that leads to rewarding views overlooking the North Georgia mountains.

During this hike you will gain a little over 1,400 feet in elevation gain, giving you a little workout to reach the top. The trail is covered by the trees to protect you from the hot sun. The parking here is very limited so try to arrive to the trailhead early, especially on weekends.

PARKING: Parking can be limited on the weekends since the trail is popular for day hikers and backpackers, so be sure to arrive early. The parking lot is at Byron Reece Memorial Trail, Blairsville, GA 30512.

9) Pine Mountain

LENGTH: 2.1 miles round trip (West Loop)
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: none

Located in Cartersville, GA Pine Mountain is a beautiful trail to do a sunset. The trail starts off flat and you quickly come across a bridge, you’ll want to keep to the left once you cross and follow along on the path.

The trail becomes very rocky so be sure to wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots, it can slo be slippery when it rains.

PARKING: There is plenty of parking here with 50+ spots, the address is Komatsu Dr SE, Cartersville, GA 30121.

10) Sawnee Mountain Indian Seats Trail

LENGTH: 4 miles round trip
DIFFICULTY: moderate, loop
DOGS: not allowed
FEE: none

Sawnee Mountain is located only 40 minutes outside of Atlanta and gives you views of the Blue Ridge mountains in the far distance. This trail is popular for locals looking for a rewarding hike at sunset or a workout run.

The trail is well maintained and wide to fit multiple people. Doing the hike clockwise will give you multiple switchbacks that gradually you get up the mountain.

However, going counter clockwise (I recommend this one) will be more steep but you reach the view point much quicker. The summit is full of granite rocks overlooking the view.

PARKING: There is plenty of parking here and bathrooms. The address is 2500 Bettis Tribble Gap Rd, Cumming, GA 30040.

11) Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

LENGTH: 2.1 miles round trip
DIFFICULTY: moderate
DOGS: Allowed on a leash
FEE: $5 per car

Kennesaw Mountain is a popular trail for Cobb county residents and is always packed on the weekends, especially when the weather is nice. You can expect to see moms with strollers, people running along the different trails, and they plenty of people.

This hike is shaded by the forest and starts off with a long gradual uphill path and then turns into multiple switchbacks. Overall, you will gain 659 feet in total elevation. About 0.85 miles in you will reach a parking lot (yes you can also drive to the top) that has a view point and you can see the Atlanta skyline.

Continue up on the staircase to the left, and there is one last steep hill to get you to the top ( this is going to be the steepest part). The summit is filled with rocks that you can stand on to take in the view.

What most people don’t know is Kennesaw actually has two mountain peaks, so if you’d like to see the other one, continue on the trail at the top.

It’s going to lead you down the mountain, across the road, and from there you will be able to see the other mountain peak and have the option to climb it.

PARKING: There are about 85 designated parking spots, but it gets so crowded it won’t be unusual for you to have to wait for a spot or park across the street after the stop light next to Kennesaw Ave NW. The address is 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30152.

12) Rabun Bald

LENGTH: 3.3 miles round trip
DIFFICULTY: moderate, loop trail
DOGS: Allowed on leash
FEE: none

Rabun Bald is the 2nd tallest summit in the state so is definitely a must do mountain hike in Georgia. The summit boasts panoramic views. The hike itself can be a little challenging with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain over 1.6 miles. You may feel like you’re on a stair master machine but trust me, the work out does have a great pay off.

PARKING: The parking is located within a neighborhood and is very limited.

13) Stone Mountain

LENGTH: 2.2 miles
DIFFICULTY: moderate, out and back trail
DOGS: not allowed
FEE: $5 for parking (unless you park on the street)

Stone Mountain is one of the most popular Atlanta hikes to do when visiting the city and even for the locals. It’s not too long, gets your heart pumping for a little bit and offers rewarding views at the top.

I remember the first time I saw it and I thought it was fake, because I’d never seen a rock that big and perfectly rounded sticking out of the ground. The scientific name for is a monadnock which is actually “a large isolated hill of rock that stands above ground level.”

On a clear day you can even see the Atlanta Skyline. When you arrive, you can choose to either park within the gates or park outside of the parks designated parking space.

Since Stone Mountain is located in a residential area you can park in the surrounding neighborhoods for free. Just be sure to check the streets to ensure you don’t need a permit for your spot.

PARKING: If you park within the gates of the park, there are plenty of spots and the fee is $5 per car. You also have the option of parking near the park along side the street and that is free parking.

14) Powell Mountain Hike in Georgia

LENGTH: 5.2 miles
DIFFICULTY: moderate to difficult
DOGS: Allowed on a leash.
FEE: none

Powell Mountain is a beautiful mountain hike in Georgia that’s located along the Appalachian Trail. You won’t find many people along the trail as it’s secluded and not well known. The hike is considered difficult with 1,600 feet of elevation gain.

PARKING: The parking is small and can fit about 12 cars. The address is 9975 Highway 441 S Lakemont, GA 30552.

15) Arabia Mountain

LENGTH: 1.3 miles
DIFFICULTY: moderate, out and back
DOGS: allowed on leash
FEE: none

Arabia Mountain is located just 20 minutes outside of downtown Atlanta and is a popular hike for the locals to escape the busyness of the city. It is a massive granite mountain that covers 40,000 acres that makes you feel like you just stepped on the moon.

Arabia Mountain is a kid-friendly hike that attracts many families and often you’ll see people having a picnic as they take in the views. It is also a great destination for runners, hikers, and cyclers to stay active.

The top is filled with rare plants (be sure to not step on them), pools of water, and wildflowers- making it beautiful year round no matter what season you visit.

PARKING: There are two parking lots here, one that is right next to the trailhead with about 15 spots so it is understandably always full (unless you get there super early) and one that is about a mile away from the trailhead.